Fitzpatrick is one of 18 students at the high school taking online courses through Virtual High School Inc.

For the courses, students log into a website and receive instructions from a certified teacher, interact with other students, submit their work, “discuss” ideas and more.

Students and staff said the courses have several advantages, one of the most obvious being that students can study topics the district either can’t afford to offer or doesn’t provide due to limited student interest.

“It allows somebody that has a high interest in an area to pursue it and learn more,” said Melissa Cook, who coordinates the Virtual High School program at Canton High School.

For the rest of the article, go to Virtual High School Expands Students’ Options

In a time of unprecedented internal and external change, including the introduction of new organisation-wide systems and processes, UNICEF determined the need for a competency-building, strategic and developmental leadership programme. The UNICEF leaders involved will benefit from a deeper understanding of team work and the drive for results, support in gaining a long-term strategic view, as well as having the opportunity to be challenged by a network of world-class faculty, sector experts and each other.

The duration of each group is seven months and the content is split into three study blocks covering key leadership areas and delivered globally at locations including UNICEF’s headquarters in New York and at Cambridge Judge Business School, UK. The programme utilises a blended learning approach of plenary faculty-led discussions, group coaching, individual mentoring, project work and online interaction and learning through a Virtual Learning Environment.

For the rest of the article, go to Cambridge Judge Business School delivers Leadership Programme for UNICEF

For the rest of the article, go to With Schools Turning to the Web for K-12 Education, Quality is a Concern

The New Mexico Virtual Academy went before the board and about 20 members of the public in an attempt to persuade the community that the academy would offer a new alternative within public school education. It would be the first virtual charter school in the state if approved.

“It’s not for every kid,” said Mary Gifford, senior vice president of K12 Inc., the company which would oversee curricula for the academy.

Though aimed primarily toward local students who do not fit into the traditional public school system, it would cater statewide to students with special needs; students who have fallen behind in school; students who want to move at a faster pace; or students looking to finish their high school education without having to physically return., said academy board member Larry Palmer.

Students in grades kindergarten through 12th grade could enroll. Local students would be the primary demographic, though students could enroll statewide.

For the rest of the article, go to Virtual school is a cloudy vision

Family resource centers created in all schools would provide resources for parents. Alternative learning methods, like virtual high schools, in which the school system could partner with area universities to provide online and alternative courses for students, would be explored.

And, perhaps the biggest change, a charter revision would be pursued to create a new board of education — comprised of five individuals appointed by the mayor and four elected members.

For the rest of the article, go to Education tops agendas of Bridgeport mayoral candidates

n Continued support for Southington’s early childhood collaborative to work in partnership with school staff to enhance kindergarten readiness skills.

•  To facilitate the 2009-2010 pilot of Virtual Learning into offerings for homebound students within the secondary education schools.

•  To continue to lead and embrace school/community partnerships.

For the rest of the article, go to Southington superintendent issues mid-year report

As technology changes and evolves, the world of education and teaching will undoubtedly change. Teachers across the country must stay ahead of the curve.

Although some teachers and the unions see school choice as foreboding for the public school outlook, school choice encompasses empowerment for the parent to choose an environment that employs teachers in all arenas. A new era has been ushered in for education. Once limited to rigid traditional school terms and schedules, teachers are employed in traditional public schools, charters, private schools, religious schools, and online schools just to name a few. Educators will in turn have choices themselves when deciding when, where and how to teach kids.

For the rest of the article, go to School Choice Offers Opportunity for the Teaching Profession

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Middletown School officials also offered the Little Compton School Committee a non-voting seat on the Middletown School Committee to help ensure Little Compton has a greater voice in Middletown.

For the rest of the article go to Middletown Faculty and Students Make Case for Little Compton

NovaNET offers standards-based instruction for secondary and adult learners. The program can be used for education applications like credit accrual, dropout prevention, summer school, credit recovery, virtual schools and virtual learning

For the rest of the article, go to Pearson Debuts Four New STEM Courses for NovaNET Digital Learning Platform