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Iowa City School District set to review requests for online school enrollment

April 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

“When people think of virtual schools, there is this perception of [students] sitting in front of a computer with no interaction,” she said. “Connection schools are real communities. At virtual schools, the computer is just a tool for learning.”

And it’s a real school experience, she said, with teachers, a high-quality curriculum, clubs, and activities.

“Virtual education is a very appealing and interesting option for all types of students,” Bazin said noting the flexibility it brings is important.

The type of student varies by need, ranging from athletes to the medically fragile to rural students, she said.

Iowa City residents Maria Valentine and her husband have applied to put their 8-year-old son, Josiah, into the Iowa Connections Academy.

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Iowa View: ‘Virtual schools’ have a place in Iowa

April 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The two virtual schools entering Iowa have created some debate. It is my intent to sort fact from fiction regarding these highly innovative schools.

As with any innovation, challenges are expected. Accepting innovative change typically relies on an easy to understand explanation of the innovation, an advantage over the current system for those being served, can be tried and tested before adoption, and is compatible with our values.

The two new virtual schools are organized around individualized, paced instruction. Students may accelerate in some subjects while taking more time in other subjects if needed. A highly qualified teacher living and working in Iowa implements the instruction and determines advancement through the curriculum using frequent assessments.

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Virtual public schools have a place in Iowa’s future

March 31, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The two virtual schools entering Iowa have created some debate spilling into the mass media. It is my intent to sort out fact from fiction regarding these innovative virtual schools.

As with any new innovation, challenges are appropriate and expected. Accepting innovative change typically relies on an easy to understand explanation of the innovation, an advantage over the current system for those being served, can be tried and tested before adoption, and is compatible with our values.

For the rest of the article, go to Virtual public schools have a place in Iowa’s future

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Learning online

March 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Virtual schools have ignited a very real debate in education circles, as lawmakers decide whether and how much time in an online classroom should be allowed to fulfill state K-12 education requirements.

Governor Terry Branstad has proposed allowing students to receive up to 100 percent of their public school education online, so long as their teachers are state-certified and licensed.

State senators want to cap that so that only half a student’s instruction can be delivered online. The House would require teachers and students to meet regularly.

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Gun bill sparks debate between lawmakers

February 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

A proposal that supporters say would give people in Iowa greater legal protection to use a gun to defend themselves fueled disagreement between two lawmakers serving Webster County Saturday morning.

State Rep. Tom Shaw, R-Laurens, said he supports what’s commonly called the stand-your-ground bill. He said that a person’s ability to defend themself without being arrested is ”one of our basic rights of mankind.”

State Senate President Jack Kibbie, D-Emmetsburg, said the measure won’t pass the Senate and added that any change to gun laws that would enable anyone to carry a weapon anytime would be ”ludicrous.”

Their exchange during Saturday’s Eggs and Issues forum was a small indication of the kind of debate that may happen in the state Capitol as the stand-your-ground bill and other gun legislation is considered.

During the forum, area legislators also discussed the merits of virtual schools which provide instruction online rather than in a traditional classroom.

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Virtual schools need to be part of Iowa’s options

February 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

As a parent who had three children enrolled in a virtual school in a neighboring state, I am strongly considering enrolling another child in one of Iowa’s new virtual schools this fall. I am very disappointed in the Register’s treatment of this new and exciting educational option for Iowan children (Opinion section, Feb. 12).

Andie Dominick’s piece, “It Sounds Appealing at First …” uses the term “creepy” to describe an informational meeting hosted by one of the companies partnering with an Iowa school district to make this educational option a reality. I was at a similar meeting the next day. I would describe my experience as refreshing and inspiring.

Dominick resorts to the worn-out and unproven argument that being exclusively schooled in the home cheats students out of socialization. Nationwide, millions of homeschooling families have endured this criticism for years. Home-schooled kids are some of the most well-adjusted and socially adept young people I know. Besides, based on my experience, I know that virtual schools go out of their way to create opportunities for their students to physically interact with each other and their teachers. Group field trips and other get-togethers are common.

In several of these articles, much is made of the fact that the local host districts will only keep a small percentage of the money that is allocated by the state to educate each student and that the overwhelming majority of the money will go to the out-of-state, for-profit companies who partner with the districts. Keep in mind that actual teachers will have jobs because of these schools. Furthermore, education is costly and these companies cannot teach children for peanuts.

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School official addresses state’s new education blueprint

October 31, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Another item that is gaining attention is in the area of measuring student achievement. One Unshakable Vision brings up the possibility of retention for third graders who do not meet certain assessment standards. Ryan believes that if this measure moves forward, that could create much debate.

In the area of classroom innovation, Ryan said the potential for a new educational model that allows students to move forward in the curriculum at an individual pace could be very beneficial for the educational setting but could create many challenges.

“That could significantly change how schools and classrooms look,” he said. “What will the bell schedule be like? What will teachers licensing be like? How do you prove the student learned it? What do we do with the student who goes through Algebra, Geometry and Algebra II in the course of a school year?”

The diocesan superintendent said the way teachers, principals and superintendents have been taught to look at education could change significantly as old classroom management techniques will not work very well. That’s where, he noted, technology such as the use of the Internet and virtual schools could come into play.

“There is a great amount of potential but anytime you make a significant change to an institution, the potential for difficulties is huge,” Ryan said. “I anticipate that the challenges will be large and numerous.”

In addition to questions pertaining to the practical application of some of the recommendations made in the blueprint, he acknowledged that the costs associated with some of these changes are raising significant questions.

As the state gathers feedback on this plan, Ryan would like to know if they are exploring ways the state can support “all education in Iowa.”

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State education boss: Iowa schools not on decline

July 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

“We have to think about how we can really customize education for each kid,” he said. “That can involve greater school choice options, charter schools, virtual schools, increased access to technology.”

He said instead of making all children go through the same required courses, schools might consider allowing students who are competent in core content areas to move on to something else.

For the rest of the article, go to State education boss: Iowa schools not on decline

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Virtual schools ‘clicking’ for many students this school year

July 28, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A record number of students are heading back to school this year – without ever stepping foot inside a classroom. A growing number of virtual schools (also known as cyber schools or e-schools), combined with booming parent (and student) demand for high-quality virtual education, have more students than ever logging on, instead of boarding a school bus, this back-to-school season.

More than 2 million children in kindergarten through 12th grade are learning online, and their ranks are growing by almost 20 percent each year, according to research by Ambient Insight. Currently, 45 states have significant supplemental online learning programs, or full-time programs, in which students take most or all of their courses online.

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