American K-12 schooling is a hotbed of dynamic problem-solving on this front. Non-profits like Teach For America, Florida Virtual School, The New Teacher Project, Carpe Diem, and Citizen Schools are showing new ways to recruit and utilize educators. For-profits like Wireless Generation, Tutor.com, Pearson, Discovery, and Rosetta Stone are offering up a range of ways to harness new tools and technology to support teaching and learning. Figuring out how to leverage these new problem-solvers is a place where our state systems, districts, and schools have fumbled badly. This is an area where would-be reformers have devoted far too little attention. Meanwhile, not only have the “best” performing nations not done any better on this count, but the schemes promoted by those covetously eyeing Finland inevitably entail oodles of regulations and rule-writing calculated to stifle such providers.

Indeed, if we look to nations that are gearing up to lead the pack in 2052, rather than 2012, we see that countries like Qatar and India are busy spying on these American ventures to help them make the leap. We would be well-advised to take the hint, and to push forward by drawing on what the U.S. has always done best.

For the rest of the article, go to America Is Still the Most Innovative Country in the World

A public virtual school, or online school, is looking to attract students from Cheyenne looking for a different educational path.

The school, the Wyoming Connections Academy, recently moved its home base to Big Horn County School District 1.

However, it is still open to all students in Wyoming, Principal Ben Kolb said. It offers classes for students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

For the rest of the article, go to Virtual school seeking students

When you actually dig into the facts they plainly reveal the program has totally been mismanaged from the beginning and that is the reason for the deficit. Unrealistic milestone requirements which are directly tied to funding set up a no win situation from the beginning. Mismanagement without accountability equals a seemingly failing program on paper.

One CCSD administrator plainly told us when asked about the lack of information out in the public about CCVS: “If too many people went to CCVS or started traditional home schooling, some teacher might lose their job. And they might have a family to feed.”

That clearly shows more concern for jobs then students. Schools were not designed for the benefit of providing people jobs, but to educate students. They have lost their focus totally.

For the rest of the article, go to Virtual school info wrong

Baltimore-based Connections Academy and Big Horn County District 1 have formed Wyoming Connections Academy.

For the rest of the article, go to Big Horn school district to offer virtual school

A school district in Big Horn County has partnered with a company to operate a virtual school that may be available to all Wyoming students. Wyoming Connections Academy is a newly formed virtual school started by Baltimore based Connections Academy and Big Horn County District 1.

For the rest of the article, go to Virtual Schools Becoming Reality in Wyoming

It is a problem that is directly tied to Virtual School’s enrollment and student performance, both of which never have been high enough to cover expenditures.

The yearly deficit has dropped in recent years as more students joined and funding standards were lowered by the state. In 2008, the Virtual School ran a deficit of $567,655 when the district ran the program entirely on its own. In 2010, it ran a deficit of $7,864.

While the students learn at home, they have access to school facilities like computer labs and the Planetarium.

The program may even turn a small profit at the end of this school year.

But the school district expects more deficits in the future if more new students don’t sign up.

For the rest of the article, go to Virtual School may lose $70,000 next year

Massie said he wants more choices in schooling, such as more charter schools and expanded virtual education courses.

“But I’m adamant in believing that local districts and their boards are in the best position to determine what that balance should be,” he said.

Hill said she’s open to anything that can help students, be it vouchers, charters schools, home schools or more virtual education.

“We need to make certain we have every option available to them,” she said. “I’m about parental choice, parental choice, parental choice.”

For the rest of the article, go to Race for top school position is competitive

Carbon County District 1 Superintendent Neil Terhune was questioned recently by a parent who wants her daughter in a virtual school.

For the rest of the article, go to Rawlins Parent Questions Virtual School Policy

With a slight increase in projected enrollment to 13,205 students for the 2010-2011 fiscal year, the district will get about $175.5 million from the state.

The increased numbers include local students enrolled in the Wyoming Virtual Academy as well as a new school — Cheyenne’s South High — set to open this fall.

Finance and accounting program administrator Mike Wiggam said about 62 elementary students and 53 junior high students are enrolled in the virtual school this year compared to 16 total during the 2008-09 academic year.

With the approval of the budget, the board renewed the required 25-mill local property tax effort as well as the one recreation mill.

For the rest of the article, go to LCSD1 trustees approve FY 2010-11 budget

Connections Academy