The Missouri Virtual Instruction Program (MoVIP) provides affordable, high-quality, standards-based supplemental and full-time online coursework for Missouri schools needing credit retrieval, advanced courses, curriculum enhancements and/or to resolve scheduling conflicts.
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What's New
Greetings from Missouri’s K-12 Virtual Instruction Program (MoVIP):
It is a privilege for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to establish a statewide virtual public school for the state of Missouri. Missouri will be joining the ranks of 24 other states that have a statewide virtual school program. MoVIP will be available for the 2007-2008 school year.
The 2006 Legislative Session passed the Missouri Virtual Public School Legislation with Governor Matt Blunt signing Senate Bill 912 in June. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the State Board of Education will oversee administration of this program.
For those who may not be familiar with online learning, MoVIP will provide all K-12 Missouri students (public, private and home schooled) equal access to a wide range of coursework with more flexibility in scheduling. Students can take an entire course, from any Internet-connected computer, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
There is much more work to be done before MoVIP becomes reality in August 2007.
The work includes:
Establishing an awareness of MoVIP throughout the state, focusing on the services and offerings that MoVIP will be able to offer all Missouri students.
Develop a Request for Proposals (RFP) to select a management vendor as well as specific content providers at all grade levels.
Develop the State Board of Education rules and regulations connected with virtual education.
The reasons that students take virtual courses vary from student to student. Examples of reasons include:
The opportunity to take Advanced Placement courses
The need to recover credit from classes failed
Home schooled and private school students who want to expand their curriculum
Students who are homebound or have special education needs
Scheduling conflicts within school
Courses not offered by school
This is not a delivery method for all students, but this initiative has the opportunity to increase access and versatility of instruction for Missouri students. We realize the potential that exists and hope that we can develop the best state virtual school possible for our students.
There is much more information to share about MoVIP and virtual education than this greeting can cover. I encourage you to visit this website often to be informed about developments connected with MoVIP. If you have questions about the program, do not hesitate to contact the Virtual School office at DESE at 573-526-4219. I am available to present to your group on the Virtual School and our goals. Please feel free to email me with your questions.
Sincerely,
Curt Fuchs, PhD
Director of Virtual School
Curt.fuchs@dese.mo.gov
DESE Virtual Schools Section
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Hundreds of Kids Flock to Washington State's New Online Schools
The Seattle Times
09/11/06
Washington's two newest online schools didn't know how many students to expect when they announced they would open their virtual doors this fall. Leaders cautiously hoped for 250, maybe 300 as a start.
They were low--way low. As school starts, the two public schools are happily struggling to handle double and triple that number.
Insight School of Washington, the state's first fully online high school, stopped accepting students after 650, and has 1,000 more who've expressed interest. The Washington Virtual Academy, a K-8 based in Steilacoom, has 652 students registered, and another 500 in the application pipeline.
It's another spurt in the growth of online learning in Washington state, where more than 9,000 students took one or more online classes last year.
Going to school via computer is "not for most kids," said Bill Finkbeiner, executive director of Insight School, a partnership between a Portland company and the small Quillayute Valley School District in Forks. "Most students are going to do better in traditional high schools. But there are a significant percentage of students who don't fit in to a regular high school and, for many of them, this is a good option."
About one-quarter of Insight School's students previously were home-schooled, according to Finkbeiner.
09/11/06
Washington's two newest online schools didn't know how many students to expect when they announced they would open their virtual doors this fall. Leaders cautiously hoped for 250, maybe 300 as a start.
They were low--way low. As school starts, the two public schools are happily struggling to handle double and triple that number.
Insight School of Washington, the state's first fully online high school, stopped accepting students after 650, and has 1,000 more who've expressed interest. The Washington Virtual Academy, a K-8 based in Steilacoom, has 652 students registered, and another 500 in the application pipeline.
It's another spurt in the growth of online learning in Washington state, where more than 9,000 students took one or more online classes last year.
Going to school via computer is "not for most kids," said Bill Finkbeiner, executive director of Insight School, a partnership between a Portland company and the small Quillayute Valley School District in Forks. "Most students are going to do better in traditional high schools. But there are a significant percentage of students who don't fit in to a regular high school and, for many of them, this is a good option."
About one-quarter of Insight School's students previously were home-schooled, according to Finkbeiner.
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