Classrooms vs Cyber Schools

Classrooms vs Cyber Schools

UPDATE: LANSING - Senate Bill 619 would lift the ban on the number of cyber schools allowed int he state, but not everyone is in favor of this.

ORIGINAL STORY: LANSING - People for and against online charter schools were giving testimony at the Anderson House Office Building. Parents, educators, and legislators all in the same place to discuss Senate Bill 619.

Senate Bill 619 could mean classrooms as many know it, might evolve into just the student and their computer. Current legislation allows for a maximum of two cyber schools in the state, but Senate Bill 619 would lift this cap, legislation some say is overdue.

"Technology affects every part of our life, and it has not yet really impacted public education and then we wonder why our kids aren't competing globally," says Dan Quisenberry, President of the Michigan Association of Public School Academies.

On the other hand, some say the line has to be drawn. Like Executive Director of Communications and Development for the Genesee Intermediate School District, Jerry Johnson. He testified against Senate Bill 619.

Johnson tells HOMTV, "Our concern fundamentally is that the cyber charter legislation as written is really about the vendor. It's about the person trying to sell their product to create a school that only uses their product."

Two varying opinions with one common goal, giving students and parents the option to choose.

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