Briefing Guide for Educators

Structure Description

The South Carolina Virtual School Program (SCVSP) is established to use new and emerging technologies to increase and ensure, in cooperation with local school districts and schools, rich and varied standards-based learning opportunities throughout the state. The SCVSP has four focus areas:

• to deliver curriculum where there is a shortage of appropriately certified personnel,
• to meet graduation requirements and provide alternatives for content recovery to encourage students to complete their high school diploma,
• to offer low-incidence courses to increase educational opportunities, and
• to provide scheduling flexibility so that students are not forced to choose between courses.
  

This instruction shall be offered for both initial course credit and for content recovery primarily in grades nine through twelve.

Management Issues/Challenges

The Virtual School Program is a program not a school. It does not provide a graduation diploma. Students are allowed to take up to three (3) one-unit courses per year. A waiver can be filed for additional courses. To qualify, students must be enrolled in and attending a South Carolina public school, private school, or home school and have sponsor approval. Seating is limited to 3000 students served at one time. Courses range from 18, 24 or 36 weeks to completion. Students must have access to a computer and Internet access to participate.

Statewide Prevalence

Sixty-eight school districts currently have students participating in the Virtual School Program serving approximately 2,452 students in one or more courses.

Anticipated Student Costs

Currently, funding is provided by the General Assembly free of charge to South Carolina residents under the age of 21 who are enrolled in a public, private, or home school, however, seating is limited. 

Transportation

Courses are all online and available anywhere there is Internet access. No transportation is needed.

Background

In May 2006, the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) launched the South Carolina Virtual School Pilot to explore the feasibility of virtual schooling for the state. The pilot was designed to give the SCDE the opportunity to test its online learning course management system (Blackboard), its registration system, and its quality assurance measures. More broadly speaking, the pilot gave the SCDE an opportunity to gauge the need for and response to the program around the state, as well as the SCDE's strength in supporting other initiatives, such as High School Redesign, Adult Education, and in meeting legislative mandates to give all students equitable access to high-quality instruction.

Eleven school districts, each with an existing virtual school program and experience in developing, providing, and supporting online courses, are collaborating with the SCDE on the pilot project. Through these districts, students throughout the state had the opportunity to enroll in 34 different virtual school courses, including Algebra, Geometry, English, Web Design, and Global Studies. Funding from the state pilot program allowed each district to provide 20 seats free of charge to students. The SCDE also provided seats in English II and Algebra II courses at no cost to students. In selecting these courses, the SCDE reviewed virtual school provider wares and chose the courses whose content most closely aligned with South Carolina standards. Courses are taught by highly qualified, certified teachers and require an onsite mentor to help facilitate the courses.

Legal Reference

House Version
Senate Version