SC Virtual Charter Schools Gearing Up

As this and other school choice programs grow it will be very interesting to see how home-buying choices change. When people do not have to consider so heavily the quality of a particular school district, will demographics be less geographically homogeneous? If you could live anywhere in the Lowcountry and know that your children's education wouldn't suffer, where would you go?

"The South Carolina Virtual Charter School (SCVCS) Charter Committee announced that its new online public school will open in August 2008. It is expected to be the largest K-12 online public school in South Carolina serving up to 1,000students across the state. The school intends to use the nationally acclaimed curriculum, technology and academic services provided by K12 Inc., a technology-based education company and leading national provider of high-quality curriculum and online learning programs.

SCVCS will provide students across the state with the opportunity to receive an excellent public education regardless of their geographic, financial, or demographic circumstances. SCVCS students will learn outside the classroom and receive instruction, direction and oversight from state-certified teachers. Younger students will work alongside a learning coach -- a parent or responsible adult -- who will provide guidance and assistance. Students will be required to meet accountability standards,including academic and attendance requirements, and must participate in state assessments in a proctored setting.

Every student enrolled in SCVCS will receive an individualized learning program using K12 courses in math, English/language arts, science, history, art, music, along with a complete menu of high school courses, including AP and honors-level courses, electives, and foreign language offerings. Students will access the web-based lessons through the innovative K12 Online School and use other K12 education materials (textbooks,workbooks, math and science supplies, hands-on projects, and much more) that will be shipped directly to each student. Because SCVCS is a public school, it is tuition free and open to all students who reside within South Carolina."

For the full PRNewswire release: http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/03-17-2008/0004775153&EDATEACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/03-17-2008/0004775153&EDATE=

For SC virtual charter schools: http://www.k12.com/
http://www.connectionsacademy.com/
http://www.blueoceancharter.org/