Online school regulation proposed

Berny Morson, Rocky Mountain News

Published April 26, 2007 at midnight

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A new division of the state Education Department would regulate online schools under a bill approved today in the Colorado Senate.

SB 215 by Sen. Sue Windels, D-Arvada, was introduced after questions were raised by state auditors about the quality and financial integrity of programs offered by school districts for children in other school districts around the state.

Most of the questions concerned the Hope Online Learning Academy that is chartered by the tiny Vilas school district in Baca County but operates 79 "learning centers" around the state, mostly in the Denver metro area.

Under the bill approved today, districts like Vilas would need approval from the new state agency to authorize programs outside their boundaries.

The new agency would draft guidelines for which districts may authorize such programs and quality standards for the programs themselves. All of the new regulations would take effect on approval by the Colorado Board of Education.

Sen. Peter Groff, D-Denver, a supporter of charter schools, including Hope, said increased regulations are needed.

"There is no question in my mind that there should be some accountability. At this point there is not. There is too much money going where it shouldn't go," Groff said.

Instrumental in drafting the version of the bill approved today, Groff said the measure would not limit the creativity of programs like Hope.

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