Posted: 3:54 AM Aug 10, 2012
Reporter: Anna Lempereur

Concerns About Va. Online Course Requirement

We are seeing more and more online courses in school every year, but soon it is going to be a requirement.

Starting in 2013, all high school students in Virginia will have to take one online course in order to graduate.

It will begin with the incoming freshmen that year.

Dr. Scott Kizner, Superintendent of Harrisonburg City Schools, said while this is a great way to prepare students the best they can in anything involving technology, he does have some concerns.

One of them is cost - who is going to be responsible for paying for these courses?

Kizner also said there are many students in the district who can't connect to the internet at home.

He is anticipating about 1300 students at the high school, so making sure every child has the opportunity to learn is a big concern.

Making sure the students can come in after school hours and having staff available to oversee them may have to be arranged.

Kizner said overall, this will be a step forward for the district.

"In the world of which we're living in now, digital learning is a very real part of young people. It's a real part of what they're going to experience in college, and many of the jobs that they'll be entering," said Kizner.

Kizner also mentioned that the online requirement does not just have to be for a credit-bearing class - it can be for an elective.

WHSV Mobile Site Home

Gray Television, Inc - Copyright 2002-2012 - Powered by Gray Interactive Media

Full Site - Contact Station