Audit: Wis. Virtual Schools Close to Capacity

Audit finds increasing popularity of online education.

The continued popularity of Wisconsin’s virtual schools is pushing them near capacity, which may force the state legislature to revisit an enrollment cap put in place two years ago, according to a recent audit .

The state’s 15 virtual schools offer classes from kindergarten through high school over the Internet, allowing students to attend from home. Such schools have been growing in popularity in Wisconsin and nationwide as an alternative for students who want to take courses not available at their regular schools, or who may not otherwise perform as well in a traditional school.

But the future of Wisconsin’s virtual schools was put in jeopardy when a state appeals court ruled in 2007 that the largest one, Wisconsin Virtual Academy , was operating in violation of open-enrollment, charter school, and teacher-licensing laws. The lawsuit was brought by the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the...