Letter: Students suffer consequences of poor decision

Monday, April 24, 2000 | 8:58 a.m.

First, we were never promised 24-hour access to a teacher. According to the charter, which the department approved, "Each teacher will be required to spend a minimum of one hour per week with each child," and "the curriculum can be accessed from the computer, learning opportunities will be available 7 days a week."

Second, in the audit 10 student entries were criticized. My daughter's sheet contains 63 entries. In the audit period that is 486,864 possible entries. Yet 10 were unsatisfactory. The audit mentioned walking, football and Bible reading. Isn't P.E. an activity that leads to improving child fitness? Football and walking don't qualify? Why is reading the Bible not reading? Finally, only 55 students are said to meet attendance standards. Clearly in the charter it states "the days attended will be determined ... by the number of sessions the student has logged on to the computerized program, the work outside of the computer, testing results, and personal interviews." The department only counted teacher instruction.

My anger is with the Department of Education. Why wait until now to deny funding? Why not in September during the first audit process? Why approve the charter when it clearly states attendance policies? By denying funding 336 children are being hurt. Some have medical problems and did not succeed in public school. In Odyssey they thrive. I challenge the department to pick students, test them, and show us Odyssey has failed. Seems to me the Nevada Department of Education is at its finest, denying quality education to its youth. It doesn't surprise me that our state is nationally ranked 45th in education.

KATHLEEN AMPER

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