Virtual schools in Virginia seek a funding formula

When House District 20 Del. Dickie Bell successfully sponsored state legislation nearly two years ago that allowed virtual schools in Virginia, it was hailed as an online option that would offer courses for students in the commonwealth’s most rural outposts.

After all, virtual schools for students in grades K-12 were already offered in 27 other states and Gov. Robert F. McDonnell embraced the idea in 2009 as part of his education plan.

But the devil has been in the details. Since McDonnell signed the virtual schools law in April 2010, Virginia has grappled with a way to fund online schools.

While the state provides about $4,000 per student for virtual schools, the key question is how much a locality would contribute in costs to the school district educating the child.

For instance, how much would Waynesboro pay for a student living in the city but being virtually educated in Fairfax.

Under the state law, a school district contracts with one of the state’s 13 approved virtual school providers.

The McDonnell administration is currently working on a virtual schools funding model and hopes to have that model ready for consideration by the Virginia General Assembly in January, said Tucker Martin, McDonnell’s communications director.

While only 300 Virginia students now use virtual education, Martin said McDonnell continues to be a strong proponent.

“He believes that virtual education programs, with oversight from the state superintendent to ensure quality, accountability and alignment with state standards, can help broaden the opportunities our public education system provides,’’ Martin said. “They use technology to bring new educational opportunities based on their interest and aptitude, not their zip code or school district. Put simply, virtual education breaks down educational barriers.”

Bell said the legislation is all about opportunity, such as students in the most rural part of his district – Highland County – being able to take advanced placement classes online their tiny school district can’t provide.

The legislator said Highland County students are taking the classes through the Department of Education’s Virtual Virginia School.

“The whole motivation behind the legislation is to make education more accessible, for schools who don’t have the resources,’’ he said.

Bell, R-Staunton, said a funding scheme should have been addressed as part of the original legislation.

“It is a little frustrating,’’ he said. Bell said more and more school districts are interested, but said two years into virtual schools, he would like to see funding settled.

One of Bell’s ideas is to create a virtual school district for the state that would offer funding that is fair for all school districts.

Chris Braunlich, a member of the state Board of Education, has just completed a study of funding for K-12 virtual education.

Braunlich, a vice president for the Thomas Jefferson Institute for Public Policy, released his study this past week.

He said one possibility is recognizing the statewide Standards of Quality average per pupil funding, and have the school district where the student resides send the $2,559 amount to the school district where the student is virtually educated.

Braunlich also suggests that payment would be withheld until after the student has mastered the online classes, so that local funds are accountable and taxpayers get the best results.

“If the student doesn’t pass, the local government does not have to pay,’’ Braunlich said during a teleconference this past week. “That is the ultimate accountability. We need to have some sort of mastery payment. It would encourage excellence in education.”

Bell hopes for a resolution soon. He hopes there is no need for any further legislation.

“My biggest fear is that we will lose momentum with virtual education if we paddle along like we are doing,’’ he said.