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Virtual Schools Remain in Session During Winter Storm

January 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Online schools like those offered by Washington Online School Network are a good choice for students looking for a personalized program that lets them complete their studies at their own speed and in their own setting, such as home-schooled-students, advanced learners, students with health or physical challenges, or those needing a flexible schedule in order to work or pursue outside interests. Washington Online School Network complies with all Washington graduation requirements and offers a full middle and high school curriculum, including electives and college preparatory courses.

“One benefit of attending an online school like those in Washington Online School Network is its flexibility. Our students can do their work any time and any place that works for them,” said Jeffrey A. Elliott, Advanced Academics president. “While bad weather closes brick-and-mortar schools and learning labs, our students can continue their studies uninterrupted.”

For the rest of the article, go to Virtual Schools Remain in Session During Winter Storm

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Bethel School Board reviews list of about 25 budget-cut options

December 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Bethel School Board is getting a jump on nasty budget news headed its way from Olympia by reviewing a list of about two dozen budget options and estimating how many dollars could be saved with each cutback.

Among the options that would net some of the biggest savings in the Spanaway-based school district:

  • Closing one or two junior high/middle schools for a savings of $1 million.
  • Eliminating teacher stipends for evening activities for a savings of $2 million.
  • Reducing all employee pay by 1 percent, for a savings of $1 million.

Other savings possibilities:

  • Eliminate the Bethel Online Academy. Estimated savings: $600,000. Seigel said a reduction in state reimbursement for online students has resulted in lower funding for the program and that students could be served elsewhere.
  • Change to a new model for custodian services. Estimated savings: $500,000. Details are still being worked on.
  • Eliminate positions for six assistant principals – three at middle schools and three at elementary schools – for a total estimated savings of $720,000.
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Questions about virtual schools’ effectiveness

November 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Sunday’s newspaper featured a story about full-time public virtual schools, a new model of education that’s growing fast even though critics say there’s scant evidence that it is an effective way to teach kids.

The story focused on Herndon-based K12 Inc., the nation’s largest operator of virtual schools. Its schools (which educate about 95,000 students in 29 states and the District) tend to have lower state test scores and graduation rates than brick and mortar schools.

Company officials say the low numbers don’t accurately reflect the success of their approach. Many of their students struggled in traditional schools, K12 executives say, and were drawn to virtual schooling as a last resort.

For the rest of the article, go to Questions about virtual schools’ effectiveness

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Inside our schools

August 20, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The enrollment window is open until Sept. 20 for those who would still like to join us for a great year. Washington County School District now offers an online high school option for all ninth through 12th graders. Enrollment is still open until Sept. 20 for all ninth- through 12th-graders. Students have the option to take up to two classes in conjunction with those they take at their local high school or they can enroll online full time. The Online High school is another way that Washington County is working to meet the needs of all students.

For the rest of the article, go to Inside our schools

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Principal: When Arne Duncan called to talk

July 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

There is so much work to be done to improve our schools. On that point, both Secretary Duncan and public educators agree. I deeply appreciate that he took the time to find me and to call. I can only hope that our conversation made a difference. Time will tell.

Regardless of the outcome, I learned how critical it is that we all enter the dialogue and speak up for what we know is important and true.

We know that those who lobby for charter schools, sell computers to virtual schools, and profit from testing are legion. Those who love public education, respect the role of collective bargaining and believe that society must improve the lives of our neediest children cannot be silent.

For the rest of the article, go to Principal: When Arne Duncan called to talk

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Bellingham school officials say voter-approved levy is helping avoid deep cuts

July 9, 2011 By Leave a Comment

BELLINGHAM – Looking through the draft Bellingham School District operating budget for the 2011-12 school year, one thing is clear: The voter-approved supplemental levy is helping the district avoid deep cuts and even letting officials invest in specific areas.

The Bellingham School Board and district officials unveiled the draft 2011-12 budget during a board study session Thursday night, July 7.

According to the draft operating budget, the district will spend about $105.8 million during the 2011-12 school year, about $2.3 million, or 2.3 percent, more than what was budgeted for the 2010-11 school year.

The increased spending comes partly from investments in specific areas, including all-day kindergarten and online learning, the reopening of Whatcom Middle School, and a 30 to 35 percent increase in the amount of money the district has to provide to employee retirement plans.

For the rest of the article, go to Bellingham school officials say voter-approved levy is helping avoid deep cuts

 

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Insight — Online high school catching on in state, county

July 2, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Funded by the state like a traditional school, Insight does not charge tuition.

Locally, there’s another online option through the Yakima School District called Yakima Online! Started in fall 2007, the online school is free and public, like Insight. However, it’s only open to students who live within the Yakima School District.

Nationwide, more than 1 million students are enrolled in online schools, according to the North American Council for Online Learning, a nonprofit membership association based in the Washington, D.C., area.

Supplemental or full-time online learning opportunities are available to students in 48 of the 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., according to the council. And 38 states have their own virtual schools or state-led online initiatives.

For the rest of the article, go to Insight — Online high school catching on in state, county

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Washington Virtual Academies Honor Class of 2011

June 18, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Washington Virtual Academies celebrated the graduation of 59 students as the class of 2011 on Sunday, June 12 in Tacoma at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center.

Student speeches were given by Connor Brown and Alan Terry of WAVA High School Monroe, and Yesenia Montes, valedictorian of WAVA High School Omak. Additionally, attendees heard from Dr. Art Himmler, superintendent of Omak School District, and Dr. Kenneth Hoover, superintendent of Monroe Public Schools, both sponsoring districts of WAVA.

For the rest of the article, go to Washington Virtual Academies Honor Class of 2011

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Bellevue-based Online High School Issues Layoff Notices

May 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Insight Schools Inc.  has told the state it plans to close its Bellevue location and has issued layoff notices to 168 employees, the Employment Security Department said Friday on its website.

The closure of the Insight School of Washington, the state’s first online public high school, at 12011 Bel-Red Road is listed as permanent, with layoffs taking effect July 18.

The news follows a report in the Portland Business Journal reported that a similar office in Portland issued layoff notices, related to Insight parent company Kaplan’s decision to sell its online K-12 schools to K12 Inc., which also operates online public high schools in Washington.

For the rest of the article, go to Bellevue-based Online High School Issues Layoff Notices

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BISD to fund all day pre-K

May 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The new system counts English, math, science, social studies and foreign languages towards the student’s grade point average, but doesn’t count things like art, theater and physical education.

“Students will still have electives on transcripts, but the colleges use core classes to establish class ranking,” Skrla said. “The advanced placement classes will be weighted.”

There are several classes which will not count towards a student’s grade point average including summer school classes, virtual school classes, transfer classes which are not offered at Brenham High School and high school classes taken at the junior high will not count towards a grade point average.

“Eight graders can earn credits to go towards their high school transcripts, but unless they took the class at the high school, it will not count towards their grade point average,” Skrla said.

Dual credit courses in English, math, science, social studies and a foreign language will count towards a students grade point average.

For the rest of the article, go to BISD to fund all day pre-K

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