Arizona State University has expanded its online degree and certification programs for PK-12 teachers, including the addition of a new credential for online teaching. Tuition will be the same whether the student is in state or out of state.

Beginning with the fall 2010 semester, six new programs in the education area will be available completely online. Arizona preschool and kindergarten teachers will also have the opportunity to fulfill their early childhood education certification requirement online in order to meet a state department of education July 2012 deadline.

“We have expanded opportunities for elementary and secondary teachers with our online programs,” said Mari Koerner, dean of ASU’s Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College. “Teachers deserve the same exceptional learning experiences that they give their students each day. Our programs make that opportunity realistic and affordable for teachers, whatever the time of day or wherever they call home.”

For the rest of the article, go to Arizona State Launching Online Credential for Online Teaching

Her own school district, San Jose’s East Side Union, canceled most summer school for lack of money.

Welcome to the summer of the California budget crisis. Normally, tens of thousands of valley students would be beginning summer classes in their home districts now. But those courses — whether meant for students who want to get ahead, catch up, or take enrichment classes in arts, music or science — have become another casualty of the state’s education funding crisis. When the state granted them budget flexibility, most districts siphoned money earmarked for summer school to help keep their educational ships afloat during the regular school year.

The result: Many students have been scrambling to find alternatives from community colleges and a confusing array of private course providers. “One program charged $900,” said Vanessajoie, 16. “I don’t have that kind of money.”

The cancellation has left many students fearing they’ll be less competitive in college applications or will lack the credits to graduate.

“We would have to suspect that it would have an effect both on the dropout rate and academic performance,” said Terry Peluso of the Campbell Union High School District, which canceled summer school except for some special education students and for seniors needing to make up work.

Likewise, San Jose Unified has about 675 high school students enrolled this summer, most trying to make up credits. Last year, the district canceled most of its summer school at the last minute, when the state declared it would not reimburse districts. This year, San Jose Unified is referring other students to its approved online courses, offered by third parties such as K12.com, Brigham Young University and the Fresno County Office of Education. The costs range from $150 to $350 per online semester course, summer school Principal Dane Caldwell-Holden said.

For the rest of the article, go to Summer school classes vanishing as South Bay students scramble for options

During a board meeting, Zachary Barnes, the director of graduation success and dropout prevention for the school system, and Robert Coates, director of secondary education, spoke to the board about Bridgewater Academy, a fully accredited online school that allows students to have access course studies 24 hours a day.

As a credit recovery program, Bridgewater Academy makes earning course credits as simple as logging onto a website.

Barnes said that Bridgewater will not replace other programs the system uses for credit recovery, like Plato Learning.

For the rest of the article, go to City school board approves online academic program

Graduation took place at 7pm Thursday evening at the West Shore Evangelical Church and Conference Center in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.  Approximately 150 of the graduating seniors from around the state attended donning cap and gown.

K12 Inc. Founder and CEO Ron Packard delivered this year’s keynote address to the largest class of students Agora has graduated thus far. K12, the nation’s largest provider of online school programs for students in kindergarten through high school, provides its high quality curriculum and school services to the Agora Cyber Charter School.

The valedictorian speech was presented by Darian Kiger, who will attend York College to major in professional writing with a minor in music.  Ms. Kiger was awarded the presidential award scholarship and the dean academic scholarship from York College as well as the shining star scholarship from Agora Cyber Charter School.

“My online studies through Agora enabled me to learn at a pace that was just right,” said class Valedictorian Darian Kiger.  ”The internet is the future of schooling.  My classmates and I are proud to be pioneers of such an outstanding and innovative educational program.”

For the rest of the article, go to Agora Cyber Charter School Graduates Largest Senior Class.

Greg Gettle, CCA high school principal welcomed the graduates and their family and friends to the second graduating class from Lehighton. He said that CCA is growing rapidly. Last year there were 104 graduates from four locations throughout Pennsylvania-Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Butler and Lehighton. This year there are 230 graduates. There are 33 from the Lehighton area.

“People wonder what happens to our students after graduation. Just like any other school, we have many 2010 students who have earned scholarships and many are going on to further their educations, some are entering the armed forces and others plan to enter the work field. I think it speaks well of the class of 2010.”

He shared with everyone the good news that starting with the Juniors of 2010, they will be entitled to a $1,000 scholarship, Sophomores of 2010 will receive a $2,000 scholarship and Freshmen of 2010 will receive a $3,000 scholarship upon graduation.

He told the parents of the graduating class of 2010 that they were as much a part of graduation as the graduates and promised them that while they may not be appreciated by their sons and daughters today, they will in years to come.

For the rest of the article, click here.

When his high school doors closed behind him, Kyle’s lifelong opportunities become severely limited. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average annual income of a dropout is $24,000, which is 60 percent below that of high school graduates. Kyle didn’t want to bus tables for the rest of his life, but finding even a low-skill job in Michigan has become increasingly difficult. Michigan’s 14.3 percent unemployment rate currently leads the nation. With limited earning potential and low chances of gainful employment, it’s not surprising that many dropouts end up in correctional facilities or prison. The New York Times recently reported that, on any given day, a dropout is five times more likely to be incarcerated–with the cost of lifetime incarceration exceeding the cost of public school education by a factor of two or three.

While Kyle’s story is striking, it is hardly unique. By pushing out students who are failing and unlikely to graduate, as well as truants and students with behavior problems, schools can raise their test-score averages and graduation rates while reducing suspensions and dropout rates. Many times, this happens when school systems do not quickly identify and support students who are struggling or exhibiting other early warning signs of dropping out of school, like disengagement and poor attendance.

Michigan’s response

Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan decided to spotlight the troubling dropout numbers across Michigan. He issued a “Dropout Challenge” and began recruiting schools to step up their efforts in identifying youth exhibiting early warning signs of dropping out of school, providing appropriate support, and offering alternative routes for students to graduate. At the same time, the Michigan Legislature and Gov. Jennifer Granholm enacted legislation raising the dropout age to 18 and providing failing high schools with turnaround strategies and supports.

To support participating schools in the Dropout Challenge, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) developed a four-fold strategy of engagement, funded in part by the state’s Title II, Part D, Enhancing Education Through Technology (EETT) competitive grant program. Our work involves increasing the availability and use of prevention data, strengthening public policy, identifying and disseminating best practices, and sponsoring alternative routes to high school graduation.

For the rest of the article, click here.

A joint project of Holton-Arms (Maryland), Westover (Connecticut), Harpeth Hall (Tennessee), and Laurel School (Ohio), the goal of the Online School for Girls is to inspire girls worldwide to reach their potential by offering exceptional instruction in an online setting.

With research indicating that most girls inhabit cyberspace differently than boys, the Online School for Girls is designed to capitalize on the ways that girls learn best. That includes connection among the participants, collaboration in learning, inspiring creativity, and engaging in real-world problems and solutions.

For the rest of the article, click here.

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By NAIS Reporter

Enter BAVEL, the Barren Academy of Virtual and Expanded Learning, Kentucky’s first fully accredited, diploma-granting high school with no walls but plenty of classrooms, demanding course expectations but with flexibility, and the opportunity for Samantha to learn by seeing the world … while sitting at a computer.

“I will be the first to admit that I was skeptical when the subject of online schooling came up as an option for Samantha,” said her father, Rick Edwards. “However, my attitude quickly adjusted after reviewing the course offerings and the challenging materials contained in them.”

Already accepted with scholarship opportunities by three universities, Samantha, a Lyon County student, is one of the success stories that led judges to select the Barren County Schools’ BAVEL program for the KSBA PEAK (Public Education Achieves in Kentucky) Award.

“Barren County has hit on a program that meets the needs of students who cannot attend the regular classroom,” said Durward Narramore, a PEAK judge and Jenkins Independent school board member who sits on the KSBA Board of Directors.

For the rest of the article, click here.

By Brad Hughes

At the IGI Chicago Style Gymnastic Invitational, which bills itself as ‘The Largest Women’s Gymnastic Meet in the World,’ Jacobs won the Level 9 all-around title against some of the finest talent in the country.

While winning a national title is important, for her father Mike Jacobs, what his daughter did is sort of mind-blowing.

“I really don’t know where her ability comes from, I know it’s not from me,” Jacobs said. “Doing this is something she really loves to do.”

Jacobs 101

Jacobs began her gymnastics career when she was 4 years old when she got a packet from the school for getting straight As.

“She had made the honor roll in school when they sent home a package of coupons and in it was a free lesson at a gymnastics class,” said Mr. Jacobs. “She went and fell in love with it and has been doing it ever since.”

Jacqueline’s normal day starts with classes at Powell Middle School that end at 1:30 p.m. Then she goes to Suncoast Gymnastics Academy where she trains five days a week with Coach Arnold Gwynn and his wife Cindy.

“Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday she trains from 2-7:30 p.m. and then on Tuesdays and Thursdays she trains from 3:30-7:30 p.m.,” said Mr. Jacobs.

Besides going to Powell and working at gymnastics, Jacobs also takes classes on-line with the Florida Virtual School and she gets straight As.

“Gymnastics is something she really wants to do and the amount of work she puts into it really amazes me,” Mr. Jacobs said.

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http://www2.hernandotoday.com/content/2010/feb/27/local-gymnast-nabs-national-all-around-crown/