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Idaho ed board votes to require online classes

September 10, 2011 By Leave a Comment

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho is a step closer to joining the handful of states that require students to take online courses.

The state Board of Education gave initial approval Friday to a rule requiring high school students to take at least two credits online to graduate, despite heavy opposition to the plan at public hearings across Idaho this summer.

Schools nationwide offer online classes but just three states — Alabama, Florida and Michigan — have adopted rules since 2006 to require online learning, according to the International Association of K-12 Online Learning in Washington, D.C. Proponents say online classes will help save money and help prepare students for college, where many courses are online. Opponents say they replace teachers with computers.

The online rules vary from state to state. Idaho would be the first to require two credits online.

Idaho’s education board drafted the online course requirements as part of new education changes that were signed into law earlier this year with backing from public schools chief Tom Luna and Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter. Luna wanted students to take up to eight online course credits, but that provision was ditched during the 2011 session of the Idaho Legislature amid opposition from parents, teachers and some lawmakers.

An effort to require students to take four online credits was also ditched.

The legislation that was approved and signed into law instead directed the state Board of Education to draft standards governing the online course requirements. The board directed a subcommittee to decide how trustees would proceed in April and that panel mostly discussed making one or two online credits a requirement to graduate high school.
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Scott signs bills boosting private and charter schools

July 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The new laws provide more taxpayer-funded vouchers for students to attend private schools, allow charter schools to expand with less oversight, mandate online classes for some students and force public school districts to bus more students out of low-performing schools.

The result: More options for students and parents and more budget problems for public schools already facing $1.35 billion in state funding cuts and declining local property tax revenues.

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Collier considering virtual school franchise

January 6, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Currently, students in Collier are allowed to take their class online on a case-by-case basis. But Carroll says facing so many scheduling conflicts; the district will likely purchase a full virtual school franchise for the district.

“The students work at their own pace. They work at their computer but the teachers are available online to work with problem areas,” she said.

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Attending virtual school can have it’s benefits

September 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment

This year Leon County Schools introduced Leon County Virtual School for local middle and high school students. Although online classes have been available through Florida Virtual School, the localization makes online classes more specific and practical for users. According to the Tallahassee Democrat (Wednesday August 31), there are already more than 1,000 students registered. This is a step in the right direction for Leon County schools.

More colleges and universities are increasing their number of online courses to accommodate student schedules and to encourage distance learning. I think allowing middle and high school students a jump start on this trend will give them the opportunity to boost their work ethic.

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Class Size Penalties Loom as Schools Open

August 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

“And I will tell you there are some districts that did not use the funding that came for the right purposes,” Elia said. “And if they can’t meet it now, I think it’s reasonable to have a penalty.”

In fact in a press release, Elia made it clear she expects to “reap” up to $35 million in rewards for meeting class size requirements.

Elia acknowledged that some families may be inconvenienced if students have to be bused to a less crowded school. But she added that the district is looking at options like letting high school students take virtual or online classes and the district is trying co-teaching in some locations.

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Meeting Florida’s class-size law will be painful for local schools

June 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

This summer, Central Florida school administrators face a task many have dreaded for years: getting their schools in compliance with the final, strict phase of the state’s class-size law.

To do that means adding hundreds more teaching jobs to district rosters by the start of the new school year in August. With no new state money for the task, some districts will pay for more teachers with a host of less-than-ideal options.

Those include cutting custodial staffs, eliminating electives, creating new “combo” classes and, if needed, even busing students from schools where classes have reached size limits to roomier ones.

Some districts also are asking teachers to take on more classes for extra pay — reducing the need for new hires — and encouraging students to sign up for “virtual” classes that keep them out of an actual classroom for a period or two.

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