ONLINE EDUCATION: Texas Virtual School on the way to reality

July 8, 2007, 3:46PM

Texas has a new school that could allow students at even the smallest campuses to study rarely offered subjects, such as Chinese and advanced physics, the Houston Chronicle reports. Although it will have to overcome a lack of funding, the new statewide virtual school--signed into law last month--is expected eventually to serve as a clearinghouse for all online courses offered by local school districts… By expanding course options for more students, state network seen as 'equalizer'

By JENNIFER RADCLIFFECopyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
ESOURCES
Texas' Senate Bill 1788
HISD's virtual school program
Florida's virtual school program

-->Texas has a new school that could allow students at even the smallest campuses to study rarely offered subjects such as Chinese and advanced physics.

The "virtual school" could enable teens with full-time jobs to work toward their diplomas online at midnight if necessary. And children at struggling urban high schools with limited course options could log onto Advanced Placement classes offered at affluent suburban campuses.
"There's all kinds of applications. We envision lots of different models," said Jim Schul, the Harris County Department of Education's chief information officer in technology.

Although it will have to overcome a lack of funding, the statewide network — signed into law last month — is expected eventually to serve as a clearinghouse for all online courses offered by local school districts. Most of the details still need to be ironed out, but Houston students theoretically could sign up for classes offered by teachers in Dallas.

"Kids' schedules are getting so crazy," Schul said. "Families' schedules are getting so crazy. They need options."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4950707.html