May 22, 2012 6:15 PM

FLORENCE SHAPIRO TAKES EXCEPTION WITH NEW REPORT ON VIRTUAL SCHOOL NETWORK

The outgoing Senate Education chairwoman says the criticisms are about maintaining the status quo, not pushing for progress

Senate Education Chair Florence Shapiro (R-Plano) has brushed off attacks from Progress Texas that she is in bed with the virtual school industry in her role as a member of the American Legislative Exchange Council’s education committee.

Progress Texas, part of the larger national ALEC Exposed campaign, released reports this morning calling the state’s virtual school network “a $24 billion industry with virtually no accountability” that provides “unregulated financial windfalls to a few insiders by shortchanging our children’s education.”

The group offers a report, Invisible Schools, Invisible Success, which criticizes the state of virtual education in classes and schools around the country. Shapiro, who has carried virtual legislation with departing Rep. Jerry Madden (R-Richardson), called the report part of a coordinated nationwide attack on free market solutions.

By Kimberly Reeves