Bolger: Executive branch must enforce cyber school enrollment cap

Lansing –House Speaker Jase Bolger, R-Marshall, is dismissing suggestions that caps the House put in place on cyber school enrollment could lead to 10 percent of Michigan students enrolling in the online schools.

On a 56-54 vote, the House amended Senate Bill 619 last week to include a cap for cyber school enrollment based on 2 percent of statewide enrollment in Michigan public school districts and charter schools.

But the bill also allows for 15 individual cyber schools and for each school to enroll up to 10,000 students, leading critics to claim the Legislature is opening the door for an exodus of up to 150,000 of the state’s 1.5 million school-age children to cyber schools run by private companies.

In a statement released Thursday morning, Bolger defended the House’s version of the bill, which is headed to Gov. Rick Snyder‘s desk for his likely signature.

“Our amendments to Senate Bill 619 placed several caps on charter cyber schools, including the number of schools and total enrollment. Among these is that enrollment is limited to 2 percent of the total student population in Michigan. The 2-percent student population cap was clearly our intent and will clearly be the law. When Gov. Snyder signs the bill it will be the responsibility of the executive branch and its employees to adhere to the new law. We know the administration and its employees will abide by the law. Anyone suggesting they won’t through foolish conspiracy theories should redirect their energy away from what adults want to squabble about and refocus on ensuring students have access to a wide array of quality learning opportunities.”

—

Related Article: Senate bill sent to governor would allow more cyber schools in Michigan (The Detroit News, May 4, 2012)