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Virtual schools an emerging trend in Douglas County

August 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The emerging trend of virtual schooling has more families trading in the sometimes one-size-fits-all educational approach for a strategic and flexible learning plan.

Growing class sizes, less individualized learning and busy schedules have culminated in a surge of parents and kids seeking new academic options. Online classes for every grade level have become a popular avenue for students who work at their own pace. A comprehensive assessment of each student at most online schools is turned into a learning plan that enables accelerated students to challenge themselves and special needs students to get attention in the right areas.

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Editorial, 8/20: School virtually a reality

August 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The concept of a virtual high school sounded intriguing when Gov. Dave Heineman first proposed it in his State of the State address in 2010.

At the time, the Journal Star editorial board described the proposal as a lone bit of sparkle in a drab budget.

The original plan was to seek $20 million in federal funding in the Race to the Top competition set up by the Obama administration.

Heineman promised at the time that if the proposal fell short in the federal competition, he would continue working with the University of Nebraska to develop the high school.

When federal officials turned down Nebraska’s bid, Heineman was true to his word.

The new Nebraska Virtual High School is taking shape under agreements signed last week. The partnership includes the Nebraska Department of Education, University of Nebraska, Nebraska Educational Telecommunications and the Educational Service United Coordinating Council.

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Governor proposes a virtual high school

August 17, 2011 By Leave a Comment

“A virtual high school is a way to expand learning beyond the traditional school day and school year,” Heineman said.

He called the plan “an important education initiative that will significantly impact the future of education in Nebraska.”

The announcement follows three failed efforts to get federal or state funding for creation of a virtual school.

Nebraska has been rejected twice for federal Race to the Top education grants. The state’s applications included proposals for a $20 million virtual high school.

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Virtual Partnership makes sense for state like Nebraska

August 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

While Nebraskans love those miles of “peaceful prairie land,” all that distance can make life tough, whether it’s traveling to visit Grandma, fighting a blizzard to watch a basketball game or, as U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith knows well with his expanding 3rd District, conduct a political campaign.

There’s no substitute for face-to-face interaction, but Nebraska would be remiss if it failed to take advantage of modern instantaneous communication.

That’s the thinking behind the new Nebraska Virtual Partnership and plans for creation of the Nebraska Virtual School and Nebraska Virtual Library system.

Gov. Dave Heineman said that the Virtual School will provide Nebraska students a “rigorous” online high school curriculum with an emphasis on STEM courses — science, technology, engineering and math, and advanced placement courses in both rural and urban areas.

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Virtual high school created

August 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

LINCOLN — Gov. Dave Heineman and Nebraska education leaders announced plans Friday to build a virtual state high school by combining and expanding existing efforts.

The proposed school would allow students across the state the chance to take advanced courses or catch up on required classes via computer.

“A virtual high school is a way to expand learning beyond the traditional school day and school year,” Heineman said.

He called the plan “an important education initiative that will significantly impact the future of education in Nebraska.”

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Gov. Heineman Announces Nebraska Virtual School Agreement

August 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

(Lincoln, Neb.) – Gov. Dave Heineman was joined by Nebraska education leaders Friday to announce the creation of the Nebraska Virtual Partnership, and outline plans for the creation of the Nebraska Virtual School and the Nebraska Virtual Library systems.

Efforts of the Nebraska Virtual Partnership will significantly increase educational opportunities for students throughout the state.

“This is a significant step forward for the future of education in Nebraska,” said Heineman. “The virtual school will provide Nebraska students a rigorous online high school curriculum with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math, commonly referred to as STEM courses, and advanced placement courses in both rural and urban areas. Additionally, the virtual school establishes a single, centralized website informing students, parents, teachers and schools of virtual learning opportunities in Nebraska.”

Nebraska educational leaders signed a Memorandum of Agreement (M.O.A.) formally establishing the Nebraska Virtual Partnership.

The M.O.A. represents the commitment of the Department of Education, the Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council, the University of Nebraska and Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET) to the construction of the Nebraska Virtual School.

In addition to the virtual school, the Nebraska Virtual Partnership will establish the Nebraska Virtual Library. NET has proposed to make multi-media and digital instructional resources available to students and teachers across Nebraska.

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Virtual school plan praised

June 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

A virtual school would give students in rural and low-performing schools access to honors, enrichment and remediation courses, improving achievement and graduation rates at a lower cost than traditional classroom instruction, according to a report by the Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy.

Virtual schools offer other advantages over bricks-and-mortar schools. For instance, distance is no barrier, and kids learn on their own time and at their own pace, the report said.

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Virtual education boom hits the states

March 15, 2011 By 2 Comments

Using the Internet allows poorer or more rural districts to have access to more specialized teachers without having to pay big incentives. And in some cases, it makes it possible for teachers to reach more students either in larger classrooms or at home, minimizing costs to school districts. An audit of Wisconsin’s virtual charter schools last year found the per-pupil costs of some of the schools were lower than those of traditional public schools, although they were higher in others because of high start-up costs.

Last year, Vermont and Montana launched their first state-run virtual schools, while Michigan and Massachusetts created full-time online programs. This year, Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman told lawmakers he wants to use $8.5 million in lottery funds to create an online high school to bring new courses to the state’s students. “In rural Nebraska, it can be difficult to hire foreign language, math and science teachers,” he said in a January speech. “A virtual high school would allow rural schools and rural communities to survive.”

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A commitment to education

February 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment

I want to focus this week on several proposals aimed at strengthening education in Nebraska. These proposals are focused on creating new opportunities for students and accelerating Nebraska’s potential to attract research and development projects.

I have recommended directing $8.5 million to the development of a virtual high school for Nebraska students. While the concept is still being developed, this would be a joint effort of the Nebraska Department of Education, the University of Nebraska and the Nebraska P-16 Initiative.

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Virtual high school would offer new options for rural students

January 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

LINCOLN, Nebraska — A virtual high school proposed by Gov. Dave Heineman would add another place for Nebraska high school students to earn their high school diplomas, especially those in rural areas.

The online school, which Heineman recommended in his State of the State speech Jan.13, would supplement courses that may not be available to students, from basic Spanish to advanced placement classes.

Heineman said the $8.5 million initiative would be funded from lottery funds. He has proposed using $5.5 million for the development of the virtual high school in the upcoming fiscal year and $3 million the following year to support it, said Ashley Cradduck, deputy communications director for Heineman’s office, in an e-mail to the Nebraska News Service.

“In rural Nebraska, it can be difficult to hire foreign language, math and science teachers,” Heineman said in announcing the plan. “A virtual high school would allow rural schools and rural communities the opportunity to survive.”

While the virtual high school is still in its early stages, education officials will develop the concepts and details for the school, Cradduck said.

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