Dr. Glenn Fortmayer
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Dr.Glenn Fortmayer is Superintendent of USD 247 Southeast. He has been a superintendent for four years and administrator for 15 of 23 years in education. He is working with Southeast on initiatives including: expanding student learning opportunities, technology integration, and increasing instruction that authentically engages students every class period of every day with an emphasis on project based learning. For more information call 620-457-8350.
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Education Issues
2012-04-19 16:58:42
Virtual school programs
A: The virtual programs that so many districts in our area are opening, are providing new opportunities for certain groups of students to take courses through the internet. The programs are offered through a partnership with the Greenbush Education Service Center for students desiring courses in grades 7-12. More grade levels are to be added in the future. Each participating district will set its own entrance requirements, but most often currently home schooled students that meet entrance requirements, currently progressing virtual students, and students that gain district permission to take advanced or outside the normal curriculum, courses will participate. Participating students who complete district requirements through the virtual program receive a diploma from their local high school upon completion of graduation requirements. The programs are not separate schools within each home district, but rather an additional program being added to existing schools that teach the respective grade levels.
The courses are taught by certified teachers with whom students interact and receive support. Attendance and progress are based on logins, time on task, responding to teacher questions, and work completion similar to other virtual schools. Finals and state tests are taken at the district in person with staff overseeing the tests. Some districts may require the proctored tests at other times for some or all classes. Grades are sent to the district from the virtual teacher and transcripts are issued by the district. In addition to regular grade level completion, districts offer students curriculum expansion, credit recovery, resolution of scheduling conflicts, gifted education, alternative education, extended school day/school year, and outreach programs. Districts provide virtual students with other support services that are available to regular students, including counseling services and state assessments. This will mean virtual students can enroll in their local district and test locally versus driving hours to test in another district.
Virtual students can schedule a mix of virtual and regular school classes in many districts. Students can even be eligible to participate in district extra-curricular activities depending on the schedule they take.
Interested students should contact their local districts for more information.
