The way they will do this is by making the rule that you cannot participate in a school district's program unless you reside in the district. If you live in a neighboring district, you can use the program, but you have to spend 20% of your instructional time in the school itself being instructed by a certified teacher of Washington State. I wouldn't have a problem with this except for the fact that not all school districts have a parent partnership program. If my local district had one, I would use it. But it doesn't and neither do any of the neighboring districts.
I've written letters to my legislators explaining how our particular program works and why they shouldn't change the laws. Hopefully other parents in our and other programs across the state are doing the same. It would be a shame to lose the support we have been receiving. But if the changes do occur and we do have to leave the program, I am confident that we will do just fine on our own. The kids won't have the opportunities they have had in the past, but they will continue to be in rich learning environment here at home.
In a sad, twisted sort of way, regulating these programs like this is actually really bad for their budget. Everyone knows that cash flow is increased by reduced spending...but it is also influenced by Making More Money. In the 2010-2011 school year, the public schools spent $10,013 per student. Every student in the parent partnership program brings in full funding from the district's funding sources, but they use only a small, small percentage of that. I teach for free. My kids don't ride a bus. And they don't use the bathrooms, electricity, or lunch room. When the families leave the programs, the school districts lose their extra cash... oh well!
