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[ Originally published on: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 ]
GREENFIELD -- The School Committee has decided to start putting together a contract with the online education curriculum company called K12 to start a ''virtual'' school in Greenfield and bring more courses into the schools.
In a ''virtual'' school, a child works from home and is dependent on parent involvement. There are also other options in using K12's resources, which includes putting curriculum into the classes.
What the program will look like exactly and what kind of courses will be offered is still to be determined, said School Committee Chairman Dalton Athey.
''We are trying to reach all the kids and give them what will work for them,'' said Athey, alluding to the fact that some children don't learn well in the traditional school setting and that a virtual school may work for them.
Athey said the school department and committee also want to determine how the schools can use K12's offerings in the classrooms.
With partnerships, K12's curriculum is brought directly into the classroom and students are still taught in schools. The teachers and students use interactive white boards, which have Internet access, and allow them to access K12's classes.
Two K12 representatives gave the school board a presentation at a previous meeting, outlining the company's mission, partnerships, programs and reasons that Greenfield should consider a virtual school program.
Interim Superintendent Susan Hollins has said the high school would be opened up to more electives, Advanced Placement classes and foreign languages if the school board decided to work with K12.
K12 runs statewide public virtual schools and has partnerships with school districts.
The K12 curriculum was developed by about 200 education experts, including Nobel laureates, teachers and technology specialists, the company's representatives said. It covers about 100 subject areas and is aligned with state requirements and standards.
It has been in business since 1999.
