Virtual learning charter school not in near future

Is a virtual school in the cards for the Wauwatosa School District?

Possibly, Superintendent Phil Ertl said, but the district this fall plans to stick with what it has been doing and is looking at adding additional online courses as demand dictates.

Online education has been a hot topic in the school district for more than five years, Ertl said, and taking a closer look at Wauwatosa’s offerings could be a way to keep students in the district and provide more educational options.

And while some School Board members praised the district’s efforts, others raised questions about accountability and financial impacts.

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IZUMI: Lesson from Wisconsin

Online education provides instruction to students through interactive programs using the Internet. Virtual charter schools are deregulated public schools independent of school districts, not subject to local teachers union contracts. They enable students to learn at home or any remote location using online learning.Because no expensive brick-and-mortar facility is needed and students can learn from star teachers located anywhere, even out of state, parents and students need not be tied down to their expensive unionized neighborhood public school.

At virtual charters, students read, write essays, take tests and conduct experiments, all through online programs.Virtual charter school teachers are available continuously to students through email, instant messaging, phone or Web conferences, and face-to-face meetings.

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6 candidates seek 3 seats on Baraboo School Board

Paul E. Peterson

Peterson lives in rural Baraboo and is the father of two adult children who attended local schools.

He graduated from Baraboo High School and is retired from a 35-year career as a truck driver.

Peterson says keeping experienced teachers and principals in the Baraboo School District is one of the most important issues because they are “our most valuable employees!”

In the face of expected budget cuts from the state he opposes any large spending projects for the Baraboo schools.

“I will vote no on any referendum. If the state cuts spending too much, the 4-k classes might have to be eliminated,” he wrote on a BNR questionnaire.

He also supports the virtual schools that are growing in Wisconsin.

Online education is going to be the future and it’s up to Baraboo to embrace it,” he told a community forum.

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GWU Launches New Online High School, Grad Study

The trend toward online education is picking up steam, as The George Washington University made a surprising announcement on Jan. 13 — the launch of a fully online-operated high school.

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.

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As new school year begins, districts work to keep up with changing technology

The district adopted the Discovery Education Science program as the primary curriculum resource for science for children in second to fourth grades. Administrators say the online resource allows teachers to integrate curricula with virtual labs, reading passages, video clips and simulations.

The Bay Port iAcademy program provides tuition-free online education alternative for high school students. This is the first full school year the program is in place.

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Online Courses Offer Options, Support for Homeschooling Families

As more and more families seek alternatives to traditional school, we’re seeing an increase in students blending homeschool and online education. Every family and situation is different, but regardless of the circumstance, a tough decision has to be made when homeschooled students enter their high school years. In the past, the choices have typically been a) continue homeschooling through high school or b) start at/return to a traditional brick & mortar school.

Now, thanks to public online schools, like Insight Schools, families have a choice that offers different options for student-centered learning that didn’t exist just a few years ago – eliminating the either/or choice of the past. Insight Schools and other online education providers are allowing students to enroll full-time as well as part-time. A full-time option allows students to take a full course-load in the environment they’re accustomed to and still have their parent by their side, while part-time enrollment gives them the option of taking a class or two while still receiving instruction from their parents for their remaining courses.

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On Campus: Conference in Madison to explore growth of online learning

A conference in Madison this week will explore the growth of distance learning. Sponsored by UW-Madison, more than 800 educators will converge on Monona Terrace between today and Friday to talk about online education for K-12, college, and industry courses.

Of course, parts of the conference will be offered online, too.

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