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Archipelago Learning to be Acquired by PLATO Learning

March 5, 2012 By Leave a Comment

“After a thorough review of the company’s strategic alternatives by our Board of Directors, we view the transaction as an excellent outcome for our shareholders, delivering an attractive premium relative to our current and historical trading levels as well as full cash liquidity,” stated Mr. McEwen.

Following the close of the transaction, the combined companies’ customer base will include over 50,000 schools and 17 million pre-K through adult students. The expanded and complementary product portfolio will provide schools and districts cost effective, results-based, end-to-end online learning solutions. These solutions include virtual instruction, credit recovery, intervention, test preparation, formative and diagnostic assessment, supplemental classroom instruction, college and career readiness, and developmental education.

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N.H. Schools Embrace Competency-Based Learning

February 7, 2012 By Leave a Comment

“The federal accountability system is based on a 20th-century model, and our state expectations are based on this new model,” said Paul K. Leather, the state’s deputy commissioner of education. He expressed hope, however, that new assessments being designed for the Common Core State Standards will help bridge those two models. Plans for those tests include some performance-based tasks.

Online learning can play a part in competency-based approaches, in part because of its potential to let students pace their coursework as they like. Students at Newfound Regional High can use New Hampshire’s Virtual Learning Academy Charter School, or VLACS, to take coursework online. In this rural community, where dial-up Internet service is not uncommon, students can do VLACS coursework at Newfound’s computer lab, or from home if technology permits.

But while online learning facilitates the “move-on-when-ready” approach that is ideal for competency-based learning, it’s not a complete solution if a state’s educational vision includes real-world learning, Ms. Sturgis said.

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School board seats won’t be contested

September 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Higgins, who resigned in January from a longtime post as a teacher at Concord High School, said students will also be tops on her priority list. She currently works as a teacher for a virtual high school program, she said.

“Coming right out of the classroom, and with a degree in special education and a daughter with (special needs), I could see concentrating on the instructional committee and assessment issues as leaning where my strengths are, as an educator and a fan of kids,” she said.

Higgins and school administrators have all refused to comment on why she resigned from her post. District administrators cite confidentiality laws that limit their ability to discuss personnel matters.

“All I can say is that resignation seemed like the best choice for me at the time. I can’t say anything about the specifics,” Higgins said. “I don’t blame people for being curious, and it doesn’t upset me that people want to know. I would tell my story, but a lot of it isn’t my story to tell. I shook a hand, and made an agreement, and I’m honoring my word.

“If there were a reason that I shouldn’t be involved with children or in a school district, I wouldn’t continue to operate camps or work in clubs run by seasoned veterans in the community, so I would ask that people please keep an open mind. There are a lot of reasons that people in all types of jobs would resign their positions,” she said.

Higgins, who lives in Ward 4, and Metalious, who lives in Ward 9, both said they support a ward-voting proposal that voters will also consider in November, as part of the Concord School District Charter Commission final report.

The commission was formed to draft the rules that would dictate district operations, which currently are part of state law. A proposed charter amendment will appear separately on the ballot in November, switching the school board from nine at-large members to three at-large members and two each from three ward clusters.

Such a move would bring more geographic diversity to the board, said Higgins, who lives within a few blocks of five current board members.

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Could Internet spell the end of snow days?

June 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Okay, so we know that many of you are enjoying your first days of summer vacation. And probably the last thing on your mind is snow.

But there are reports going around that one of kids’ favorite technological breakthroughs, the Internet, could mean the end of one of kids’ favorite winter traditions: snow days.

Yep, some school districts are experimenting with having students do lessons online during bad weather, allowing classes to go on during even the worst blizzard.

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The Universal Notebook: Are virtual schools real schools?

February 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

“Maine’s schools face a number of challenges in the years ahead, but digital learning holds the promise of improving student outcomes at a time of declining school funding and plunging student enrollment. The time has come for a major digital learning initiative, led by Maine’s next governor. With the right policies in place, Maine could ensure that all of its students have access to the digital learning programs they need to assure their success in school and beyond.”

Bowen then goes on to tout the virtues of the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School in New Hampshire as a model of what he foresees for Maine. The N.H. school serves some 7,000 high school kids with an online curriculum borrowed from the Florida Virtual School.

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School districts weigh options as snow days pile up

February 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

With Wednesday’s snowstorm marking the fifth school cancellation for Londonderry this year, district officials are considering following in the footsteps of the Kearsarge School District, where virtual classrooms remain “open” regardless of the weather.

Using “blizzard bags,” or packets of school assignments teachers assemble in advance, students can learn the day’s lessons, both at home and online. Once schools reopen, teachers assess the students’ work, and a “snow day” becomes a “school day.”

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NH friendlier, but still ‘severely constrains charter school growth’

January 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

New Hampshire has 10 charter schools, including the Academy for Science and Design in Merrimack. The school features an advanced curriculum focused on math, science and engineering for students in grades 7-12. The school is adding sixth grade next year and is expanding enrollment by 50 percent.

Also available to local students is the Exeter-based Virtual Learning Academy Charter School, which offers tuition-free online high school courses to New Hampshire students. Students can enroll on a part-time basis, taking courses beyond their own high school work, or full-time.

As of the 2009-10 school year, there were 816 students enrolled in charter schools in the state. State officials have been encouraging school districts, especially those in urban areas such as Nashua, to consider applying for part of the federal funding to create a charter school. Charter schools can be approved by the state Board of Education or through local authorization.

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Grad rate earns NH praise in new report

December 2, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Deputy State Education Commissioner Paul K. Leather said New Hampshire has enacted numerous measures in the last several years to improve its dropout rate, including creating personalized learning plans for students, increasing funding for special needs students and incorporating virtual learning outside school hours to help students recover lost class credits.

“It’s been a multi-faceted effort to turn this around in the last five years or so,” he said.

Leather said the state has also focused increased resources to providing more students with internships and cooperative education outside the school.

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Exeter area Around the Schools

November 22, 2010 By Leave a Comment

SST students compete in national convention

EXETER — Eight members of the Seacoast School of Technology FFA chapter recently traveled to Indianapolis and represented New Hampshire in a variety of competitions and activities at the 83rd National FFA Convention.

Team members included Andrea Batchelder, Exeter, Jessica Bick, Exeter, Elizabeth Murphy, Exeter, Sarah Walstad, Exeter, Alyana Perkins, Winnacunnet, Brianna Brand, Winnacunnet, Chelsea Ahearn, Winnacunnet, Tyler Smith, Raymond and Karen Sarosiek, Virtual Learning Academy. Animal & Plant Science teacher and FFA Advisor Anne DeMarco coached the team.

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Impressive flexibility from Concord High

November 19, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Some teachers were willing to conduct their courses by e-mail. For a couple of courses, we took advantage of the state’s online charter school, the Virtual Learning Academy. Overall, it was a wonderful example of educators, parents and a student coming together with the common goal of providing an excellent educational experience, regardless of where that learning takes place.

My hat is off to the people of Concord High for their flexibility and the respect they demonstrated both for their profession and my daughter.

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