If education leaders in California get their way, voters will have a chance to vote to provide all students in the Golden State the opportunity to receive an education that works for them.
The California Student Bill of Rights Initiative, organized by Education Forward, would break down the barriers between students and all of the education options available to them. Students would have the freedom to choose an education that addresses their needs through an online program of their choice.
Students whose schools do not offer the required courses or enough sections to qualify them for admission to the University of California or California State University would no longer be forced to stay at the school and abandon their dreams of college.
One of the leaders of the initiative, David Haglund, principal of Riverside Virtual School, said the initiative would "create a right of access. ZIP codes should not determine college readiness ? not with technologies that have the ability to deliver synchronous and asynchronous learning environments."
Online providers, which though the program could be districts, charter schools, community colleges, or private companies, would need to adhere to the following quality standards:
· The courses would need to be certified by the University of California as A-G eligible
· The online provider must be accredited
· Teachers must possess California teaching credentials or the equivalent if a college instructor
· The online provider would be required to document student work
· Students would be required to pass a proctored end-of-year examination
Signature gathering for the initiative is set to begin next month. Education Forward, which is chaired by Haglund, looks to raise about $25 million to run the campaign.
Hopefully Californians recognize that all students should be given their equal chance at pursuing their dreams of a college education and vote to approve the initiative, should it land on the ballot next fall.
