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Charter, online schools on horizon for Sand Springs district

May 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Sand Springs school officials are looking at two teaching options that have changed traditional educational practices in other districts and across the nation.

School Superintendent Lloyd Snow told Sand Springs Board of Education members Monday evening the district will establish a virtual online school curriculum and is considering starting a charter school.

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Lori Kerns told the board the district “is ready to establish an online school” and that it will be operational by the fall of 2011.

The curriculum, which can be accessed by students at home through a computer, will be called the Sand Springs Virtual Learning Academy.

Kerns described the curriculum as a “hybrid model,” with teachers and counselors working with the off-site student.

For the rest of the article, go to Charter, online schools on horizon for Sand Springs district

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“Introducing Oklahoma Calvert Academy: a Tuition-Free Oklahoma Virtual School”

April 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Epic One on One Charter School and Calvert Education Services, one of the nation’s premier providers of distance education, today announced an innovative partnership to launch a new online elementary and middle charter school for students throughout the state of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Calvert Academy (OKCAL). Classes in this new Oklahoma virtual school will begin in the fall of 2011.

For the rest of the article, go to “Introducing Oklahoma Calvert Academy: a Tuition-Free Oklahoma Virtual School”

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Oklahoma House advances bill to create charter school commission

April 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Opponents voiced concerns that charter schools offering virtual courses would take money from public schools, but Denney countered by reminding members in her debate that charter schools are sponsored by public schools.

No state panel is reviewing online courses being offered by charter or public schools, Denney said.

Earlier this year, the state’s first online charter school, Epic One-on-One Charter School, began soliciting students. Epic will open in the fall and is expected to have transfers from across the state. Graham Public Schools in Okfuskee County approved the charter, and students must transfer into the district to attend Epic.

For the rest of the article, go to Oklahoma House advances bill to create charter school commission

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School board allows for co-valedictorians, revamps policy for fall

April 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

The Cherokee County school board approved a measure on Thursday night it hopes will lead to more equitable class rankings.

Beginning next school year, to be considered for valedictorian or salutatorian, dually enrolled students have to take at least two classes per semester their junior and senior years through their high school. The courses can be in traditional classrooms or approved online or virtual classes.

The board also approved how class rankings are calculated and a one-time waiver of its valedictorian policy last month. For this school year only, schools will be allowed to honor co-valedictorians and co-salutatorians.

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More than 300 students apply for free public school online

April 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

SPERRY — Enrollment for an online public school opening Aug. 12 for Oklahoma students in kindergarten through eighth grade has topped 300, a spokesman for the Sperry School District said.

The school district is partnering with Oklahoma Connections Academy to offer free online public school education. The full-time virtual school has attracted 305 students from 45 of the state’s 77 counties, according to preliminary data.

“We’re very pleased that our program is attracting a diverse group of families from across the state,” Josh Williams, Sperry’s director of technology and coordinator of the program, said in a prepared statement.

For the rest of the article, go to More than 300 students apply for free public school online

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Online courses should be part of education mix

April 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

IF school districts across Oklahoma aren’t thinking about offering online classes, then they’re out of step with today’s digital world. It’s one more way to reach students, particularly those who have gotten behind, need enrichment or have some other reason for needing a nontraditional approach to schooling. Failure to acknowledge this evolving approach could leave traditional districts out in the virtual cold.

Weeks ago the state’s first online charter school, Epic One-on-One Charter School, began cold-calling houses throughout the state soliciting students. It obtained phone numbers of students from school districts through the state Open Records Act. Epic will open in the fall and is expected to have transfers from throughout the state. Graham Public Schools in Okfuskee County approved the charter, and students must transfer into the district to attend Epic.

For the rest of the article, go to Online courses should be part of education mix

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    Online classes are on way to Putnam City

    April 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

    WARR ACRES — Middle and high school students in the Putnam City School District could begin enrolling in online classes by May.

    The Putnam City School Board on Monday approved an agreement with Pearson Virtual Learning for online courses.

    Enrollment in the courses is expected to begin May 9, said district spokesman Steve Lindley. Courses include core subjects, world languages, electives, honors and 14 advanced placement courses

    The cost to the district is $225,000, but classes will be free for students, Lindley said.

    “This is something we’ve been looking into for the past several years in considering what would work best for our students,” Lindley said.

    There are a lot of benefits to the program, he said.

    Each year there are 60 to 70 students who transfer out of Putnam City because the district hasn’t provided virtual classes, he said. Online classes also can help bolster students who are at risk of not graduating because they are having trouble in a core subject or facing failure on one of the state’s end-of-instruction tests. Area homeschooled students also can be helped.

    “All schools have students who may be nontraditional learners,” Lindley said. “They have to find different ways to serve them.”

    For the rest of the article, go to Online classes are on way to Putnam City

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    TPS’ Early College may be expanded under proposals

    April 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment

    Students who are more advanced than their peers are working ahead in a TPS virtual high school program.

    For example, Escalante is enrolled in biology online, and Glasco is enrolled in geometry, while most of their peers are in Algebra I and physical science.

    Also, 17 students have already qualified through proficiency testing to begin college coursework. They are enrolled in an introductory, three-credit course that is taught by a TCC instructor.

    For the rest of the article, go to TPS’ Early College may be expanded under proposals

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    Oklahoma Bill Strips Municipal Employees of Collective Bargaining Rights

    March 29, 2011 By Leave a Comment

    Yet another blow to organized labor in America. The only way to really view this is from a mile high: this is a coordinated, state-by-state assault on public sector unions and public education. I don’t know what role ALEC is playing in all of this*, but one thing seems certain: each of these right-wing bills – from Wisconsin, to Florida, to Indiana, to Oklahoma – is strikingly similar to the next. They are going for the jugular of the public unions while avoiding taking on traditionally more conservative members like cops and firefighters. This is followed by a push to reform public school systems by introducing more charters, voucher programs, or virtual schools. Coincidence?

    For the rest of the article, go to Oklahoma Bill Strips Municipal Employees of Collective Bargaining Rights

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    Sperry to offer virtual school

    March 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

    SPERRY – Sperry Public Schools will partner next school year with a Maryland company to offer full-time, tuition-free public virtual school for Oklahoma students in kindergarten through eighth grade, a school spokesman said Friday.

    Connections Academy, a for-profit company from Baltimore, Md., will administer the program starting in the 2011-12 academic year, said Josh Williams, Sperry’s director of technology and coordinator of the program for the district.

    Plans are to expand the program to include grades nine through 12 in 2012-13, Williams said.

    For the rest of the article, go to Sperry to offer virtual school

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