Virtual Schooling In The News

Beginning with the T.H.E. Journal’s Collaboration 2.0.

• Open Content in Practice
  A virtual high school in Utah shuns textbooks and relies on open content for 100 percent of its coursework. [More]
• Novachi Releases Free Online LMS and SIS
  A start-up company in California has launched a new, free, combined learning management system and student information system that intends to take on major competitors in the K-12 space. [More]

On to the ASCD SmartBrief.

Hybrid schools aim to combine best of both educational worlds
A small but growing number of hybrid schools are being created, which combine adaptive online curricula with face-to-face classes, science labs and other more traditional lessons. The schools are based on the premise that Web-based programs allow students to work at their own pace, giving teachers freedom from “teaching to the middle” and allowing them to provide more meaningful instruction. However, critics are concerned about the quality of the online curricula, whether hybrid learning will work for all students and a lack of research on the model. Harvard Education Letter (March/April 2011)

Also, Education Week’s Digital Directions.

>> E-Learning

+ Full-Time E-Learning Not Seen as Viable Option for Many

Even advocates concede that full- time virtual education might not be a good fit for students with both parents working outside the home. (Digital Directions)

And the School CIO.

Top School CIO Stories – 03.03.11

• Snow days don’t keep kids from learning in Illinois

Finally, the Education Tech News.

Online programs a win-win for schools & students
Arizona State University nearly tripled its student enrollment over the past decade. How? More…

Now back to the regular Yahoo! News Alert for virtual school.

Westmoreland charter school opens 2nd location
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:00 PM PST
A former parish hall in the tiny borough of New Florence will soon be outfitted with computers and staffed with teachers as a rapidly expanding virtual charter school opens its second physical location in northeastern Westmoreland County.

Unified considers virtual elementary school
Kenosha News Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:53 PM PST
This story is available to registered account holders. Login now or follow the links below to register or open an account.

Scofield middle school students log on to high school classes
Stamford Advocate Sat, 26 Feb 2011 15:58 PM PST
Joe Butkovsky, a math teacher at Scofield Magnet Middle School, works with students on their high school classes through an asynchronous online program called virtual high school in Stamford, Conn. on Friday February 18, 2011.

Arizona Connectons Academy (ACA) Appoints Brian Rosta as New Principal
dBusinessNews.com Sun, 27 Feb 2011 22:22 PM PST
Phoenix – Connections Academy has announced Brian Rosta as the new principal of Arizona Connections Academy, the state’s high-quality, highly accountable virtual public school serving Arizona students grades K-12. Rosta takes over for Linda Harless, who has been appointed to the new Utah Connections Academy.

Abilene schools tie into technology to teach students
Abilene Reflector-Chronicle Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:17 AM PST
“Blending” is the new catch phrase in education. Last year it was “Virtual” education. U.S.D. 435 piloted the virtual school a year ago. The Virtual School is technology driven in that most of the learning is done through computer programs.

Connections Academy Virtual School in Partnership with Sperry Public Schools Comes to Oklahoma – Approved to Open for …
PRWeb via Yahoo! News Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:45 PM PST
New Public Virtual School to Serve Grades K-8 Statewide; High-Quality, Tuition-Free, Public Education Option for Oklahoma Families, March 31st Enrollment Deadline

Charter school student activity bill passes Senate
Tifton Gazette Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:22 PM PST
The Senate has approved a bill that would allow students in charter and virtual schools to participate in extracurricular activities at public schools when those activities are not available at their school.

Virtual class to bring storm chasing to Texas schools
The Oklahoma Daily Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:20 PM PST
Students in Texas will get an Oklahoma education Wednesday morning when renowned storm chaser and star of Discovery Channel’s “Storm Chasers” Reed Timmer takes students on a virtual tour of the National Weather Center via video conference, according to a release. The program, “Extreme Weather,” will be broadcast by Discovery Education and will be shown to elementary and middle school classrooms …

UCO pays $60K to get out of charter school deal
The Oklahoman Tue, 01 Mar 2011 17:51 PM PST
The University of Central Oklahoma paid the founders of Epic One on One Charter School $60,000 to get out of a contract to sponsor the statewide virtual school for the next five years, documents show. A meeting agenda revealed the settlement amount between the University of Central Oklahoma and Epic One on One Charter School after officials at the Edmond university declined to release the …

UCO pays charter school $60,000 to break contract
Tulsa World Thu, 03 Mar 2011 00:42 AM PST
The University of Central Oklahoma paid the founders of the Epic One on One Charter School $60,000 to get out of a contract to sponsor the statewide virtual school for five years, documents show.

Charter school student activity bill passes Senate
Eyewitness News Memphis Wed, 02 Mar 2011 14:27 PM PST
The Senate has approved a bill that would allow students in charter and virtual schools to participate in extracurricular activities at public schools when those activities are not available at…

Blue Ridge International Academy(TM) Becomes EdOptions Online Academy(TM)
Marketwire Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:42 PM PST
FALLS CHURCH, VA–(Marketwire – March 2, 2011) – EdOptions, an award-winning, online educational technology company , is rebranding its virtual secondary school division from Blue Ridge International Academy to EdOptions Online Academy. The Academy will continue to provide online middle- and high school curriculum with certified teacher support , along with some new educational solutions for …

Sperry to offer virtual school
Tulsa World Fri, 04 Mar 2011 08:53 AM PST
Sperry Public Schools will partner next school year with a Maryland company to offer full-time, tuition-free public virtual school for Oklahoma students in kindergarten through eighth grade, a school spokesman …

Florida education news: Race to the Top, teacher protests, virtual school and more
St. Petersburg Times Fri, 04 Mar 2011 03:39 AM PST
TACKLING TRUANCY: Hernando school and law enforcement officials get serious about keeping kids in school and off the streets. More here . (Times file photo of Pinellas truancy court) GIVE IT BACK? A Pasco School Board member suggests the district consider backing out of Race to the Top . PLAYING FAVORITES: Critics suggest a proposed law to give restricted tax information to a Florida school …

Next the Yahoo! News Alert for cyber school.

LL Family School expands grades, curriculum and alternative programs
Valencia County News-Bulletin Sat, 26 Feb 2011 05:14 AM PST
The Los Lunas Family School is expanding for the 2011-12 school year to include ninth through 12th grades, with a combination of live classroom and E2020 cyber academy.

Quakertown adds high school classes
The Morning Call Fri, 25 Feb 2011 18:11 PM PST
Higher-level TV production, forensics offered. For students at Quakertown High School, course selections for the next school year will be a bit like a Chinese menu, with a column of new electives as well as the ability to blend regular and cyber learning in the same day.

PA Cyber Launches National Honor Society Chapter
PR Newswire via Yahoo! News Tue, 01 Mar 2011 07:47 AM PST
PHILADELPHIA, March 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — In a ceremony Monday at the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School Eastern Support Center, 14 students lit candles and recited a pledge to uphold the National Honor Society ideals of character, scholarship, leadership and service. They are the first members of the newly formed NHS Chapter at PA Cyber.

Military Dad in Iraq Sees Daughter Graduate From PA Cyber
PR Newswire via Yahoo! News Thu, 03 Mar 2011 11:42 AM PST
HARRISBURG, Pa., March 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Though stationed in Iraq, U.S. Army Maj. Jay Eckhart got to see his daughter graduate from high school after all.

Army sees cyber ed grads as high risk
The Daily Item Thu, 03 Mar 2011 03:51 AM PST
An education in a school of the future cost a Danville youth his graduation plans. Justin Merrill had planned for years to join the Army immediately after graduating from high school. His high school, in this case, was the Agora Cyber Charter School, one of 13 online schools in Pennsylvania chartered by the state’s Department of Education.

Moving on to the Google News Alert for virtual school.

Virtual school for Southwest Virginia proposed
TriCities.com
By David Mcgee Southwest Virginia school divisions should consider establishing a virtual school in this part of the state, Bristol Virginia school Superintendent Mark Lineburg said Thursday. Speaking during a joint meeting of the Bristol, Va., …
See all stories on this topic »

Lt. Gov. Cawley Explores Virtual Learning
PR Newswire (press release)
Jim Cawley yesterday toured The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School’s Harrisburg facility, where teachers and school administrators demonstrated a virtual class and discussed how their innovative approaches and use of digital learning tools are improving …
See all stories on this topic »

Lawmakers to take up decisive ed issues in session
MiamiHerald.com
By CHRISTINE ARMARIO AP MIAMI — Major cuts to school budgets as federal stimulus funding dries up. Tying teacher evaluations to student performance on standardized tests. Expanding vouchers and virtual school programs. The upcoming legislative session …
See all stories on this topic »

Virtual classrooms stay open even in worst weather
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“It most often happened with AP classes, but Chinese and English classes had discussions online and teachers used a variety of ways to keep students connected to school work, from minimal assignments to full, virtual classrooms,” she said. …
See all stories on this topic »

System for virtual Virginia academy flawed, critics say
The Virginian-Pilot
Aliyah Then, left, 10, and her sister Shanitae, 14, right, find the section of textbook where the online school lesson assessment directs at their home in Chesapeake on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2011. They both are enrolled in a virtual/online school. …
See all stories on this topic »

Finally, the Google News Alert for cyber school.

Pa. Cyber Charter School satisfies students, teachers, parents
abc27
For many midstate parents, the future is now – and it’s here in this Harrisburg hub of the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School. Parent Christy Lower of Elizabethville was going to send her twin daughters to a Christian school since she wasn’t happy with …
See all stories on this topic »

Cyber grads face military’s bias
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Cyber school diplomas are categorized for recruiting purposes as “Tier 2,” a classification that includes GEDs and is seen as less desirable than “Tier 1,” which includes a traditional high school diploma. Each branch limits the number of Tier 2 …
See all stories on this topic »

Oklahoma Calvert Academy introduces Tuition-Free Virtual Cyber School
Release-news.com (press release)
Traditional classrooms that employ old-school methods of teaching and instruction are now passé. Virtual schools where students are taught through the Internet are the modern way of providing quality education. Cyber schools right from the elementary …
See all stories on this topic »