Funding for virtual charter schools measure passes

By Michelle Wirth

Atlanta, GA – Supporters of online education scored a big victory today.
The Georgia Charter Schools Commission approved a funding increase for the state's online students.

The commission unanimously voted to spend an average of 58-hundred dollars per year for each student who takes classes online.

That's less than what is spent on traditional students but about 24-hundred dollars more than what cyber students are currently receiving.
Ben Scafidi chairs the commission.

"What we just did with our votes today was bring Georgia's education system into the 21st century. Georgia, come this fall, will be a national leader in virtual education."

The changes come after two virtual schools that were approved by the commission decided against locating in the state this fall because of inadequate funding.
Georgia Families for Virtual Public Education is one of the groups that supported the increase.

Renee Lord is president.

She says the funding boost will improve the quality of online education for the state's six thousand cyber students.

"I don't think we could have asked for or expected anything better."

The changes are scheduled to go into effect next fall.

But part of the funding could be affected by potential state budget cuts that Governor Elect Nathan Deal says may be necessary for all of Georgia's K-12 schools.