HB107 - Virtual Public Schools Act Summary

• Establishes the Virtual Public Schools Act to provide families with alternative educational access through Internet-based instruction delivered by public schools authorized by the State Board of Education, Department of Postsecondary Education, or local boards of education.

• Virtual schools receive equitable funding equal to per-student state and federal allocations of traditional public schools, with authorizers permitted to retain up to 2 percent of disbursements for oversight and administration costs.

• Virtual schools must provide sequential curriculum meeting state standards with significant online components, the same instructional days as traditional schools, instructional materials, and technology access (computer, printer, internet connection) or physical computer lab access.

• Students may enroll full-time or part-time in virtual schools, and virtual school teachers must meet the same state qualification requirements as traditional public school teachers.

• Virtual schools are evaluated annually by the State Board of Education based on student achievement gains and demonstration of academic, fiscal, and operational viability, with exemptions from non-charter public school laws except as specified in the act.