Subject: ALERT - Cyber Expansion Vote THIS WEEK
The Michigan House of Representatives will be voting this week on SB 619 to lift the cap for-profit cyber charter schools.
Currently, there are two cyber schools operating under existing law in the state. The law establishing the two existing cybers also requires a report be completed after two years of operation to determine their effectiveness - that report has not been completed as the cybers are only in their second year of operation.
However, data available indicates the two schools have not been achieving a level to justify further or unlimited expansion of such schools.
Please act TODAY.
USE THIS LINK TO CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IN THE MICHIGAN HOUSE! Click the link below!
http://capwiz.com/nea/mi/directory/statedir.tt?state=MI&lvl=state
Talking Points:
- · SB 619 allows for-profit cyber school corporations to use public taxpayer dollars - thus, reducing the already limited PUBLIC State School Aid Fund dollars.
- · According to the state's website, MI School Data, the two existing cyber charter schools currently operating, fall far below the state average on almost all reported student outcomes.
- · Only 9% of 3rd graders at one of the cybers (MI Virtual Charter Academy) were proficient on the Michigan Merit Exam last year.
- · AYP - the two Michigan cyber schools did NOT make AYP and nationally, only 27 percent of for-profit charter schools made AYP last year.
- · Wall Street traded corporations continue to make millions of dollars delivering poor quality education to students. This is big business. Connections Academy - involved with one of the two existing cybers in Michigan - recently sold for $400 million to a British firm
Is the future of Michigan's children something to be traded and sold to benefit international shareholders?
Please CONTACT your representative TODAY and urge them to oppose SB 619.
