Mississippi Online High Schools

Be prudent when changing education

admin — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 15:41:43 +0000

If charter schools are implemented, increased funding is necessary to cover the additional expenses of funding administrative and support costs for them.

The Senate removed allowance of virtual charter schools from its bill. The House is putting it back. Virtual charter schools have lobby influence! They also have high administrative costs, low teacher salaries and poor student achievement.

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Will virtual charter schools make the cut?

admin — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 10:08:51 +0000

While the empowerment and expansion of the charter school concept in Mississippi seems a foregone political conclusion in the Mississippi Legislature, the central questions that remain are whether the House will try to limit charter schools in school districts rated “successful” and whether the House will seek to include “virtual” charter schools in the bill they send to conference with the Senate version.

The question of “virtual” charter schools – private educational institutions offering classes entirely online – have been a lightning rod during the charter school debate. Leading the charge against virtual charter schools has been state Superintendent Tom Burnham and Parents’ Campaign executive director Nancy Loome – both of whom say virtual charters schools have poor performance records.

Drawing particular fire from Loome and others has been K12 Inc. K12 is a publicly-held Herndon, Va., firm that is the largest U.S. operator of taxpayer-funded online schools and that is part-owned by billionaire Michael Milken. In 1990, Milken – at that time known by the pejorative title “junk bond king” – pleaded guilty to six felony counts of securities fraud and served a one-year-and-10-month federal prison sentence. Milken’s connection to K12 Inc. has been roundly flogged during the ongoing charter school debate in this state.

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Don’t neglect ‘virtual’ schools

admin — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 16:03:07 +0000

With the growing possibilities that online learning affords students, this move by the committee is shortsighted. Online learning has the potential to adapt to students’ unique learning needs. Additionally, virtual education gives students flexibility in when and where they learn and allows students access to courses that may not otherwise be available in their area.

Mississippi’s move to strengthen charter schools is a step in the right direction. However, shutting a door to online learning means shutting the door to a world of educational options. Mississippi need not limit itself.

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Charter-school law should not close the door for online schools

admin — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:07:43 +0000

With the growing possibilities that online learning affords students, this move by the committee is shortsighted and limits students’ educational options. Online learning has the potential to adapt to students’ unique learning needs. Additionally, virtual education gives students flexibility in when and where they learn and allows students access to courses that may not otherwise be available in their limited geographical area.

Online learning is reaching more than a million students across the nation. Mississippi need not limit itself.

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Charter schools bill moves forward

admin — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 12:16:17 +0000

The bill would allow the state board to authorize charter schools in 120 districts rated “successful” or worse. For the 32 high-performing or star districts in the state, the local school boards would have to approve them.

Opponents say creating a charter system would strip already-inadequate funding from public schools. They said public money could now go for students who have never been in public schools, so some schools could see a decrease in funding without a decrease in enrollment. Some say they should be allowed only in poorly performing districts.

Senate Bill 2401 was also amended in committee Tuesday to remove a measure that would have allowed “virtual charter schools” to operate online. Sen. David Blount, D-Jackson, stripped this from the bill. Opponents said online charter schools have a dismal record and some appear to be moneymaking schemes.

For the rest of the article, go to Charter schools bill moves forward

Lt. governor backs charter schools bill

admin — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:38:30 +0000

Under Senate Bill 2401, charters would be authorized in the 120 districts rated successful or worse, by a seven-member board appointed by the governor and lieutenant governor, as well as state K-12 and higher education officials.

In the state’s four star districts and 28 high performing districts, any charter school request would first go to the local school board for approval before going to the state authorizing agent for approval.

Senate Bill 2401 also would allow for virtual charter schools, permit students to cross district lines, and establish a first come, first served enrollment or a lottery if demand exceeded a school’s capacity.

For the rest of the article, go to Lt. governor backs charter schools bill

Bill would permit virtual charter schools in state

admin — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 10:04:17 +0000

A for-profit Virginia company has hired lobbyists to push for a virtual public school in Mississippi.

K12 – the nation’s largest operator of full-time online schools – wants lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 2294, the “Mississippi Digital Learning Now Act,” which would enable a virtual charter school like K12 to operate in Mississippi.

The push for new charter schools, online and otherwise, is taking place across the nation, even as communities and states are coming up millions short in funding public schools.

Mississippi lawmakers could begin debating charter schools as early as this week.

Proponents of virtual charter schools say they enable students to work at their own pace and take courses unavailable otherwise. “The ability to deliver an option for students, regardless of where live, is empowering,” said Jeff Kwitowski, spokesman for K12.

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K12 (LRN) Announces Quarterly Results

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 09:59:02 +0000

K12 Inc. (K12) is a technology-based education company. The Company offers curriculum and educational services designed to facilitate individualized learning for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, or K-12. The Company delivers its learning system to students primarily through virtual public schools and are building an institutional business with sales directly to school districts. K12 offers virtual public schools its curriculum, online learning platform and varying levels of academic and management services, which can range from targeted programs to complete turnkey solutions. In addition, parents can purchase its curriculum and learning solutions directly to facilitate or supplement their childrenâ€™s education. In April 2010, K12 formed a joint venture with Middlebury College known as Middlebury Interactive Languages LLC (MIL) to develop online foreign language courses. In July 2010, the Company acquired all of KC Distance Learning, Inc. (KCDL).

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The Growth of Virtual Learning (rebroadcast)

admin — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 06:50:52 +0000

The idea of virtual learning is growing in the American education system. More students from Kindergarten through 12th grade are learning in front of a screen rather than from a live teacher. While some say the format is cost efficient and tailored to each individual’s learning speed, others say essential components of the schooling system, such as development of social skills and hands on lessons, are being compromised in the process. Many educators are looking on with reluctant optimism as the virtual world expands in its implementation. Today we’re looking at education that favors computers over classrooms.

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Online Education Made Possible With Academic and Management Company Partnerships

admin — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 02:35:35 +0000

When Jackson State University opened for classes this year, it marked its fifth anniversary in the online education business by adding a full four-year, undergraduate degree program in early childhood education to its offerings.

“It’s certainly a part of the future,” says Dr. Willie Brown, vice president for information and process management at Jackson State, about online full-degree programs.

For the rest of the article, go to Online Education Made Possible With Academic and Management Company Partnerships