Virtual high school an innovative idea
If its governing board gives the go-ahead Monday, the Modesto City Schools will hit the "start" key on a new high school based entirely on Internet instruction.
The proposed Modesto Virtual Academy will occupy space at Pearson School, whose students and staff are moving to nearby Franklin Elementary School.
But most of the academy's instruction will take place online, with students using a basic curriculum prepared by Kaplan, an international, for-profit company best known for its test preparation services.
The virtual school signals a new approach in several ways:
It will be Modesto City Schools' first foray into charter schools, a public option that has proven popular because it provides freedom from many state regulations while still receiving state funding.
It will be the first school in Stanislaus County to rely entirely on an online curriculum, although there are other schools and programs that have online components.
It will be aimed at the full spectrum of students, from those who have fallen behind on credits toward graduation to those who want an accelerated or honors program that will get them to college more quickly.
District officials are trying to regain some of the students they've lost and retain some of those who are on the verge of going elsewhere or dropping out. And they want to boost average daily attendance as a way to increase state funding.
Modesto Virtual Academy would help them accomplish those goals, they say.
Who are the academy's prospective students? Associate Superintendent Randy Fillpot sees lots of possibilities:
Some of the 200 students currently on independent study or unable to attend classes regularly for medical reasons.
Students who don't like either the big comprehensive campuses or Elliott Alternative Education Center.
Students who currently are being home-schooled.
Students whose heavy participation in sports, arts or other activities makes it difficult for them to attend classes regularly.
High-performing students who want to move more quickly or get more deeply into subjects than what typically takes place at a traditional high school.
The district intends to launch the school with about 300 students, and estimates that about two-thirds of them will be current Modesto students.
If the school board approves the proposal Monday, a charter petition will go to the state Board of Education next month, along with an application for a $250,000 grant that would cover a significant portion of the start-up costs.
If the state gives its OK, Modesto Virtual Academy would open in late summer.
Before that happens, though, a number of things would need to be worked out.
For instance, the number of students who enroll will determine how many teachers are needed. The district will have to negotiate specifics with the Modesto Teachers Association, but union leaders say they are open to the charter school, provided current teachers get preference.
Typically, one "core" teacher might work with students in his or her subject specialty, such as math or history. The teacher communicates with students through telephone calls, e-mail, instant messaging and occasional face-to-face meetings.
But while most families have computers and Internet access at home, there may be some who do not. For those situations, the district is looking into how it could provide notebook computers that would be needed for a student to participate.
Also to be worked out as the school evolves is how frequently and when students would mix in person with each other. Would there be organized extracurricular activities such as clubs, music and sports?
When school board members first discussed the virtual high school proposal last month, several wanted to know if it also could provide a way for students at traditional high schools to pick up extra classes that aren't available at their current school or don't fit in their schedule.
That's not the initial intent, Fillpot said. The plan is for students to "attend" full-time at Modesto Virtual Academy, not part-time at two schools.
To be sure, the online option won't be a good fit for every student -- including those who want or need the regimen of a firm schedule or those who want to be on a campus with their friends every day.
And those who see it as an easy option will be disappointed; Fillpot said the academy's academics will be as rigorous as what students would find in a traditional classroom.
We're not convinced that either of Modesto's two new high schools -- this one or Gregori at the eastern edge of Salida -- will stem the district's enrollment decline.
But we are convinced that the virtual school is an idea whose time has come.
Modesto City Schools has been exploring alternative education programs for several years. The online option is one of the more innovative proposals we've seen.
If done right, Modesto Virtual Academy will give local students a new and different option for finishing high school and in doing so, will further the district's and the community's goal of getting a diploma in every hand.
This story was originally published April 18, 2010 at 12:11 AM with the headline "Virtual high school an innovative idea."