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Virtual Learning Gets Real Boost From House

By Beacon Staff

HELENA – State lawmakers have endorsed a measure to create a new distance learning program that would give students in every school district virtual access to both basic and advanced classes.

House Bill 459 was supported on a 63-34 vote Saturday.

The measure, introduced by Democratic Rep. Wanda Grinde of Billings, would allocate about $4.2 million to establish a virtual academy for Montana schoolkids. One-time startup costs account for about $2.2 million of that amount.

“The outcome of this bill is to put high quality education into every home in this state no matter where that home is,” said Rep. Brady Wiseman, D-Bozeman.

Democrats voted as a party in favor of the schoolteacher-endorsed measure, which also picked up 13 Republican votes.

“This program is set up basically for one thing, and that’s to comply with the Constitution,” said Republican Rep. William Glaser of Huntley. “The Constitution says that there will be equal opportunity to education for every child in Montana.”

Under the measure, distance learning classes would be available in core subjects and advanced areas. The classes, taught by licensed instructors, would be offered for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

The bill now goes to the House Appropriations Committee, where its cost will have to be approved. If it passes that test, it may move to the Senate.

“I think it is appropriate in this case to use one-time only funding to deal with those upfront costs,” said Rep. Dick Barrett, D-Missoula.

The main education funding bill, House Bill 15, has already passed through the House with votes to spare, but two other bills to expand state spending on education by about $61.5 million are likely to encounter more opposition in a Legislature that has promised to deliver an austere budget.

Although House Bill 459 has a much lower price-tag, opponents argue creating any new program is shortsighted during a tough recession that has already diminished state revenue estimates and that may worsen.

“We’re going to burden future legislators and future taxpayers with paying for this thing when we’re heading into a downturn,” said House Minority Leader Scott Sales, R-Bozeman. “This is the height of irresponsibility for us to start a new program without funding in place.”

But with many children in the state living in areas where districts can only afford to offer limited class choices, distance learning could be the only way to ensure all Montana kids have access to a quality education, supporters said.

The program would be governed by a board with representatives from the universities, the Office of Public Instruction, the office of the governor, the Montana Rural Education Association, School Administrators of Montana, the Montana School Board Association, the Board of Public Education and the teachers’ union MEA-MFT.