Virtual Schools

Wisconsin Web Academy now open

DPI partners with CESA 9 to provide online courses

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster and Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) 9 Administrator Jerome Fiene announced the launch of the Wisconsin Web Academy (WWA), making online courses available to students throughout Wisconsin. “Virtual education is an innovative reality in the 21st century and an effective educational strategy for some students,” said Burmaster. “The Wisconsin Web Academy will ensure that all children in our state, regardless of where they live, will have access to quality online courses taught by appropriately licensed educators.”

The WWA was made possible as a result of s. 115.28 (53), Wis. Stats. The legislation requires the Department of Public Instruction to provide equitable access to high-quality online education by offering online courses to school districts, cooperative educational service agencies, charter schools, and private schools located in this state. Students interested in taking courses through WWA should contact their local school district. Enrollment in WWA online courses for the 2008-09 school year will begin on August 18. Districts interested in offering courses through WWA should contact Dawn Nordine at CESA 9, (715) 453-2141 ext. 231, dnordine@cesa9.k12.wi.us.

The entire press release is available at: Wisconsin Web Academy now open: DPI partners with CESA 9 to provide online courses

Wisconsin Has New Virtual School Law

State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster issued the following statement on the new virtual education law signed by Gov. Jim Doyle on April 7, 2008. " We now have a virtual education law that supports quality instruction, creates a statewide web academy, and ensures that students who use this education option will have teachers that have received training in on-line education."

2007 Wisconsin Act 222 defines a virtual charter school in Wisconsin; requires licensed educators and a minimum number of days of instruction for virtual charter schools; creates a state web academy, which will open on-line learning to more students without having to open enroll in another school; and requires the Legislative Audit Bureau to conduct a financial and performance audit of virtual charter schools by the end of 2009. Other provisions include:

Teachers must be available to provide direct pupil instruction for at least the minimum numbers of hours specified by grade level under current law. No more than 10 hours in any 24-hour period may count toward this requirement.
Teachers must respond to inquiries from pupils or from the parents or guardians of pupils by the end of the first school day following the day on which the inquiry is received.
Teachers are prohibited from teaching on-line, beginning July 1, 2010, if the teacher has not had 30 hours of professional development designed to prepare teachers for on-line teaching.

News Releases

Wisconsin Web Academy now open: DPI partners with CESA 9 to provide online courses - July 29, 2008
Burmaster statement on signing of several education-related bills - April 7, 2008
Statement by State Superintendent Burmaster on virtual education bill compromise - January 24, 2008
Burmaster statement on proposed virtual charter school legislation - January 10, 2008

Online Programs and Virtual Schools

If you are interested in virtual programs or schools, contact your local school district first as many have virtual and online programs available. The difference between the "Online Programs" and "Virtual Schools" sections below is that the online programs usually offer courses to school districts, while the virtual schools usually offer courses directly to students.

Online Programs:

Virtual Charter Schools:

For questions about this information, contact Stephen N. Sanders (608) 266-3856

Last updated on 7/29/2008 9:00:55 AM