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Senate OKs measure to regulate online education programs

Berny Morson, Rocky Mountain News

Published April 27, 2007 at midnight

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

SB 215 by Sen. Sue Windels, D-Arvada, was introduced after state auditors raised questions about the quality and financial integrity of programs offered by school districts over the Internet.

Most of the questions concerned the Hope Co-op Online Learning Academy. It is chartered by the tiny Vilas school district in Baca County, but operates 79 "learning centers," mostly in the Denver metro area. Vilas provides learning materials online.

Under the bill, districts such as Vilas would need approval from the new state agency to authorize programs for students outside their boundaries.

The agency would draft rules to determine which districts are qualified to authorize such programs and set 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 that increased regulations are needed.

"There is too much money going where it shouldn't go," he said.