I do not believe it is fiscally responsible or prudent to say, “We don’t have enough money for certain priorities” like our school liaison positions or our move to a virtual education program, when in fact, a couple weeks later the board says, “We not only have enough money, but we have extra money.” I applaud Mr. Meshkin in his fight for organizational input by groups like the PTA and the Budget Review Committee, stressing the need for transparency. The Gang of Four believed this surplus is their money not the taxpayers.

For the rest of the article, go to Letter: School board needs to show more fiscal responsibility

Banding together in multidistrict virtual learning collaborations helps member districts pool resources, increase purchasing power, and share best practices as they launch and support online learning for their students.

“Why re-create the wheel?” asks John Jacobs, the director of online learning for the Wisconsin eSchool Network, based in Webster village. The network, which began in 2002 as a collaboration between two districts—the Appleton and Kiel school districts—in the state, now serves 12 districts and has become its own nonprofit organization.

“Our mission is to ensure equitable access for all students and school districts and maximize the autonomy for our districts,” says Jacobs.

For the rest of the article, go to School Districts Team Up on Virtual Ed. Initiatives

Technology can boost the instructional process, especially for students with special needs, she said.

Amy Sparks of Rosedale in Baltimore County said two students in her family have graduated from a private virtual school.

Sparks, vice president of Emerging Minds of Maryland, a nonprofit group that advocates online learning, said the General Assembly passed a bill in 2010 giving counties “a nudge” to create virtual schools, but little has happened in two years.

“I don’t think it’s going to happen until there is a council that looks at what can we do to create a quality virtual school,” said Bonnie Wesselhoff, also of Baltimore County.

For the rest of the article, go to Bill proposes state council to examine virtual schooling in Maryland

National School Choice Week (January 22-28, 2012 – www.SchoolChoiceWeek.com) has brought together tens of thousands of students, parents, teachers, community leaders, and elected officials around the simple premise that parents should be empowered to select the best schools – public district schools, public charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, virtual education, and homeschooling – for their children.

For the rest of the article, go to US House Speaker John Boehner Joins 28 Governors, Legislatures in Recognizing Bipartisan National School Choice Week

Yes, that Stanford — the elite research university known for producing graduates who win Nobels and found Googles, not for teaching basic algebra to teenagers. Five years after the opening of the experimental program, some education experts consider Stanford’s decision to attach its name to the effort a milestone for online education.

“This is significant,” said Bill Tucker, managing director of Education Sector, a nonpartisan policy institute. “One of our country’s most prestigious universities feels comfortable putting its considerable prestige and brand behind it.”

As the line between virtual and classroom-based learning continues to blur, some see Stanford’s move as a sign that so, too, will the line between secondary and higher education. Several other universities — though none with the pedigree of Stanford — already operate online high schools, a development that has raised some questions about expertise and motives.

About 275,000 students nationwide are enrolled full time in online schools, according to Susan Patrick, president of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning, a nonprofit advocacy group. Most of these are free public charter schools, but colleges — private and public — have begun to get into the business as well.

The University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and the University of Missouri have awarded diplomas to about 250 and 85 students, respectively, annually for the last several years. The George Washington University Online High School opened in January.

For the rest of the article, go to Online High Schools Attracting Elite Names

McDuffie said teachers are required to submit their syllabus to the College Board, the nonprofit organization that administers AP exams, for approval before they can begin teaching AP courses.

Teachers are not required to hold a specific degree or certification to instruct the classes.

Students who want to take classes that are not offered at their school can either travel to another school in the district or take it online through the North Carolina Virtual Public School.

For the rest of the article, go to Salisbury High has most students taking AP courses

Moodlerooms, Inc., Moodle partner and provider of proven e-Learning solutions, is pleased to announce that Houston Public Schools in Minnesota has realized the benefits of Moodlerooms’ fully-supported open-source Moodle platform. In 2008, after piloting a series of Moodle instances on district servers to evaluate the open source system’s capabilities, stability, and maintenance requirements, the district discovered that a fully-supported, enterprise solution from a trusted provider would better serve its future initiatives for e-Learning. In choosing Moodlerooms to deliver this solution, Houston Public Schools has leveraged a sustainable, managed platform for building a collaborative and engaging learning community that enables teacher innovation and cultivates student achievement.

A flurry of last-minute deal making in Salem this week secured the passage of a bill that loosens enrollment restrictions for online charter schools, a move that all but guarantees the academy’s gradual growth.

ORCA, as the school is called, is operated by Connections Academy, a Baltimore-based for-profit corporation that runs online schools in 21 states. The school got permission from the tiny Scio school district to launch in 2005, and in just six years it has become the state’s fourth largest school with some 2,500 students. But, like other online schools in Oregon, it has been restricted from growing.

For the rest of the article, go to Lawmakers loosen admissions for online charter schools as state’s largest such school graduates biggest class

“As a premier organization for the entire distance learning profession, we are honoring Connections Education as a leader in the industry,” said Dr. John G. Flores, Executive Director of USDLA. “Connections Education, with its high quality Connections Academy virtual school model, stand-out educators and innovative curriculum has raised the bar of excellence for distance learning.  We are truly honored by Connections Education’s contributions to the distance learning industry.”

For the rest of the article, go to Connections Education, Leading Virtual Education Provider, Wins Multiple 2011 International Distance Learning Awards

At the information sessions families can meet with a Connections Academy representative and other parents, thoroughly explore the school’s program and curriculum, and learn about the enrollment process. Other topics covered include: how teachers interact with students in the virtual environment, the benefits of personalized learning, college preparation, socialization, the role of the parent or other Learning Coach, and the use of technology.

For the rest of the article, go to Connections Academy Virtual Schools Launch 2011-2012 Enrollment Season