Last year the Legislature cut the basic education funding for students enrolled in online public schools by 15% below the basic FTE (Full Time Equivalent). The lawsuit filed by the families of the WAFOL coalition seeks to have those funding cuts restored, arguing the cuts are unfair and unconstitutional.
"The highest Court in the State of Washington recently affirmed what every parent knows?that there is no more vital duty of state government than the education of our children?The Washington Supreme Court also affirmed what everyone knows?that state officials are failing our children," says the lawsuit.
The Washington Supreme Court recently ruled last month in McCleary v. State that Washington is not meeting its constitutional requirement to fully fund basic education for all K-12 students. In its strongly worded ruling, the Court said the state must fund basic education before all other programs, and any cuts to basic education must be done for educational reasons, not in response to a fiscal crisis.
Since the establishment of online public school programs in 2005 via HB 5828, there has been no question that online learning is a delivery model for basic education under state law. Accordingly, students enrolled in state-approved online public schools have received the full Basic Education Allocation (BEA) per FTE student as students enrolled in traditional public schools?until the Legislature decided it could "save" money with a 15% cut in 2011. Now students enrolled in online public schools receive just 85% of BEA while students in traditional public schools continue to receive 100% funding.
"Not every child learns the same; online public schools give families an option to educate their children in the environment that fits their unique needs," said plaintiff Melissa Staffenhaggen. "Online public school is what works for my youngest son, while a traditional public school classroom works for my other children," said Staffenhaggen. "Trying to put my special needs son in a traditional classroom would be a disaster?online learning has been the greatest gift for him," she said. "We don't understand why the Legislature thinks my youngest son doesn't deserve the same basic education funding as my other children, just because he attends an online public school and they learn in a traditional classroom."
Until the Legislature's funding cuts last year, Washington has been a pioneer in the evolution of online learning as a basic education delivery model. Our state hosted the nation's first-ever completely online school and today leads the nation for options and access to online learning. Thousand of students with diverse learning needs are thriving in the more than 40 online public schools across Washington.
Whether for a gifted student needing advanced academic curriculum beyond his grade level, or a challenged student who is falling behind in his class, online public schools are helping students learn.
"Before I discovered online public schools, I knew my son needed help?I couldn't sleep at night worrying and wondering how he was going to get an education," said Deborah Woodley, plaintiff in the lawsuit and mother of an online student. "I knew he would be left behind; five years ago he couldn't articulate, read or write at the level he needed to," said Woodley. "My son deserves the best education possible, so he can have the same potential to succeed as other kids," she said. "Online public schools have given him that opportunity?thanks to online learning my son tests above average now!"
But just as this education model of the future is proving its value to students, the future of online learning is in jeopardy as a result of the unfair and targeted cuts to online public schools. Because of the cuts, schools districts offering online public schools, many of which already currently operate in the red, may be forced to shut down their schools.
"If the legislature doesn't restore full FTE funding or our local levy fails, we will be forced to close," said Ronald Mayberry, principal of the state's first fully online public school.
Distinct from the home-school model, which has no connection with state-certified teachers or state-approved curriculum, online public schools are district-sponsored, state-approved online learning programs that are part of the basic education provided to our state's K-12 students. A highly accountable and rigorously monitored public school program, online learning uses a state-approved curriculum that is taught by state-certified teachers, and follows all statewide assessments, reporting and accountability measures.
There are many reasons a family may select an online public school for their child?medical needs, special education, individualized instruction, difficulties in classroom settings, and others. Many are gifted students who need to be challenged academically, students that travel, students falling behind in single subject areas, and students seeking credit recovery. Whatever the reason, families choose online learning because the individualized programs and pacing is the best education option for their child.
"Online learning is the only option for my daughter," said plaintiff Linda Ramberg. "We've tried traditional public schools, private schools, special education and expensive tutors?we even spent our college and retirement savings on an intensive reading program," said Ramberg. "But only online public schools offer my daughter the individualized, one-on-one help she needs to learn," she said. "Before online learning, Becca was in 3rd grade reading at a kindergarten level?now she's in the 8th grade reading at a 9th grade level! If her online public school closes, where will she go?"
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Washington Families for Online Learning is a non-profit coalition of thousands of parents, students, teachers and other supporters of online learning throughout Washington State. Launched in 2007, the coalition actively engages in policy issues relating to online learning issues affecting K-12 students. Washington Families for Online Learning (WFOL) is fighting to preserve online public school opportunities for Washington's students.
