The COVID-19 pandemic forced Oregon students to start the year online, but some families are choosing that option for the entire school year. Enrollment in virtual charter schools is up and some say lawmakers should raise the cap on how many students can choose this option. The statewide teachers' union — the Oregon Education Association — is against that idea, arguing that virtual charter schools are less equitable for students with special needs or who speak English as a second language. There’s also the issue of funding because every student who leaves their local school district takes thousands of dollars in state money with them. We hear from Eric Fruits, research director at the Cascade Policy Institute, and John Larson, president of the Oregon Education Association.
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