Interest Grows For State's First Virtual Charter School

Indiana Virtual Charter School Board of Trustees Chair Ron Brumbarger tells our partners at Network Indiana/WIBC that those families that are chosen will soon have a cutting-edge new public education choice. He says students will access their daily lessons over the Internet. The school provides a computer, internet access, textbooks and other materials to students free of charge. It will also have a statewide network of certified teachers available to support the on-line program.

Brumbarger says the program allows students to learn at their own pace. The school hopes to have 1,500 students registered by this fall and 2,200 for the following year. Because thousands of families have expressed interest, Brumbarger says a lottery will be held for enrollment. Indiana joins 18 other states in offering a virtual charter school.

Source: Inside INdiana Business, Network Indiana/WIBC

Press Release

INDIANAPOLIS, March 6 -- Beginning next week, the Indiana Virtual Charter School (INVCS) will conduct a massive statewide outreach effort to families interested in enrolling in the state's new public virtual school.

At an event today at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis, INVCS Board members, teachers, parents and students showcased how the online public school will use innovative web-based curriculum, dynamic teaching tools, certified teachers, and powerful technology to deliver instruction to students.

Ron Brumbarger, Chairman of the INVCS Board of Trustees, announced that the school will host over 200 free events across the state for families interested in enrolling in the new online public school. Families will be able to attend a variety of events including:

-- Information Sessions: 60-minute events held at convenient locations all across Indiana designed for parents and students to review the curriculum, see a demonstration of lessons and materials, and answer questions about the school.

-- Meet 'n' Greet Socials: Hosted at local coffee shops, ice-cream parlors, and other casual venues, these gatherings are designed to give parents and students an opportunity to meet and talk with other families, teachers and staff in a relaxing and informal atmosphere.

-- Virtual Information Sessions: Web-based sessions that allow parents and students from anywhere in the state to join an informational meeting about the school, with the opportunity to see a live demonstration of one of the interactive "e-classroom" tools used in the school.

-- Education Expos and Showcases: These big, exciting education events include curriculum demonstrations, workshops for parents, fun activities for kids of all ages, and expert speakers. A great opportunity to meet teachers, students, parents and school staff.

On February 2, 2007, the Ball State University Office of Charter Schools approved the Indiana Virtual Charter School. The school will serve up to 1,500 students in grades K-10 beginning this Fall, with grades eleven and twelve added in subsequent years.

As the chartering authority for the INVCS, Ball State will monitor the school's programs and progress. The operations of the school will be overseen by a non-profit Board of Trustees led by Brumbarger, President & CEO of Indianapolis-based BitWise Solutions, one of the state's largest Web site development firms; the Board also includes Jim Schwartz of Cicero-based ICorn and Sandy Carr of Ice Miller. The curriculum and technology platform will be provided by K12 Inc., a leading national provider of high quality curriculum and school services.

INVCS will provide students with a computer system, Internet connection, plus access to the complete K12 web-based learning program. Other materials (textbooks, workbooks, materials for science, art, music and other hands-on projects) will be shipped to the student throughout the year. Because INVCS is a public school, there is no cost to enroll for residents of Indiana.

INVCS is also hiring state-certified teachers across Indiana to support the online school. Every student enrolled in INVCS will have a teacher who will assign lessons, monitor student academic progress and attendance, and regularly communicate with the students via phone, email, Web-based "e- classrooms," and face-to-face meetings. Teachers will also organize group outings for students and families. Parents will be active participants in the school acting as learning coaches alongside their children and working in close partnership with their child's teacher.

The K12 program is used by 16 statewide public virtual schools across the nation and 3 city-wide virtual schools, serving more than 25,000 students. K12 also provides an innovative interactive module to deliver the online lessons. The K12 curriculum and school services are used by many of the top- performing virtual schools in the nation.

For more information about the Indiana Virtual Charter School, including dates and locations of the events, visit: http://www.invcs.org.

For more information on the K12 program, visit: http://www.k12.com.

Source: Indiana Virtual Charter School