MADISON, Wis. -- Virtual schools would remain open under new regulations in a compromise announced by Wisconsin lawmakers Thursday.

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A court ruling had threatened to close a dozen Wisconsin virtual schools starting as early as next school year. But lawmakers said those schools would be allowed to stay open with few changes and receive the same level of state aid as they do currently under their bipartisan plan.

The compromise comes a week after hundreds of virtual school families rallied at the state Capitol to urge lawmakers to keep the schools open.

The schools allow students to learn from home under the guidance of their parents and instructors who teach over the Internet. Enrollment in virtual schools is growing.

State lawmakers said their plan will keep virtual schools open for the more than 3,000 students who like learning online from teachers in a different school district. The deal continues to give virtual schools $6,000 per open-enrollment student, WISC-TV reported.

But the plan also mandates a slew of new operating rules, including tougher certification for online instructors and a way for parents and students to contact and complain to virtual school staff. Schools would have to offer a certain number of hours of instruction per year.

Sen. John Lehman of Racine said those measures would ensure quality instruction and increase accountability.

"Wisconsin is and will remain a leader in education policy in our country if we embrace new and innovative technology for our students and give parents the ability to choose the best educational options," said Rep. Brett Davis, the chair of Assembly Education Committee, at a news conference announcing the deal Thursday.

Wisconsin Schools Superintendent Libby Burmaster, who oversees the state Department of Public Instruction, on Thursday praised the bipartisan effort made to resolve policy issues involving virtual education.

"This is what we need to do at this point in time, putting our children first and understanding the lives of our families and schools and children," Burmaster said.

A key piece of the deal lets the Department of Public Instruction set up its own Web academies, which might have helped mute some of the long-held criticism that virtual schools drain much-needed money away from regular school districts.

WEAC, the state's largest teacher's union, on Thursday voiced that concern again but said it would analyze the entire bill before deciding whether to support it.

Lawmakers predicted that both houses will soon move to pass the compromise.