Virtual Schooling in the News

Sorry that I haven't been active this week, but things have been busy at work. Next week will be better.

Now, beginning a little differently with the DEC Weekly News.

NH's First Virtual High School To Open In Jan.
Source: eschoolnews.com


Starting next January, the New Hampshire Virtual Learning Academy will launch live and e-mail based classes for students looking to accelerate their traditional coursework, take Advanced Placement courses or even study for their SATs. The virtual charter school will be funded by a $500,000 start-up grant, the New Hampshire Education Trust and donations ... http://www.distance-educator.com/dnews/Article15589.phtml

Now back to the Yahoo! News alert for virtual school.

Tracy school board meetings may use electronic agenda
Tri-Valley Herald Sun, 23 Sep 2007 3:15 AM PDT


TRACY — Although the concept of a "virtual school board" where trustees conduct their business through holographic recreations is likely years away, the Tracy Unified School Board may embrace

Welcome to quotidienmutations.net
Quotidien Mutations Sun, 23 Sep 2007 1:37 PM PDT


Lesson Plan Award Winning Educational Products. Fun Learning ! Animated Movies, K-8 http://www.brainpop.com/ Virtual School See Why California Parents Choose Connections Academy.

Kaplan Virtual Education Launches Kaplan University High School
Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance Mon, 24 Sep 2007 5:30 AM PDT


FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.----Kaplan Virtual Education, a subsidiary of global education provider Kaplan, Inc., today announced the opening of Kaplan University High School, an online national high school.

Atlanta developing virtual classrooms
Alpena News Sun, 23 Sep 2007 6:55 PM PDT


Technology — friend or foe? That is the question the Atlanta School District is dealing with regarding its virtual high school. Students enrolled in the district can choose to take all of their classes online in the Atlanta Learning Center.

Welcome to quotidienmutations.net
Quotidien Mutations Sun, 23 Sep 2007 4:46 PM PDT


Homeschool Curriculum Accredited Programs For Grades 4-12 w/ Rolling Admission. Apply Today http://www.northtexasacademy.com/ Virtual School See Why California Parents Choose Connections Academy.

Welcome to quotidienmutations.net
Quotidien Mutations Sun, 23 Sep 2007 1:53 PM PDT


Virtual School See Why California Parents Choose Connections Academy. Grades K-12 http://www.connectionsacademy.com/ Lesson Plan Water Lesson plans for water crisis and World Water Day.

Competition increasing in online education options
Lawrence Journal-World Sun, 23 Sep 2007 8:18 PM PDT


On the surface, Lawrence resident Ben Knight, 17, is like any other high school senior. He has spent first through 11th grades in public schools, and last year he finished his junior year at Free State High School. But instead of returning for his senior year this fall, Knight is technically enrolled in the Manhattan-Ogden school district, in its virtual school, iQ Academy Kansas.

Baltimore County to test online school
The Frederick News-Post Tue, 25 Sep 2007 5:21 AM PDT

TOWSON — Baltimore County’s school system will start testing a free full-time online school this week. The Baltimore County Virtual Instruction Program, thought to be the first of its kind in Maryland, will provide certified teachers and lesson plans for home-schooled students.

How a Virtual AP Course Changed Her Son
Washington Post Tue, 25 Sep 2007 6:27 AM PDT

Maria Allen worried about her son Matthew's prospects in high school and beyond. He had always been regarded as an underachiever by his teachers. He received B's in middle school with virtually no effort because he did well on what were, she thought, very easy tests.

Online charter school waiver draws opposition from state
Newport News-Times Wed, 26 Sep 2007 10:43 AM PDT

The Oregon Education Association and the Oregon Virtual School District (OVSD) Advisory Council were among those who weighed in as the State Board of Education began discussions about a waiver request from local school officials pertaining to their effort to establish an online charter high school sponsored by the Lincoln County School District.

Baltimore County to test online school
The Daily Times Tue, 25 Sep 2007 4:10 PM PDT

TOWSON (AP) — Baltimore County’s school system will start testing a free full-time online school this week. The Baltimore County Virtual Instruction Program, thought to be the first of its kind in Maryland, will provide certified teachers and lesson plans for home-schooled students.

Cirque du Soleil setting up a 'virtual school'
Montreal Gazette Fri, 28 Sep 2007 0:31 AM PDT

The Cirque du Soleil is embarking on a one-year pilot project with the Eastern Townships School Board to create a "virtual school" to educate young performers who work under its big top as well as the children of adults featured in the shows.

Florida Virtual School Receives $314,000 AT&T Grant to Study Best Practices for Online Learning
PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance Thu, 27 Sep 2007 1:46 PM PDT

Florida Virtual School , a nationally recognized e-Learning model for developing and providing virtual K - 12 education solutions to students, will use a $314,000 grant to conduct a two-year project to gather best practices and methodologies for developing and delivering high-quality online learning for students.

Next the Yahoo! News alert for cyber school.

Teachers ask Lapus to scrap Cyber Ed
The Manila Times Tue, 25 Sep 2007 7:39 AM PDT

PUBLIC-school teachers want Education Secretary Jesli Lapus to scrap the P26.48-billion Cyber-Education Project and instead focus on undertaking basic reforms like solving the shortages in textbooks, teachers and classrooms and increasing the salary of teachers.

Cyber charter schools provide opportunities
South Hills Record Thu, 27 Sep 2007 8:53 AM PDT

Pennsylvania has 11 cyber charter schools with more than 20,000 students enrolled. And all those students need their tuition paid -- an issue that's gained critics on school boards, at the state level and in the Legislature. read more »

Moving on to the Google News alert for virtual school.

Competition increasing in online education options
Lawrence Journal World - Lawrence,KS,USA


Knight is a high school senior living in Lawrence but taking online classes at iQ Academy Kansas, a virtual school in the Manhattan-Ogden school district. ... [See all stories on this topic]

Basehor-Linwood school district releases official enrollment numbers
Basehor Sentinel - Bonner Springs,KS,USA


The Basehor-Linwood Virtual School also gives the district's enrollment a boost. While the majority of Virtual School students do not live within district ... [See all stories on this topic]

NH's first virtual high school to open in January
The Union Leader - Manchester,NH,USA


The curriculum will be purchased from the Florida Virtual School, the biggest virtual high school in the country, with more than 70000 students. ... [See all stories on this topic]

Virtual school spurs district increase
Lawrence Journal World - Lawrence,KS,USA


By George Diepenbrock Enrollment appears to be steady in Lawrence schools with the district gaining another boost from the Lawrence Virtual School. ... [See all stories on this topic]

EHS launches statewide virtual high school
Exeter News-Letter - Exeter,NH,USA


The money will help purchase curriculum from the Florida Virtual School (FLVS), a pioneer in virtual school learning that started in 1997. ... [See all stories on this topic]

New virtual school uses Internet as classroom
KTVB - Boise,ID,USA


"Connections academy is a virtual school program that is done at home," Taylor said. Founders say Inspire Connections Academy is an alternative to ... [See all stories on this topic]

Kaplan opens online high school
Sun-Sentinel.com - Fort Lauderdale,FL,USA


Fort Lauderdale-based Kaplan Virtual Education announced Monday the opening of Kaplan University High School, an online national high school. ... [See all stories on this topic]

Google moving in on Second Life?
Computerworld - Framingham,MA,USA


Besides the strong existing ties between Arizona State University and Google, what else suggests Google might be interested in starting a virtual world? ... [See all stories on this topic]

'Virtual school' appoints headteacher
eGov monitor - London,UK


Children in care in Stockport now have their very own headteacher to help raise educational achievement in the 'Virtual School' for looked after children. ... [See all stories on this topic]

Virtual school becomes a reality
FayObserver.com - Fayetteville NC,USA


By Corey G. Johnson Methodist University chaplain Michael Safley became a witness to the magic of virtual reality Friday as he wobbled across a wooden plank ... [See all stories on this topic]

The Google News Alert for cyber school.

Readsboro Arts holds first artist showcaseBennington Banner - Bennington,VT,USAThe group, he said, was developed from the non-profit group Readsboro Cyber School. The original group focused on providing student interaction outside of ... [See all stories on this topic]

Cyber Charter School DebateCBS 21 - Harrisburg,PA,USA... and the fact that this is an innovative approach, and we love being students enrolled at PA virtual school," says Sophia Lewis, cyber school parent. ... [See all stories on this topic]

DepEd claims Cyber Ed program has backingInquirer.net - Philippines... (DepEd) asserts its Cyber Education Project has the support of at least 10 national organizations of teachers, educators and school administrators. ... [See all stories on this topic]

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