TPS virtual program seeing record enrollment
| Updated: 8/12/2011 1:46 am |
Published: 8/11/2011 10:42 pm
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School starts August 22nd in Tulsa and a record number of public school students won’t have to worry about catching the bus or even having to wear the district’s new mandatory school uniforms. TPS parents at virtual school orientation Thursday say with the on-line education is one way to not have to worry about class size, because their students won’t even sit in a classroom.Right now the virtual school, which is has a "classroom" inside Promenade Mall, has about 150 students from Tulsa. Enrollment just got underway and officials expect to see around 300 to 350 students on-line by the end of the semester.Tulsa Public Schools decided to expand the Tulsa Learning Academy or virtual school and will now offer more middle and high school course studies on the web. Public school students will take classes at home on their computer. New student, Brittany McAuliff isn’t sure she would be able to go back to high school and earn a high school diploma the traditional way. “I just stopped trying and I was on the verge of completely dropping out," 16-year-old student, Brittany McAuliff said.Instead, 16-year-old Brittany McAuliff is happy to say she’s going back to high school, optimistic on-line classes through Tulsa Public Schools will be a perfect fit for her."Last year was not good,” Mom, Jennifer McAuliff said. She didn’t know what to do when Brittany’s grades started slipping. "Before they had no options, now they have a big option,” TPS Virtual Social Studies Teacher, Dennis McDonald said. Dennis McDonald will be Brittany’s social studies teacher this fall. The TPS teacher met with the McAuliff family and other students Thursday at virtual school orientation in Midtown Tulsa.Inside the district’s “Big Red Bus,” parked at the Promenade mall, there are no seats for students to sit; instead the bus has been equipped with laptop computers and a “Smart Board,” to show new TPS parents and students how virtual school works. Classes are taken at home, no buses needed.TPS officials say virtual on-line public school is expanding to after last year’s successful trial pilot program for students grades 6-12.The district says on-line school will meet the needs of hundreds of alternative or virtual students and will offer one on one chat with teachers.Officials say most of the students enrolling now need a virtual classroom instead of the traditional learning environment. TPS says some of the students may suffer social problems in classrooms such as bullying, or test-taking anxiety. These students, teachers say seem to flourish on-line. Other students take on-line courses are gifted and those students can at a faster pace on-line and work ahead.TPS virtual teacher, Mr. McDonald says don't think the “Internet generation students” are getting away with an easy A because the classroom is on-line. "If you think you're going to hang out at your house and drink slurpees all day and it's a great time. NO."Virtual students must log a minimum of 25 hours a week in their on-line classroom, where the teacher and the program monitors what they're doing."If you don't meet that...see ya,” McDonald said. Enrollment for the district’s 2011-2012 virtual program has grown more than ever."We're anticipating this to grow we're thinking maybe 300-350 [virtual students] by the end of the year."Mr. McDonald says last year's virtual pilot program had a stellar graduation rate and expects to see Brittany and her classmates continue the success with virtual school through TPS.TPS Virtual school orientation isn't over, enrollment is just getting underway, if you'd like more info on Tulsa's virtual school, school officials say to go to “classroom” at Promenade Mall on 41st and S. Yale and apply. Since the on-line courses are offered through a public school it's free for students.The Oklahoma’s virtual high school website says the same funding used for traditional students can be used for online students, ages 21 and younger can apply.
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