Policy Papers
Virtual Schools: For Some, the Future of Education (PDF)
This paper from the Flint Hills Center for Public Policy describes the reasons why some students find virtual schools useful, and offers recommendations concerning public policy relating to virtual schools.
Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning
This site offers an annual review of online learning programs throughout the United States.
Official Stuff
The Kansas State Department of Education has a lot of information about online learning.
Commentary
Going to School? Maybe You Should Go Online (PDF)
This brief essay, published in the Kansas City Kansan and other newspapers, gives a brief introduction to virtual schools.
List of Virtual Schools and Online Programs
There are a number of virtual schools in Kansas. Some are run as programs within a school district, others are run as charter schools operated by a district, but all offer a new way for students to learn. Here are some of the online opportunities available to students in Kansas (and in some cases, beyond). Note that some programs offer a complete set of classes for students, while others offer only a few.
Just as there are many companies that sell textbooks, there are several companies that sell the materials and other things needed for a virtual school program. Leading vendors include KC Distance Learning, K12 , Insight Schools, and Connections Academy.
* Programs marked with an asterisk offer a wide range of classes, free of tuition, to any student in Kansas.
Have an addition or correction to suggest? Please use the comment feature (scroll down until the end of the page).
21st Century Century Charter School Learning Academy
A charter school operated by USD 242 Mullinville. Opened in 2000. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 122.1.
Basehor-Linwood Virtual School* A program of USD 458, BLVS was the first K-12 virtual school in the state of Kansas. Opened in 1998. FTE enrollment for 2006-07 was 345, making it the state’s largest virtual school.
Run by USD 447 Cherryvale. Open to district residents, non-residents, home-school students. Opened in 2003. FTE enrollment for 2006-07 was 127.2
Cornerstone Alternative Charter High School
A program of USD 499 Galena. Opened in 2000. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 11.0.
A program of USD 233 Olathe. Divided into classes taken during the school day (eLearning) and at other times (eAcademy). Programs are offered only to students who live within the boundaries of the school district. Opened in 2003. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 0.9.
A program of USD 218, this school actively recruits out-of-state students, who (unlike state residents) pay tuition. Opened in 2001. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 121.7
This consortium of schools in central Kansas uses virtual instruction for drop-outs and credit recovery, through 14 locations. Program opened in 2005. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 54.5.
Garden City High School Networking Technologies
USD 457 Garden City does not offer a virtual school. Instead, students at the district’s high school may take three different classes online. Program opened in 2001. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 0.0, after a high of 6.4 in 2002-2003.
Offers both individual classes and an entire curriculum. Students must secure the cooperation of a local district; diplomas are given by a local district, not the SEKESC (Greenbush), which runs the program. Opened in 2001. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 28.8.
A charter school operated by USD 501 Topeka. As of this writing (7/07), the web site has little information about the program, such as who is eligible, how it works, what curriculum is used, and so forth. It appears to be geared for “credit recovery” students (i.e., those who have failed a course and need to make it up) within USD 501. Opened in 2005 with an FTE enrollment of 28.0 FTE enrollment for 2006-07 was not available.
A program of USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden, assisted by KC Distance Learning. Opened in July 2007.
Opened in Fall, 2008. Open to students anywhere in Kansas.
Offered by USD 328 Lorraine. Credit recovery, home schooling, and other purpose served. Grades 1-12 served. Opened in 2005. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 70.0.
Calls itself “the premium state wide K-12 curriculum provider.” Offered by USD 497 Lawrence. Opened in 2005. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 510.1 for the Lawrence Public Virtual Schools Charter and 75.8 for the Lawrence Virtual Secondary Program.
Full K-12 program. Seems to be more structured (that is, similar to a traditional school) than most. Opened in 2006-07 with a first-year FTE enrollment of 58.7.
(The) Learning Center of Ellis County
Offered by a consortium of 5 schools, administered in some ways by USD 489 Hays. Emphasizes credit recovery for adults and students who have dropped out. Emphasizes on-site use of computers, though out-of-district students can work elsewhere. Services free to drop-outs; currently enrolled students who wish to supplement their class load must pay. Opened in 2005. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 6.8.
Offered by USD 266 Maize, Maize Online. It appears to offer only individual classes and not an entire curriculum. Students must pay $100 per half credit. Opened in 2006-2007. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 1.0.
Meade Academy for Academic Success
General education and credit recovery classes offered by USD 226 Meade. No web page found. Opened in 2006-07. FTE for 2006-07 was 2.1.
The Southeast Central Kansas Education Service Center (SCKESC) is a consortium of over 30 organizations, including school districts. Among other services, it offers virtual learning through member schools. The @Home program is open to students in grades 3-12. It uses OddessyWare. Program opened in 2005. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 63.8. A diploma completion program, started in 2005, attracted an FTE enrollment of 49.7 in 2006-07.
The number of high school classes offered is minimal, and carries a cost to out-of-district students. A comprehensive curriculum is available for students in elementary and middle school, but carries a $1,000 cost for those living out-of-district. Operated by USD 512 Shawnee Mission. Opened in 2002. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 20.2.
Smokey Hill Education Service Center
This consortium of 65 school districts and privately-run schools in a 25 county area (including USD 435 Abiline and USD 305 Salina) offers many services to school districts. It also offers student some courses that are entirely or whole computer-based. We don’t know the extent to which any of those classes are distance-based. It does appear that courses available are supplemental, and that a student cannot take an entire workload through an online program. Opened in 2006-2007. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 1.0.
Smokey Valley Virtual Charter School
Sponsored by USD 400 Smokey Valley. Computer rental is $50 per year. Opened in 2005. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 28.4.
“Hosted by SWPRSC & Consortium Districts in Southwest Kansas.” Offers K-8 classes only. Not open to any student in Kansas, but only to those who live in districts that are part of the consortium. Uses the curriculum of the company K-12.
Sylvan Unified Virtual School
USD 299 Sylvan has a virtual program. The program has no web site, though the district’s web site offers a PDF brochure that describes the program. Classes available for grades 7-12. Offered without charge, possibly throughout the state. Opened in 2006. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 9.5.
SWPRSC Community Learning Center-Community Learning Center
The Southwest Plains Regional Service Center (SWPRSC) is a consortium of school districts, including those in Dodge City, Hays, and Garden City. The community learning centers, located in several cities, have computers that students may use on site, though they also help students taking classes at home. The emphasis of the program is not on high school-age students but on adults who want to complete their studies for a diploma. Opened in 2003. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 51.0.
Thomas Charter School
The school, owned and operated by USD 315 Colby Public Schools, the charter school makes some use of online classes. Opened in 200. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 2.0.
Turner Virtual Learning Center*
Offered by USD 202 Turner. Opened in 2006. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 30.0.
Offered by USD 253 Emporia. The center is a charter school with both a face-to-face component for students in grades 5-8, and a virtual school for students in grades K-8. It uses the K12 and Odysseyware online curricula to students throughout Kansas. Opened in 20065. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 38.5.
A program of USD 259 Wichita. Opened in 2001. FTE enrollment in 2006-07 was 212.0.
[...] to see a list of some of those schools, please visit the virtual school page on Kansas Education. You can also find some information at the web site of the [...]
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[...] first is the Virtual Schools page. It lists virtual schools and online school programs in the state and offers some comments on the [...]
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