Janesville looking to add online middle schoolers

The Janesville School District might soon expand its online high school to include middle school students.

The move would be another way to attract students from outside the district, according to the minutes of the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee, which approved the proposal.

The school board has tasked the superintendent with increasing enrollment as a way of increasing district revenue.

Expansion of the Janesville Virtual Academy would help retain district students who “need alternative learning options,” according to the minutes.

The academy allows students to complete high school at home through online courses or to get caught up so they can return to regular high school.

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New Online High School from Wisconsin Connections Academy Available for 2011-2012 School Year

Wisconsin families looking to switch schools have a new option for virtual high school — Wisconsin Connections Academy (WCA), the state’s high-quality, highly accountable virtual public school, is now offering online learning for grades K-12 starting in the 2011-2012 school year. This year’s public school open enrollment period started February 7th and will run through February 25th, 2011.

“We have received numerous requests from satisfied parents who want their children to continue with the Connections Academy program beyond eighth grade,” said Michelle Mueller, principal of WCA. “I encourage families to learn about WCA’s new online high school and our well-established K-8 program at one of the upcoming parent information sessions planned throughout the state. This next year is going to be very exciting for all of us.”

In addition to providing a seamless K-12 school experience, WCA’s comprehensive new high school program will be a challenging, standards-based curriculum offering high-schoolers a wide variety of rigorous courses that provide a solid foundation for whatever path they choose upon graduation – attending college or starting a career. Each high school student will be loaned a laptop for the year. Core courses cover subjects in math, science, language arts and social studies; electives range from foreign languages to digital technology, journalism and art history. Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses will also available, along with comprehensive, academic, college and career-planning guidance services.?

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Online education program a hit

After about three years of existence, Baraboo High School’s Internet education program has demonstrated it can meet student needs, the Board of Education heard Monday.

Online High School Coordinator Ronda Kopfhamer, online teacher Kristin Terry and two of the program’s students discussed their experiences with online education as part of the school board’s regular recognition of staff and students.

Kopfhamer said online education began in the 2007-2008 school year, with 52 students enrolled in various study programs. Forty-two of those students (81 percent) completed their courses successfully.

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Video: Wisconsin Virtual Academy

Wisconsin Virtual Academy