Virtual Schooling In The News

Beginning with the ASCD SmartBrief.

Idaho school offers model of online learning in the state
Staff and students at the Idaho Virtual Academy, the state’s largest and oldest online charter, say a statewide push to increase online learning at all schools is leading to misconceptions about the realities of virtual schools. They assert that computers do not take the place of teachers — the school has more than 80 certified educators — and that students take on a rigorous curriculum. The students connect with their peers and teachers regularly using software and other equipment. The Idaho Statesman (Boise) (3/13)

Back to the regular Yahoo! News alert for virtual school.

LAKE ELSINORE: Trustees name online school
The Californian Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:48 PM PST
The new online school to open in Lake Elsinore this year will be called Southern California Virtual Academy.

Florida Virtual School
FOX 35 Orlando Fri, 11 Mar 2011 21:10 PM PST
Thousands of students are taking classes online and getting an education in the comforts of home.

Idaho lawmakers want to give kids computers and require some online courses. Idaho Virtual Academy has done it for 9 …
The Idaho Statesman Sat, 12 Mar 2011 22:29 PM PST
Based in a Meridian business park and powered by the K12 education company, the Idaho Virtual Academy is the state’s oldest and largest online charter school, with 3,000 students from 43 counties. Read more Transforming Education stories

Virtual education boom hits the states
PhysOrg Mon, 14 Mar 2011 11:38 AM PDT
A few years ago, when he was governor of West Virginia, Bob Wise attended a graduation ceremony at Pickens High School in Randolph County, a tiny school on top of a mountain where the graduating class consisted of only two students. As he was leaving, he asked the principal how the school was able to attract foreign language teachers.

Local Online School Begins Enrollment
KREX-TV Grand Junction Mon, 14 Mar 2011 10:27 AM PDT
School District 51 kicks off enrollment and registration for Grand River Virtual Academy. GRVA is an online, public school and is tuition-free for students.

District 51 online school passes pilot test, expands
The Daily Sentinel Sun, 13 Mar 2011 23:07 PM PDT
After one year as a pilot program, Grande River Virtual Academy officially will become a part of School District 51’s permanent academic options this fall. The online school debuted in fall 2010 as a program for ninth- through 12th-graders who had previously dropped out of school.

VLN Partners’ Virtual Learning Program Reduces Education Costs
redOrbit Tue, 15 Mar 2011 20:06 PM PDT
PITTSBURGH, March 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — VLN Partners, LLC announced today the formation of their regional online education program called, “The Southwestern PA Virtual School Consortium,” that will help school districts establish their own district-level virtual academies. As the leading provider of customized public school district virtual learning programs in Pennsylvania, VLN’s consortium …

Registration begins for Virtual Academy
The Sacramento Bee Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:19 PM PDT
Registration has started for the Virtual Academy in the Elk Grove Unified School District.The acad

GRHS joining ‘Virtual High School’
The Record Wed, 16 Mar 2011 23:02 PM PDT
In September Glen Ridge High School plans to join “Virtual High School,” a program that allows students to take online courses and interact with high school students around the world

COMMUNITY COMMENT: Virtual schools would drain money
Evansville Courier & Press Wed, 16 Mar 2011 22:00 PM PDT
Charter schools are often thought of as a brick and mortar building like a traditional school building. Currently there are 62 charter schools.

Online academies now enrolling for 2011-2012
Elk Grove Citizen Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:58 PM PDT
The Elk Grove Unified School District on-line Virtual Academy is now accepting registration for the 2011-2012 school year for students in grades K-12.

Next the Yahoo! News alert for cyber school.

Suburban looks at its own cyber program
The York Dispatch Fri, 11 Mar 2011 22:11 PM PST
Like many school districts around York County, York Suburban is looking into creating its own cyber education program to decrease costs.

Waterford district’s Cyber Academy enrolling for 2011-2012 school year
The Oakland Press Tue, 15 Mar 2011 17:52 PM PDT
The Waterford School District is accepting enrollment of Waterford Cyber Academy students for the next school year.

District trying to lure back students from cyberschools
Reading Eagle Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:08 PM PDT
The Tulpehocken School District is trying to bring students who live in the district back from cyber charter schools to close budget gaps, Dr. Edward Albert, superintendent, told residents at Tuesday night’s school board meeting.

Moving on to the Google News alert for virtual school.

Virtual school is realistically a catastrophe
The Massachusetts Daily Collegian
You are not in home school, you’re in virtual school, which is already in practice in Massachusetts. There is a virtual school nearby in Greenfield at the Mass Virtual Academy. So rather than being obnoxiously sheltered like home school, you’re stuck …
See all stories on this topic »

Florida poised to make big splash in online education
Tbo.com
Dayvonna Maydwell works on a computer in the Virtual Learning Center at the Bob Gilbertson Central City Family YMCA. By ELAINE SILVESTRINI | The Tampa Tribune Supporters say expanding the Virtual School prepares children for college and work, …
See all stories on this topic »

British school in Libya sets up virtual classrooms
Telegraph.co.uk
A British school in Libya is resorting to virtual classrooms and web-based social networks after political strife forced it to close and its staff to flee the country. Libya rebel fighters take cover as a bomb dropped by an airforce fighter jet …
See all stories on this topic »

ROMOLAND: Middle school pilots virtual instruction
Press-Enterprise
“There’s a lot of safety in learning” in the virtual environment, she said, because students work at their own pace. Most of the classroom instruction in Connell’s class comes via computer-based lessons using curriculum from the Florida Virtual School, …
See all stories on this topic »

Proponents of Virtual Schools Hope for Security
KBND
Less than one percent of Oregon school kids are enrolled in Virtual School programs. The Oregon Virtual Public Schools Alliance wants that to change. Cindy McGraw is the group’s President and says they are educating legislators at a daylong visit to …
See all stories on this topic »

Will the General Assembly kill online learning?
The Daily Progress
While the Old Dominion overwhelmingly approved a virtual school law last year, a Senate budget amendment will likely result in shutting down the state’s only full-time virtual school — and prevent opening any future ones. To understand why, let’s dig …
See all stories on this topic »

Time now for virtual schools
Odessa American
Virtual schools in several states have proven to be more successful and cost-effective than traditional brick-and-mortar public schools. The Florida Virtual School, one of the country’s first major digital learning initiatives, projects that it will …
See all stories on this topic »

Coed play is revisited
Boston Globe
They believe public schools competing against schools with no boundaries is a “clear inequity.” The board sent the issue to the next Tournament Management Committee meeting April 4. ■Virtual schools — The Greenfield School Committee approved the …
See all stories on this topic »

House vote on bill to expand charter school law delayed after lengthy caucus
OregonLive.com
By Kimberly Melton, The Oregonian As virtual charter school families rallied on the state capitol steps, the Oregon House was due to vote on House Bill 2287, which would expand charter school rights. But just before the bill was debated on the floor, …
See all stories on this topic »

Senators hear pros and cons of expanded charter schools
Louisville Courier-Journal
And Kenley also questioned why the bill provides additional funding for virtual schools. “I’m looking for somebody to show me the operating statements to see if that is a justified number,” Kenley said. Melissa Dewitt, a teacher at the Virtual Charter …
See all stories on this topic »

Finally, Google News alert for cyber school.

More cyber schools await Georgia students this fall
Atlanta Journal Constitution
The offerings could raise the number of full-time virtual schools approved by the state to six, with most, such as Georgia Cyber Academy, serving students statewide. Gwinnett Schools proposes a virtual high school this fall that will offer the same …
See all stories on this topic »

Suburban looks at its own cyber program
Yorkdispatch.com
Like many school districts around York County, York Suburban is looking into creating its own cyber education program to decrease costs. Assistant superintendents Patricia Maloney and Michele Merkle explained the program to school board members this …
See all stories on this topic »

PA Cyber Leader Lauds Innovation and Accountability Initiatives in Budget Proposal
PR Newswire (press release)
PA Cyber was launched in 2000, when 500 students enrolled. Today it serves 10000 students across Pennsylvania. In Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) math and reading tests, PA Cyber students last year met or surpassed every performance …
See all stories on this topic »