Virtual Learning Solutions Withdraws Charter for Online School

By Shannon Antinori 

There won't be an online charter school in Naperville anytime soon.

Virtual Learning Solutions, a nonprofit organization that had partnered with the for-profit K12 Inc.,  has halted its fight to open an online charter school known as the Illinois Virtual Charter School @ Fox River Valley.

The charter school faced an uphill battle after all 18 affected school boards — including those in Naperville School District 203 and nearby Valley View School District — voted against the proposal.

In May, District 203 school board members firmly rejected a proposal by K12 to open an online charter school.

Board members said they weren't against the idea of charter schools, but were opposed to K12's proposal due to numerous factors.

"I'm not against charter schools on principal, I'm against this charter school based on; it's just not credible, it doesn't have a credible plan, it didn't put together a credible or thoughtful application and there's no way, in my mind, they can serve our community," said Board President Mike Jaensch in May.

Virtual Learning Solutions was in the process of appealing all 18 school district denials when Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation that put a stop to new virtual charter schools for one year in the State of Illinois.

The executive director of the Illinois State Charter School Commission, Jeanne Nowaczewsk, said in a release on June 11 that she recommends, “to adopt staff recommendation to deny the 18 appeals filed by Virtual Learning Solutions … regarding the establishment of the Illinois Virtual Charter School at Fox River Valley.”

Earlier: Naperville District 203 Firmly Rejects Virtual Charter School