Panel backs tighter rules for online school
Berny Morson, Rocky Mountain News
Published February 10, 2006 at midnight
An online charter school in southern Colorado would have to receive separate charters from each district in which it operates its 40 learning centers, under a bill approved Thursday by the Senate Education Committee.
Hope Online Learning Center is chartered by the tiny Vilas School District in Baca County, but runs 40 centers, mostly on the Front Range. They serve students who do not have a stable environment at home, said Hope director Heather O'Mara.
"I think this bill will effectively shut down Hope," O'Mara said after the education committee approved Senate Bill 125.
Committee chairwoman Sue Windels, D-Arvada, the bill sponsor, is concerned that Vilas cannot provide adequate supervision for the centers.
Windels' bill passed 4-3, with all Democrats in favor and all Republicans opposed.
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