Virtual School a Reality in Missouri

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is currently in the process of creating the state's new K-12 Virtual Instruction Program, which is scheduled to open its virtual doors to students throughout the state in August 2007.

Missouri will be the 25th state to offer a full range of online courses in accordance with Senate Bill 912 that was signed into law by Governor Blunt last June.

I was fortunate to be selected to the 12-member DESE Advisory Council as a representative of Missouri NEA. We just held our second meeting last Wednesday in Jefferson City, and I thought this would be a good time to outline what I've learned so far about this far-reaching and groundbreaking endeavor in public education.

Because of the rapid start-up as mandated by the legislation, DESE will be "jobbing out" the management of the program to private vendors and is in the process of sorting Requests for Proposals from more than twenty submissions. The private vendor will actually be hiring and evaluating the teachers, who must be Missouri certified and reside in the state.

Those of us who are mindful of some of the more insidious attempts by some politicians and PACs to undermine public education in our state are a bit wary of handing over management of public education to private vendors - not to mention the use of public education money for home schoolers and private school students. Many questions were raised in the first advisory council meeting on these subjects. Curt Fuchs, DESE's Director of Virtual Schools, has issued assurances that after the initial two-year period, the program will be entirely managed and administered by DESE.

Why would students enroll in virtual courses? Reasons could include:

• Advanced placement courses
• Credit recover toward graduation
• Home school
• Private school
• Schedule conflicts
• Courses not offered by district
• Juvenile detention
• Homebound

Click here for proposed course offerings: Elementary and Secondary

Missouri will be one of few states to offer a K-12 selection of classes. Most virtual education programs offer only secondary curriculum, and it is expected that the vast majority of elementary enrollees will be full-time home schoolers. Middle school classes will not be offered during the first year due to a revamping of curriculum.

All teachers hired by the "provider" will be Missouri certified. Previous experience in online education or professional training in online delivery will be expected, according to the MoVIP website. Teachers will also be heavily involved in evaluating courseware. If you are interested in becoming involved in evaluating courseware or applying for a teaching position, visit the MoVIP site for more information. Compensation earned as a MoVIP teacher will not be applied to retirement, since the teacher would be working for a private vendor.

During the first year of operation, public funding for student enrollment will be limited to the equivalent of 500 full-time students (6 classes) per semester, or the equivalent of 6,000 "seats" per year. Students will be selected by a lottery system that equally distributes available slots according to the population of public and non-public students in a particular region. The Southwest Missouri region, one of nine across the state, will hold approximately 14% of the public-funded "seats". Enrollment for students paying tuition will not be limited, and in most states offering virtual education, the number of tuition-paying students easily surpasses the number of free public-funded students.

Since MoVIP is actually a separate school district, it will adhere to the same state standards as regular districts regarding NCLB, MAP testing. Exactly how MAP testing will be administered is still under review.

School counselors are likely to play a significant role in student enrollment, updating transcripts and perhaps testing virtual students. There is a special "Counselor's Corner" listed on the MoVIP website, where school counselors can find updates.

More questions? Here is a link to some Frequently Asked Questions regarding MoVIP.

If you'd like more information on virtual education, NEA has an excellent new publication: Guide to Teaching Online Courses (pdf file).

If you are interested in evaluating courseware (late Jan. 07) or applying for a teaching position, contact the DESE MoVIP office at 573-526-4219 or email: webreplyimprmovip@dese.mo.gov