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Interestingly, very few of the responses included teaching students about responsible use of online social networks

"It is important to keep in mind that just blocking access to social web sites at school is not the end of the story,"

Thirty-six percent of those polled by NSBA said students' use of MySpace and similar sites has been "disruptive" to their school district's learning environment.

Online classes gaining in popularityThe North American Council for Online Learning estimates that 1 million K-12 students are enrolled in online courses, and it expects that number to grow. Students welcome the flexibility, and advocates say it gives students more family time, but some teachers say they need face time with students to monitor their progress and attitude. The Boston Globe/Los Angeles Times (2/18)

www.mark1.org

Hayden Billings, 4, put a box over his head and had fun marching into things. His sister Gaby, 9, told stories about medieval warrior women, while Sydney, 6, drank hot chocolate and played with Dylan, the baby of the family. In a traditional school setting, such free time would probably be called recess. But for Juli Walter, the children’s mother, it is “child-led learning,” something she considers the best in home schooling. “I learned early on that when I do things I’m interested in,” Ms. Walter said, “I learn so much more.” As the number of children who are home-schooled grows — an estimated 1.1 million nationwide — some parents like Ms. Walter are opting for what is perhaps the most extreme application of the movement’s ideas.

"Clearly, we have not been in a mode of reducing staff and cutting expenditures, like most districts have. That pressure has been relieved."

Although interest in online education is growing, it's unlikely to replace traditional learning, said Minnesota Education Commissioner Alice Seagren.

That could help retain students who might look elsewhere under the state's open-enrollment system -- a crucial issue, because state money follows the student.