Virtual+Highschools

= Virtual Highschools for At-Risk Students =

__LA United School Districts, California__
Watson et.al. (2008) suggest that the online content used at LA United School Districts allows students to test out their knowledge in a safe environment and succeed at working through the learning material in manageable blocks. This, it is suggested, begins to break-down the “culture of failure” as students are regularly experiencing success and getting immediate feedback without putting their reputation at risk.


 * [[image:http://notebook.lausd.net/pls/ptl/url/ITEM/5470DC397CD89080E0430A0002109080 link="@http://notebook.lausd.net/portal/page?_pageid=33,47493&_dad=ptl&_schema=PTL_EP"]] ||  ||
 * Features of LAUSD Online Learning (From LA Unified School District, 2010)* Different options available to schools such as content-only where qualified subject teacher leads the class using the online material and tests, and instructor led where any certified teacher supervises students who learn form experienced online-teacher.
 * Significant professional development resources and training for teachers involved.
 * Every school in the district can take advantage of ths programme.
 * Full virtual highschool "City of Angels" available for enrollement from 2010. ||  ||

__The Bridge Programme, Salem-Keizer District, Oregon__
The Bridge programme pro-actively recruits at-risk students from highschool or those who have already failed the school system. Students are expected to be in one of the multiple city labs every school day, and may be given dispensation to work flexible hours around work commitments utilising the local college computer lab in the evenings (Watson et.al., 2008). The programme is made possible using the district's virtual school SKOnline.
 * [[image:http://roberts.salkeiz.k12.or.us/images/Banner.gif caption="Roberts High School" link="http://roberts.salkeiz.k12.or.us/robertsstart.htm"]] || Features of The Bridge Programme (From Watson et.al., 2008)
 * Students work on one course at a time spending meeting for two hours per day in a supervised computer lab at one of several locations in the area.
 * It incorporates a work-experience programme.
 * Each student has an academic plan to follow.
 * It is financially self-sustaining.
 * Students may apply for exemptions to change their daily schedules to fit around work/family commitments.
 * SKOnline is now providing similar opportunities to students throughout the district. ||
 * [[image:http://skonline.org/images/SKOLogoTransp56x35.gif caption="SK Online Home Page" link="@http://skonline.org/"]] ||  ||

__Clio Outreach Programme, Michigan__
The Clio Global Academy offers free online tuition to local students who have not yet graduated from high school.
 * media type="custom" key="7083239" || Features of Clio Outreach (From Clio Area Schools, 2010)
 * All students receive an iMac and digital camera to use while they are studying with the academy.
 * Students work at home and on their own schedule.
 * Students work on projects that are meaningful to them.
 * Students have a mentor to help them along the way.
 * Based on Westwood Cyber Highschool model which brought the UK's NotSchool.net model to the US. ||