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WISCONSIN

WIVA: A Trojan horse

Wisconsin Virtual Acad-emy (WIVA), a charter school operated by the Northern Ozaukee School District, has begun offering homeschooling families across the state "open enrollment" with its school district so they can participate in the WIVA program beginning this fall.

The "freebies" proffered to families who enroll in WIVA include curriculum, equipment (including laptop computers), software, Internet access, and the expertise of certified teachers.

On its face, this may appear to be a good deal. However, Home School Legal Defense Association wants our members, along with all homeschooling families, to understand the ramifications of this seemingly harmless program in order to make an informed decision regarding enrollment. HSLDA recommends against enrolling your children in WIVA for the following reasons.

First, if you enroll in WIVA, you will no longer be considered a private homeschooler, and you will not be eligible for membership in HSLDA. Our goal at HSLDA is to work to protect the right of parents to privately homeschool free from government controls and restrictions.

Second, WIVA is a public school. If you enroll your children in WIVA to receive free curriculum and a laptop, your children will be considered public school students, making them subject to public school districts' authority. HSLDA has observed that in other states with similar "virtual" charter school programs, increasing regulations are gradually placed on participating families each year.

Third, the government never offers "free" goodies without cost. HSLDA is opposed to WIVA because when you enroll in such a program, you waive the rights that many people in your state, including Wisconsin Christian Home Educators Association and HSLDA, have fought hard to preserve. In exchange for the "benefits" WIVA promises to homeschool families, the program will:

>>	develop personal learning plans for your children;
>>	assess your children accordingly;
>>	require you to use its own secular curriculum;
>>	subject your family to certified teachers' scrutiny;
>>	require your children to participate in all required state assessments; and
>>	reduce parents' role from teacher to "learning coach."

For decades, private homeschooling has enabled families to provide their children with an excellent, customized education. Wisconsin Virtual Academy is an attempt by the government to create small public schools in our homes. Educational freedom and educational "freebies" are not the same thing. Don't allow government programs masquerading as friends to take away your homeschool freedom.

— by Christopher J. Klicka