K12 Inc. and Lawrence Public Schools launched a new virtual high school program serving Kansas students in grades 9 and 10.

Building on a partnership formed in 2004 with the creation of Lawrence Virtual School for kindergarten through eighth-grade students, the Lawrence Virtual High School offers a combination of online and hands-on lessons with state-certified teachers as well as access to extracurricular activities and outings.

For the rest of the article, go to Kansas District Expands Virtual Learning Beyond Middle School

The K-12 students will be part of the district’s first-ever virtual school.

The box will contain grade-specific supplies – books, globes, maps – that students will need to finish a year of school from home.

Virtual schooling is gaining traction among California school districts looking for ways to increase revenue and decrease spending.

The cyber school could help the district bring back students who have left to attend charter or private schools, and could draw students from other districts, said Anne Zeman, director of curriculum and professional learning for the district. And with those additional students will come additional state funding.

Elk Grove will pay K12, the company that provides the instruction plans and materials, 85 to 90 percent of the $5,219 the district receives from the state for each student, Zeman said.

She said the district may not make any money on the endeavor, but she’s certain it won’t cost any more than it brings in. “We can’t afford to embark on a program that is a new expense,” she said.

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http://www.sacbee.com/2010/02/24/2560205/elk-grove-unified-to-open-a-virtual.html

Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School, based in Norristown, will use a research-based curriculum from K12, a technology-based education company in Herndon, Va. The curriculum combines interactive online courses, printed materials, offline activities and assessment tools that provide students an educational experience.

The curriculum can be customized for each child, and schools can provide individualized learning programs for each student.

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Norristown-based cyber charter school signs 10-year deal

From Pittsburgh Tribune-Review