Comments on: Debunking the myths (and outright lies) about digital learning

By: Derek H Monson

Derek H Monson — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:02:55 +0000

Jay,

Sending a smaller portion of the WPU from districts to digital learning providers would make sense and be fair if the WPU was a reflection of the total average cost of educating a child in a public school. As it is, however, the WPU only reflects state (not local) funds going to public schools and is partly based on the number of adults in the system, as well as the number of children. So to treat everyone fairly, the Statewide Online Education Program uses a figure more reflective of the total cost of educating a child to set the fees that districts pay to digital learning providers, making those fees a mathematically larger portion of the WPU.

In other words, the reason that fees being paid to digital providers seem large relative to the WPU is because the WPU doesn’t measure the total average cost of educating a child. If the WPU made sense as a total cost measure, then making the fees a smaller portion of the WPU might also make sense. But since the WPU is only part of the funding story and is as much about adults as it is about children in public schools, why should it be relevant to digital learning, which is child-centered and child-driven?

Derek Monson

By: Jay Blain

Jay Blain — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:13:05 +0000

Just a few thoughts at this time.

I believe that you do need to separate some of the concepts out there to address the issues appropriately. Technology definitely has a place in education. Also, on-line education should be an option for any student who feels that it is a need for him or her. Either for part or all of his or her education. Where I believe that we should not be going is to mandate that a student has to take one or more on-line classes for high school graduation. This is where you get the push back.

In addition, if it is less expensive to deliver education this way, why do districts have to pay one-quarter of the WPU for one eighth of a credit? This seems to be excessive. Especially when we already had a the Electronic High School of Utah already in place to deliver most, if not all of these courses.

By: Derek H Monson

Derek H Monson — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:03:03 +0000

Diane,

Thanks for posting your experience with digital learning. Good information to have.

Derek Monson

By: Diane

Diane — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:15:34 +0000

Oh, and I should say that the cost of the computer equipment was equal to what we would have had to pay for 7th and 8th graders in school fees.

By: Diane

Diane — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 04:13:57 +0000

I have a child enrolled in an online charter school in Utah, and the curriculum is a lot harder, even compared to the gifted and honors programs, and the students are given fewer vacation days because the students don’t get time off for teacher training. They also have live lessons and can talk to the teachers over the phone. The computers the school offers were very poor and most families, like ours, decide to use their own equipment. I don’t think it costs nearly as much as regular public schools.