Virtual Schooling in the News

A little more than normal this week. Beginning a little differently today as well, with an item from the ASCD SmartBrief.

Largest U.S. virtual school still growing

At least 2,700 full-time and up to 52,000 part-time secondary students take online classes at Florida Virtual School, the country's largest. Nationally an estimated 500,000 to 1 million students learn online at 170 virtual charter schools, which equates to about 1% to 2% of the total public school population.

eSchool News (8/17)

Continuing the irregular items, this one from eSchool News.

Florida leads growth in virtual schooling

As a seventh-grader, Kelsey-Anne Hizer was getting mostly Ds and Fs and thought teachers at her Ocala, Fla., middle school weren't giving her the help she needed. She was ready to give up.... Full Story

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

Florida leading in virtual learning
Sarasota Herald-Tribune Sun, 19 Aug 2007 3:08 AM PDT

TALLAHASSEE -- As a seventh-grader, Kelsey-Anne Hizer was getting mostly D's and F's and felt teachers at her Ocala middle school were not giving her the help she needed. She was ready to give up.

Arizona Virtual Academy Students Log On Back to School
PR Newswire via Yahoo! News Mon, 20 Aug 2007 1:01 PM PDT

This time of year students across the country prepare to head back to school. But for thousands of Arizona students lessons are just a click away through the Arizona Virtual Academy (AZVA) -- a statewide public virtual school serving students in grades K-11. Monday, August 13 marked AZVA's first day of school.

Arkansas Virtual Academy Begins 2007 School Year
PR Newswire via Yahoo! News Mon, 20 Aug 2007 1:03 PM PDT

Arkansas students from across the state are heading back to school today. But rather than heading to the bus stop, hundreds of Arkansas Virtual Academy (ARVA) students are logging on to their computers to access their individualized learning programs using the innovative online curriculum developed by K12 Inc.

Idaho Virtual Academy Begins 2007 School Year
PR Newswire via Yahoo! News Mon, 20 Aug 2007 2:43 PM PDT

Students from across the state head back to school today. But rather than heading to the bus stop, more than 2,400 Idaho Virtual Academy (IDVA) students in grades K-11 will log on to their computers to access their individualized learning programs using the innovative K12 curriculum and materials.

District offers online alternative to classroom
Antelope Valley Press Tue, 21 Aug 2007 9:13 AM PDT

This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Tuesday, August 21, 2007. ACTON - About 20 students in the Acton-Agua Dulce School District started school this summer from the comfort of their family computers, through the Vasquez Virtual Academy.

Virtual academy has information night
The Olympian Wed, 22 Aug 2007 4:02 AM PDT

Washington Virtual Academy, run through the Steilacoom Historical School District and Monroe Public Schools, is hosting a series of parent information sessions across the state, including in Olympia, about the online school. The tuition-free online public virtual school program serves about 1,500 students across the state in grades K-10. The program has run its kindergarten through eighth grade ...

Arkansas Students Start Cyber-School
FOX 16 Little Rock Tue, 21 Aug 2007 8:22 PM PDT

Most Arkansas students have to take the bus to school as classes start back up this week. But for 500 kids taking part in the Arkansas Virtual Academy's first year...

Arkansas Students Start Cyber-School
CW Arkansas Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:18 PM PDT

Most Arkansas students have to take the bus to school as classes start back up this week. But for 500 kids taking part in the Arkansas Virtual Academy's first year as a charter school, the day's lessons are as close as the computer. The school is open to anyone from kindergarten to eighth grade.

K12 Inc. Receives National Certification
PR Newswire via Yahoo! News Wed, 22 Aug 2007 6:13 AM PDT

K12 Inc. -- a leading national provider of high-quality curriculum and school services -- received national certification by the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA). K12 Inc. is the largest national K-12 virtual school provider to be recognized by CITA.

Students Take Classes On Cyberspace
ABC News 4 Charleston Tue, 21 Aug 2007 3:42 PM PDT

This year learning may have gotten more convenient as a new program allows South Carolina students to take courses online. Starting September 3 rd students can take a variety of courses right from their own living room through a new virtual school program online.

Lawrence district numbers up, with help from virtual school
Lawrence Journal-World Fri, 24 Aug 2007 1:19 PM PDT

Preliminary enrollment numbers are 10,539 as of this week.

Doha Academy of Qatar Deploys the Learn.com LearnCenter Platform to Provide a Global Virtual Classroom for Students, ...
PRWeb Fri, 24 Aug 2007 0:24 AM PDT

Learn.com®, the leader in on-demand workforce development and productivity, announced today that Doha Academy, a private Islamic school located in the Middle Eastern country of Qatar, has selected the LearnCenter® platform to provide a virtual classroom for students, teachers, parents and global visitors to the academy's Web site. (PRWeb Aug 24, 2007) Post Comment:Trackback URL: ...

Doha Academy of Qatar Deploys the Learn.com LearnCenter Platform to Provide a Global Virtual Classroom for Students, ...
PRWeb via Yahoo! News Fri, 24 Aug 2007 0:01 AM PDT

Learn.com®, the leader in on-demand workforce development and productivity, announced today that Doha Academy, a private Islamic school located in the Middle Eastern country of Qatar, has selected the LearnCenter® platform to provide a virtual classroom for students, teachers, parents and global visitors to the academy's Web site.

Moving to the Yahoo! News alert for cyber school.

School swaps pencils for cyber studying
Asbury Park Press Mon, 20 Aug 2007 1:36 AM PDT

Hunterdon County Polytech Institute of Advanced Studies is now giving its students the option to swap pencils for keyboards through cyber classrooms, that can be accessed anytime, anywhere.

Bill would limit funding to cyber schools
The Daily American Mon, 20 Aug 2007 2:01 AM PDT

School districts across the state are deciding if they want to support a bill that would decrease the amount of money given to cyber charter schools. About 50 school districts have approved resolutions supporting House Bill 446.

Bill would limit funding to cyber schools
The Daily American Tue, 21 Aug 2007 9:18 AM PDT

School districts across the state are deciding if they want to support a bill that would decrease the amount of money given to cyber charter schools. About 50 school districts have approved resolutions supporting House Bill 446.

Arkansas Students Start Cyber-School
FOX 16 Little Rock Tue, 21 Aug 2007 8:22 PM PDT

Most Arkansas students have to take the bus to school as classes start back up this week. But for 500 kids taking part in the Arkansas Virtual Academy's first year...

Arkansas Students Start Cyber-School
CW Arkansas Tue, 21 Aug 2007 11:18 PM PDT

Most Arkansas students have to take the bus to school as classes start back up this week. But for 500 kids taking part in the Arkansas Virtual Academy's first year as a charter school, the day's lessons are as close as the computer. The school is open to anyone from kindergarten to eighth grade.

Bill would limit funding to cyber schools
The Daily American Tue, 21 Aug 2007 10:51 PM PDT

School districts across the state are deciding if they want to support a bill that would decrease the amount of money given to cyber charter schools. About 50 school districts have approved resolutions supporting House Bill 446.

Next the Google News alert for virtual school.

Florida leads growth in virtual schooling
eSchool News - Bethesda,MD,USA

The oldest and largest virtual school in the country, Florida Virtual School is still growing. Although some have raised questions about funding and the ... [See all stories on this topic]

South Carolina Creates Statewide Internet-Based Learning Program
The Heartland Institute - Chicago,IL,USA

Mark Sanford (R) on May 17 creating the South Carolina Virtual School Program as an occasion for more students--especially higher-performing ones--to access ...[See all stories on this topic]

Grapevine: Vintage grad accepted to aeronautical school
Napa Valley Register - Napa,CA,USA

The girls, in ninth and seventh grades respectively, submitted essays about their civic involvement and experiences in a public virtual school to qualify. ...[See all stories on this topic]

Arizona Virtual Academy Students Log On Back to School
PR Newswire (press release) - New York,NY,USA

But for thousands of Arizona students lessons are just a click away through the Arizona Virtual Academy (AZVA) -- a statewide public virtual school serving ... [See all stories on this topic]

Finally, the Google News alert for cyber school.

School swaps pencils for cyber studying
Asbury Park Press - Asbury Park,NJ,USA

Hunterdon County Polytech Institute of Advanced Studies is now giving its students the option to swap pencils for keyboards through cyber classrooms, ... [See all stories on this topic]

Cyber School Provides Unique Education
Evening Bulletin - Philadelphia,PA,USA

Tulli said the public's understanding of cyber school accountability has become particularly relevant since the introduction in the state House of ... [See all stories on this topic]

Cyber Ed could take cue from Knowledge Channel
Manila Times - Philippines

The Cyber Education Project has gained support from the National Association of Public Secondary School Heads Inc. It praised the DepEd "for prioritizing a ... [See all stories on this topic]

Cyber Charter Schooling Battle Culminates In Haverford
Evening Bulletin - Philadelphia,PA,USA

"Because we receive less [money], we dedicate almost 80 percent of what we get for instruction," Williams said, describing the rigorous cyber school ... [See all stories on this topic]

Answering Your Frequently Asked Questions About Charter Schools
Evening Bulletin - Philadelphia,PA,USA

Question: Don't cyber schools drive up property taxes? * Cyber school funding represents less than 1 percent of all expenditures for public schools. ... [See all stories on this topic]

Tags: virtual school, cyber school, high school, education