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Virtual Schools: "Any Time, Any Where"

By Gabe Bullard

Filed Wednesday, September 05, 2007 at 3:40 PM

St. Louis Public School's Virtual Schools are underway and district officials say so far, so good for the Internet-based learning program.



At a press event this afternoon at the Downtown Academy (formerly Patrick Henry School), Superintendent Diana Bourisaw discussed the program, which started just this year for grades K-3 and 9-12, with more grades to follow next year.

Students in the program take most of their classes online. The students also go to learning centers throughout the week for additional education.

The program costs students and parents nothing. As for how much it costs the district, Bourisaw didn't have an exact price, but she said she believes it will "pay for itself."

SLPS' virtual schools are made possible through a partnership with Virginia-based K12 Inc. Learn more on the district's website.

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15 Comments:

Blogger kjoe said...

Typical incomplete coverage by the Post Dispatch---Paul Hampel wrote an article---actually a pretty good one---on October 4--"With a few glitches, state's virtual school takes off".

I wondered why Diana Bourisaw saw fit to have slps---with its reputation for coming up short compared to the geniuses at the state level---to have ints own virtual school---when there was already MOVip serving students state wide.

It is run by for-profit connections academy of baltimore. They encountered an interesting glitch in Oregon last year:

US: Oregon Connections Academy Faces Funding Hurdle
Posted September 15th, 2006 by heidibakkh
Oregon Virtual Charter School Faces Loss of Funds

By The Associated Press, via The Oregonian

9/9/06

An Oregon virtual charter school which serves hundreds of students is in danger of losing its state funding.

The Oregon Department of Education said the Scio-based Oregon Connections Academy, which is run by the for-profit Connections Academy of Baltimore, has violated state law by requiring parents to serve as learning coaches as a condition of student enrollment.

they mentioned:
50-to-1 student-teacher ratio because it teaches lessons online, receives about $5,000 per student — or $6 million a year — in state support.

guess what party the rep was who was outraged by the denial of funds----has to be a democrat, always begging the state for...no...

State Rep. Linda Flores, R-Clackamas, chairwoman of the House Education Committee, said she was disappointed by the Department of Education's "heavy-handed tactics" in withholding funds from the school.

But that is in Oregon---I am sure they will be just fine in Missouri.


The k12 outfit chosen by Bourisaw is also for profit---as far as I can tell.

It will be interesting to compare what is going on with the two programs.


I wonder what kent King thinks about this---he did not seem to like Bourisaw's attitude about bringing in TexasCan.

Make no mistake----I would bet on Bourisaw's judgement on this over the state officials-----maybe it will be about the same anyway.

9/05/2007 4:54 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I support anything that keeps kids from dropping out of school.

9/05/2007 8:18 PM

 
Blogger kjoe said...

All the more reason to keep an eye on how these two companies are performing their jobs. If one is more successful in keeping kids from dropping out---we need to know that, and figure out why.

9/06/2007 1:50 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This is very typical of SLPS. Fix a problem with a band-aid but don’t know what to do when the wound heals. What will be the long-term effects of this program? How will the students complete lab assignments on the computer (i.e. science)? What about teaching students a skill in the trades (i.e. printing, construction, services) they can use after high school? How will this help students learn social behavior or are we going to produce a generation of hermits? The most important question is how is the diatrict going to pay for this? Program do not just "Pay for itself." Teachers can not even get copy paper and the district wants to set up a virtual school?

This will not prevent students from dropping out when they find out they have to work – “Oh this is to hard.” The state will step in soon enough when they discover that the students are playing virtual games instead of doing webquest.

When is society going to learn that not every student is gong to college? Not every student wants to go into the military either. All I see is another program that will costs lots of money but doesn't solve any problems.

9/06/2007 8:23 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

“Any Time, Any Where”

Here again is another example of the SLPS elitist view that every student in the district has a computer. Is Bourisaw going to supply computers to students? Does anyone actually know what percentage of students/families in SLPS has an internet account AT HOME?

9/06/2007 8:42 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I recently spoke with a parent that wants to pull his child out of the district and thought that the virtual school was not an option because it was full.

District needs to get the word out better about the program.

9/06/2007 9:21 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

They need a virtual school since it is reported that only 27,000 children showed up to school.

9/06/2007 9:30 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Where did that number come from--I've seen no reports on 1st day numbers and heard they weren't going to release it because they "didn't want to get hung up on numbers." Why would we hold the SAB to the same scrutiny the elected boards were always held to? Oh, that's right, once the "right" people are in charge we are all supposed to stop asking questions.

9/06/2007 10:40 AM

 
Blogger kjoe said...

Virtual schools are being done all over the country. Instead of whining about them, pay attention to what is going on. If the state figures for movip are 50-1 student teacher ratio, for 5000 bucks a student, find out what the deal is for slps.

Try and figure out if Bourisaw is making a mistake having a different company offer something that seems to be available from the state---the reasons she is doing might be revealing.

Don't hold your breath waiting to read about it in the Post Dispatch. Antonio French offered the story. It can't be "news".

9/06/2007 12:54 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As far as student's access to computers, uh St. Louis Public Library will allow you to use computers and it doesn't cost the student anything but the price of applying for a library card, which are given on the spot, and scheduling the times you wish to use a computer.

Oh, you gotta get off your butt and go to the library also.

9/06/2007 3:24 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah right, like a K-3rd grader is going to go to the library every day for virtual school.
How about we get computer access for the kids who actually go to SLPS schools first? My kids haven't had a single computer class yet and last year had access to at MOST one-fourth of the computer time they were supposed to have. Why? Because IN REALITY the computer lab teacher is being used for other worthless, paperwork duties.

I am so tired of hearing about all of these wonderful programs in the SLPS that IN REALITY DON'T EXIST!

Or is it just in my school?

9/06/2007 6:30 PM

 
Blogger kjoe said...

They talk a lot about the low voting turnouts for school elections, and lack of parental interest---

sometimes it sounds to me like there is more voter and parental interest than the reporters can be bothered with.

They are the ones who have to pressure the school people for answers.

Even good school people are inherently intimidating to some parents and students.

No reporter should be too intimidated to dig for the ansers.

9/06/2007 7:03 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Judging by the many remarks that have been posted, it is apparent that many of you are not well-informed about the Virtual School component of the SLPS.

You may visit the SLPS website and click on the Virtual School link from the drop down menu. All the information about the Virtual Schools is available. Or, instead of making assumptions, call the district and ask.

It is a wonderful opportunity for students...SLPS is the best choice in Urban Education!

9/08/2007 4:37 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Don’t believe the hype says it best: “Wonderful programs in the SLPS that in reality don’t exist.”

This district is notorious for making things look good on paper but when it comes test time we see the reality. I am not talking about the MAP test look at a test that matters like the ACT and SAT.

I remember under the Roberti terror regime that he claimed that he personally see to it that all schools would be able to have computers. Well that happened during the renovations and new construction of schools – not because of Roberti. The schools are WIRED for computers but do not have the computers. BIG DIFFERENCE. Next schools have been outfitted with wireless routers but the computers do not have the necessary hardware or software to use this technology.

Now lets talk virtual education. I know of several colleges and universities that have virtual classes (I have even taken a few). But I do not know of any on the high school level. I am not saying that they are not out there only that I do not know of any. However I do know several high schools in the area that now require students to have a laptop upon entering. If you do not have a computer the school will charge you for a computer they will buy for you. At the present time these are all private. The students use the computers to complete class assignments and submit online but they get the information they need for the assignment in class or the library. These schools also spend lots of money on programs to make sure students are not just buying assignments and papers online. Colleges and Universities have been doing this for about ten years now. On the college level buying a paper online is the same as plagiarism and the student can be kicked out of that school.

A virtual classroom means that the students can participate in class anytime, anywhere. The students do not have to go to a school to have class. Not to mention the students have a computer to participate in class. Yet another program that looks good on paper but in reality either won’t work or will not be used. Perception is everything. If we tell the people we have a virtual school then we can fool the public that all the schools will have virtual classes.

9/08/2007 1:18 PM

 
Anonymous Mark said...

With all the budget cuts I wouldn't be surprised with most of our education ends up online anyways. I've lived in both Canada and the USA and I can say there is something to having your services provided by a for profit company. Canadians actually come to the states to get specialized health care. The quality of care is higher. Competition breeds quality. There are already a few different online high school education programs like K-12.

9/06/2011 3:22 PM

 

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