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posted by cmn32480 on Wednesday June 17 2015, @12:25PM   Printer-friendly
from the telecommuting-isn't-just-for-adults-anymore dept.

For several years, public school students in Virginia who do not have particular courses (e.g. Advanced Placement or Honors courses) offered in their brick-and-mortar classrooms have had online courses available to them.

The Virginia Department of Education announces

The [...] Virtual Virginia program will pilot a full-time, online high school for the 2015-2016 school year. The pilot--available to as many as 100 students on a first-come, first-served basis--will offer all required core academic courses and electives necessary to earn a Standard or Advanced Studies diploma.

"We are excited to offer this opportunity to high school students, especially those with the potential for thriving in a non-traditional instructional setting", Superintendent of Public Instruction Steven R. Staples said. "This expansion of the nationally recognized Virtual Virginia program provides more choice and flexibility to students seeking a high school diploma."

Students in the full-time pilot will be enrolled in their local public school but will receive instruction through Virtual Virginia. As with all Virtual Virginia courses, instruction will be provided by teachers with Virginia certification. Local schools will ensure that students in the pilot have access to technology, textbooks, special services and other necessary materials at no cost.

[...] Courses are delivered through Virtual Virginia's secure, web-based environment, and, like traditional classroom instruction, will include readings, discussion forums, written assignments, media, student presentations and projects, case studies, simulations, lab assignments, models, and opportunities for student collaboration.

The coverage by the Center for American Progress notes

Twenty-six states offer virtual or distance schooling on some level but few--Nevada, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming--have full-time programs statewide, according to a 2014 report(PDF) from the Evergreen Education Group.


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  • (Score: 2) by kaszz on Wednesday June 17 2015, @03:39PM

    by kaszz (4211) on Wednesday June 17 2015, @03:39PM (#197327) Journal

    Fourth, a lot of the learning that takes place at the grade school level is in terms of social interaction with other students and with teachers and other authority figures (coaches, principals). If a kid is taking most of his courses in a regular classroom, fine, but if all of it is done online, that's hardly an ideal high school experience.

    Perhaps one issue is how to protect the mental processes from the low end of the cognitive capability peers in the high school environment? ;)

    The necessary move is likely physical relocation.

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