A key portion of the Parent Trigger bill provides for parent’s being informed of the virtual option with two passages:
49 (a) Each school district shall annually notify the parent
50 of each public school student assigned to a classroom teacher
51 who is teaching out-of-field regarding such assignment. The
52 notification must inform the parent that virtual instruction
53 from a certified in-field teacher with an annual performance
54 evaluation rating of effective or highly effective is available
55 pursuant to s. 1012.2315(5).
56 (b) When a student is assigned to a classroom teacher who
57 has received two consecutive annual performance evaluation
58 ratings of unsatisfactory, two annual performance evaluation
59 ratings of unsatisfactory within a 3-year period, or three
60 consecutive annual performance evaluation ratings of needs
61 improvement or a combination of needs improvement and
62 unsatisfactory under s. 1012.34, the school district shall
63 notify the parent regarding the performance evaluation rating of
64 the classroom teacher. The notification must inform the parent
65 that virtual instruction from a teacher who has received an
66 annual performance evaluation rating of effective or highly
67 effective is available pursuant to s. 1012.2315(7)
In my morning post on the matter, I wrote that Jeb Bush has already encouraged Governor Rick Scott to sell Florida Virtual School and perhaps even to one his financiers, Pearson or K12 Inc. A reader sent me a link which shows that Pearson is already making money in Florida Virtual School. This November 2010 press release from Pearson announces that they and Florida Virtual School are already partners:
Orlando, FL and New York, NY, November 17, 2010 – A private/public alliance between Pearson and Florida Virtual School (FLVS) will accelerate virtual learning opportunities around the world for millions of school students who have grown up smack in the middle of the technology revolution.
The new Pearson Virtual Learning powered by Florida Virtual School will offer schools throughout the US and across the globe more than 100 FLVS courses in all subject areas for grades 6-12, including advanced placement and career and technology courses. The virtual courses will be aligned to the new Common Core state standards.
Pearson CEO for Schools Peter Cohen said, “Our agreement with Florida Virtual School is one more step in recognizing the cosmic effect of technology in revolutionizing education. Digital learning allows teachers to customize education for each individual student. Through this alliance, we will expand Pearson’s existing virtual offerings and move forward with our commitment to transform education through technology and set each child on the path to success in school and in life.”
FLVS President & CEO Julie Young said, “The opportunity to partner with Pearson is a monumental step forward in accomplishing our long-standing goals and mission at FLVS — to provide every child an engaging, personal, and unique learning experience.” Young noted that FLVS will retain its existing operation as a Florida public school.
So how much of Florida taxpayer money going to Pearson through Florida Virtual School? Do taxpayers even know?
With it likely that Bush’s foundation wrote the legislation, it’s fair to ask whether or not it’s ethical to promote Pearson’s bottom line through parent trigger? And as Bush’s foundation receives funding from Pearson, shouldn’t his foundation be considered to be a lobbying firm? And Bush himself a lobbyist?
Scathing Purple Musings 