‘N.M. Virtual Schools Day’ at capitol

Kyla Anderson’s 14-year-old son had tried traditional public school and private school before he enrolled in the fully online New Mexico Virtual Academy.

He had been bullied in both settings, so his mother was eager to find a way to keep him at home, without having to teach him herself.

“It has meant the world to him and my husband and I. We have seen him grow so much,” Anderson said.

Anderson was in Santa Fe on Tuesday for “New Mexico Virtual Schools Day” at the Roundhouse. The event was put on by PublicSchoolOptions.org, a national organization that supports charter schools and has held similar events in other states.

New Mexico Virtual Academy is New Mexico’s only fully online charter, and the school contracts with the for-profit K-12 Inc. for its online courses.

State education chief Hanna Skandera recently approved an application to start a second online charter, which will contract with Connections Academy, also an out-of-state, for-profit company.

These schools have met with opposition and face at least three legislative bills that would put the brakes on such schools. Two are sponsored by Rep. Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque. HB 460 would prohibit charter schools from contracting with for-profit companies to administer curriculum.

Her second bill, HB 366, includes numerous changes to charter school laws. Specific to online schools, it would require all members of charter governing boards to live in New Mexico, and would strip the secretary of education of her authority to approve charter schools on appeal.

Opposition is not just from Democrats. Sen. Gay Kernan, R-Hobbs, has proposed the third bill, a one-year moratorium on the approval of any new fully virtual charter schools so their effects can be further studied.

These bills mainly target fully online charters that contract with for-profit companies, not online magnet schools run by districts, like Albuquerque Public Schools’ eCADEMY. The eCADEMY allows APS students to take courses online, but doesn’t contract with a private vendor.

Opponents of virtual schools have raised two main concerns: that the schools send public dollars to out-of-state corporations, and that students miss out on class discussions and other interaction in traditional classrooms.

Ashley Barr, director of operations for New Mexico Virtual Academy, said some students are actually more open and willing to talk in online settings, rather than in-person.

Anderson said she doesn’t feel her son is missing out on peer interaction. She said today’s sophisticated technology allows him to chat with his classmates or use speakers to have discussions.

“The teacher has the opportunity to have the kids put on speaker, and they can talk a little bit … asking questions, getting the child’s opinion. I don’t feel like they’re missing anything in that area,” she said.
— This article appeared on page C01 of the Albuquerque Journal