ahead of the law

I love when politicians get ahead of themselves. Gov. Snider has this  "Any Time, Any Place, Any Way, Any Pace" learning model of education. Which is making our k-8 virtual program possible. However the funding model is based on butt in seats. Virtual programs have to obtain seat time waivers. The current standard for issues seat time waivers  requires a two way interaction between student and mentor teacher on a weekly basis. This is based on research showing programs with the best success have this level of contact.  Which is best practices.

The rub
What do you do when the student is unable or unwillingly to use email or phones. In our program we have a great challenge getting that two way interaction. It's a two fold problem. One it's not developmental appropriate for a kindergartner to be emailing. Their curriculum is learning letters. Two our client base is the home school community. These parents are protective of their children. Many of them no not allow children to email or talk on the phone to strangers. And we did to support their choices.

But there is a documentation standard to meet the funding. And the requirement is based on research. It's a good idea.

So in our meeting with pupil accounting we had questions that went all the way to MDE pupil accounting. And then over to MDE learning services. Where it will take some time.

This is like the medical field getting ahead of what the laws allow. However in this situation it was not a scientist that opened Pandora's Box but the governor himself.