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

For the rest of the article, go to Leading Virtual Education Provider Establishes New Corporate Entity – Connections Education Reflects Expansion, New Corporate Structure

The institution began classes last week and counts 16 enrolled students in nine states, according to The Hatchet, GWU’s student newspaper. The school aims to cater to the needs of students nationwide and provide a research opportunity for the university’s Graduate School of Education and Human Development.

For the rest of the article, go to GWU Launches New Online High School, Grad Study

“These schools are able to implement longer school days and school years, more time on task in the classroom, personalized curriculum options and a singular focus on our kids, rather than the adults who have become the greatest special interest in the education of America’s children.

For the rest of the article, go to Jeanne Allen: Innovation Must Begin in America’s Schools