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SLP Schools expands online course offerings

Originally published April 29, 2018 by ABC Newspapers.

By Olivia Alveshere, Staff Writer

Spring Lake Park Schools has been offering online courses since 2005, but back then they were an alternative to the traditional school experience, primarily an open enrollment revenue producer, according to Superintendent Jeff Ronneberg.

Now, more in-district students take advantage of online options at Spring Lake Park High School through hybrid learning courses and online courses delivered through GradPoint and, increasingly, Spring Lake Park Schools’ learning management system, Schoology. Read More

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Online physical education: It’s a real thing and it’s reinventing S.C. gym class

Originally published Sept. 2, 2017 in the Post and Courier.

By Paul Bowers pbowers@postandcourier.com

Marlaine Black scoffed when her son broached the topic: “Virtual physical education.” How could that be a real thing?

“To me it was comical,” said Black, a Mount Pleasant resident.

But by the time her son Benjamin had completed the online PE course for high school credit this summer through VirtualSC, a free state-run program, she was sold on the idea.

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Photo by Brad Nettles, Post and Courier Staff

For a self-motivated student like Benjamin, some argue that a self-paced online course can be just as effective as a traditional gym class. Read More

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Hundreds of Missouri students flock to rural school district’s free online summer school

Originally posted July 18, 2017 by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch

By Kristen Taketa

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The rural Grandview School District in Jefferson County has only 825 students during the school year. But this summer, it raked in thousands of state dollars for educating about 1,500 students through its own online school.

onlineStudents from across the state — not just from Grandview — are drawn to the summer online offerings. Some are high school students looking to make up for a class they previously failed. Others take state-required courses such as personal finance, a move that frees up their schedule during the regular school year.

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