WA: Two Coalitions, Two Bills

Lots of activity this year in the Evergreen State! Something of an unsung pioneer among online learning states, Washington has one state-level, non-profit aggregator of online resources called the Digital Learning Commons, plus dozens of district-based online programs offering both supplemental and full-time online learning to students across the state. In addition to trail-blazing homegrown programs like the Federal Way Internet Academy, a growing handful of these are significant-sized full-time programs operated in partnership with national providers.
Last fall, these digital learning "coopetitors" - who had been meeting informally for several years - formally organized as the Washington Coalition for Online Learning (WaCOL), a soon-to-be affiliate of iNACOL. A parents' coalition, Washington Families for Online Learning, is also getting off the ground.

Both groups are now tracking TWO bills in the Washington State Legislature:

* SB5378 - Clarifies the process for accreditation of digital learning programs and specifically names WaCOL as a having a role in recommending accrediting bodies. This bill passed the Senate unanimously and is currently in the House Education Committee. See http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5378&year=2009

* SB5410 - This more complex and controversial bill would establish a state-level process for approving "multi-district online programs," which under current law are the purview of the districts (with some state reporting). The bill would also create a one-stop-shopping information source for parents and students seeking programs. SB5410 passed the Senate on March 9 and will have a hearing in the House Education Committee on St. Patrick's Day. See http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=5410&year=2009