CSG is hosting the Digital Learning Policy Academy this weekend in Washington, D.C. to focus on personalized education for all students.  State legislators from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina are engaging in discussions on policy levers to allow for learning anywhere and anytime.

Virtual Learning/Online Education

The Idaho State Journal reported on November 4, 2011:

• “Education officials on Thursday gave final approval to a plan that makes Idaho the first state in the nation to require high school students to take at least two credits online to graduate, despite criticism of the plan at public hearings this summer.”
• "Schools nationwide offer virtual 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."
• "The rule will apply to students entering the 9th grade in fall 2012."
• "It goes before Idaho lawmakers the 2012 session, which starts in January.”  

Online learning is growing in high schools at nearly breakneck speed. In “The Rise of K-12 Blended Learning: Profiles of Emerging Models,” Heather Staker of the Innosight Institute observes from 2000 to 2010 online learning grew from approximately 45,000 students taking at least one online course to more than 4 million.

These computerized courses give students opportunities to make up for classes they’ve failed or take courses, such as Advanced Placement classes, schools may not be able to offer. However, it is evident that online learning works best when a teacher is available in a classroom or computer lab to assist students with their work.

This Act requires the commissioner of education to adopt a list of electronic textbooks and instructional material, including tools, models, and investigative materials designed for use in the foundation curriculum for science in kindergarten through grade five, and it authorizes a school district to select a textbook or material on that list to be funded by the state textbook fund.

Textbooks may soon follow 8-track tapes, film cameras and instant coffee into oblivion – although I’m admittedly not sure about the latter. What I can report is that beginning November 1, students in four school divisions in Virginia discarded their heavy, thick social studies textbooks and replaced them with Apple iPads loaded with interactive content, media and Apps aligned to state history and social studies standards.

Virtual schools offer the promise of equalizing access to quality curriculum and  improving student oucomes.

Suggested State Legislation: 2007 Wisconsin Act 222 defines a virtual charter school as a charter school that provides an online learning program. The Act exempts for a limited time people who teach in virtual charter schools from having a teaching license or permit issued by the state department of public instruction. However, it requires that beginning July 1, 2013, no person may teach an online course in a public or charter school unless he or she has completed a professional development program, approved by state department of public instruction, that is designed to prepare a teacher for online teaching.

Suggested State Legislation: This Act creates a digital learning academy to provide choice, accessibility, flexibility, quality and equity in curricular offerings for secondary students. The Act sets up a board of directors for the academy and provides for liability insurance for academy directors. The Act creates a Digital Learning Academy Fund and designates the digital learning academy as an employer within the state public employee retirement system.