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This is a quick article on the new program developed by the VHS program

Hi Juan, Not sure I qualify as an expert, but I am researching online high schools for this class and I work for an online high school, so I'll jump in. I had not heard of VHS, but the article says they are a nonprofit arm of K12, inc, which has received a LOT of press--most of it bad. It seems that some schools that are using K12 product are better run than others. The wikipedia article on K12 is interesting, and references a lot of the press: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K12_%28company%29 VHS is an interesting one indeed. I can't quite figure out how they are going to work it. It looks like they are partnering with schools so that students can get a degree from a school in their district even though all of their classes are taken from VHS. So rather than get a VHS degree, the degree will actually say Austin High or whatever their local school is. They are doing this only for "partner" schools, which are schools that they have already been supplying with online course material piecemeal. So, that must mean that they are meeting the state-required standards of each partner school. Thanks for the tip. I think I will call them and see if they are willing to be interviewed.

I call you the expert since this is your specialty and I wouldn't have know that this is a competing organization otherwise. I like the idea of a hybrid solution where some classes are physical and others are online, make for an easier transition.

I think this is a great alternative for students who don't fit well into the public setting, but at $450 a course per semester? WOW! I think I would save my money to pay for college.

Jackie, think about all the costs they don't have to spend--wardrobe, gas to and from school, school supplies (fewer), etc. For many, the benefits far outweigh the costs. It can definitely be a good solution for many if the school is a good one and the student has other options for social interaction. Juan, you might be interested to learn about the USC hybrid school. They came recommended to me by the folks at ISTE, who are essentially the standards-setters for online ed. I ended up not interviewing them because they are not really an online high school, but more of a blended option. What appeals to me about that program is that it really is targeting underserved populations: http://uschybridhigh.org/ From their website somewhere: USC Hybrid High School is a college preparatory public charter high school in Downtown LA currently serving 9th and 10th grades. We combine a traditional "no excuses" model with a blended learning model that embeds technology across the curriculum and school day. Our goal is to develop self motivated and disciplined learners who are prepared to graduate from top four year universities and who will go on to use their college degrees to effect Positive Multigenerational Change. Its student population mirrors the population of the USC neighborhood, with 64% Latino/a, 28% African American, 4% White and 4% Asian students. About 82% of the students qualify for free or reduced price lunch. Spanish is the primary language in 40% of the homes.

I can see the demographic they have chosen to target as being most in need. I've grown up in neighborhoods like this and you don't always get the best teachers. It is tough trying to excel in a public school where most of your colleagues are in and our of Juvenile hall. Hybrid works simple because those who choose to learn, but are in less than a safe environment.

I'm very interested in what you are saying here, Juan. Are you saying that hybrid works because those who choose to learn can do a chunk of their learning from a safer environment than the school? Please expand!

I would think so, in areas like SC LA, the Wards in Houston and New Orleans are some of the more impoverished areas in their respective states. Usually these environments are a little hostile and not really safe for students who want to learn much less got to school physically. I grew up in a gang ridden area and I saw many of my friends take to the streets rather than education, sadly most are gone or locked up today. I would imagine the same holds true for areas like Afghanistan where these groups prefer that their followers not be educated, take for instance the Pakistani girl shot for wanting to go to school. My idea is if these people had the opportunity to take classes in either a hybrid or fully online model they could proceed with their education in the safety of their homes. That being said for some people "home" might not be the safest place or best place to get an education. I guess it really depends on the situation. If a person wants to educated themselves they will find a way to do it. Slaves of the 1800s were taught in secret and they in turn taught others, and the history books do state that it was death for a slave to learn to read. An online education just makes it easier to do, because you lack the physical constriction. We all knew someone who was home schooled and we all thought it was the coolest thing to not have to come to school. That was just an off-shoot of correspondence school. Online education is just a natural evolution and if we are lucky be the norm. Schools are no longer the safest place to be and I think some day online may be the best alternative. Jen, hope these ramblings are of some benefit...

Thanks so much for sharing, Juan. Very interesting, indeed! I've seen many ways that online can be useful, but I hadn't really thought this one through. You make me want to revisit that interview even though it isn't a typical online school so that I can learn more. THANK YOU!

I believe the parents of the students in these types of virtual schools would probably play a much greater role than parents would like to be involved. If not, who would keep the students on task? This also may exclude those parents that could not get involved because of limited resources. Additionally, what if both parents have a full time job this would make it difficult to balance work and the student's education at the same time. Most experts would probably agree that in order to be successful in these types of courses parents would need to be actively involved.

Actually, Jaime, what I'm finding is that the students who are successful are the ones who are capable of self-motivating. Sometimes parents are involved and sometimes they aren't. Time management and getting enough social time are the two biggest issues for online students. Schools are coming up with all sorts of solutions, such as teachers who spend a lot of time poking and prodding students or calendar systems that send reminders and give students tools to keep themselves on pace for the former and clubs, summer camps, graduation/homecoming type ceremonies kids can attend in person for the social. Some schools also work out partnerships with regional schools to allow students to participate in local school music, dance, theatre, or sports. Many of the students are what we call "professional students," who are very driven to do something else--like compete in the Olympics--but don't want to miss out on their education, so they find the time to do what they need to do for school when they aren't training or competing. It's a world that is designed to meet special needs, but yes--either the student needs to be self-motivated, or he/she needs a strong parent or teacher to keep him/her on task.

Hi Juan, I've got an interview set up with the Director of Academic Affairs of VHS for Tuesday morning. Thanks again for the tip. That's a real interesting setup they've got going on there! Jen

Sounds like an interesting idea but I would ditto to what Jackie had said. I can totally see it work for GTs or child celebrities. Can you think of a newly immigrant child who needs to build on his/her English language skills or need to learn how to socialize in their new environment while trying to learn from an fully online program? I don't think it's for everyone. However, It's nice to know that there is an option for the few who can need it and/or can pay for it.

Jen, please keep us in the loop with how your interview goes, would be interested to hear.