The economy may be struggling; but motivated individuals are not powerless to increase their options in a job market that is becoming increasingly specialized. Online education is a viable solution for those who choose to remain competitive in an uncertain employment climate.

DirectoryofSchools.com
Since 1999, DirectoryofSchools.com has connected millions of potential students to accredited online degree programs. Directory of Schools is committed to excellence in providing up-to-date career information through partnerships with accredited online colleges, universities and vocational/trade schools that offer online degrees, diplomas and certificates. An in-house verification process reviews accreditation and/or relevant vocational industry standards for each online school, insuring that partner schools are reputable. In addition, comprehensive national directories of U. S. high schools, colleges and universities are available on the DirectoryofSchools.com website, along with an informative Education Blog, Military Education Guide and additional resources. Career-minded individuals need make only one cyber-stop for all e-learning needs.

For the rest of the article, go to Sluggish Economic Recovery Signifies Boon for Online Degrees

Kaplan Academy of California – Central California

Kaplan Academy of California – Los Angeles

Kaplan Academy of California – San Diego

Capistrano Connections Academy, a virtual public school for kindergarten through 12th grade in Central California, will hold an information session in Riverside for families interested in learning about how their children can be involved in the upcoming school year.

Representatives from the virtual public school, chartered through Capistrano Unified School District, will lead information sessions from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Courtyard Marriott, 1510 University Ave., Riverside. Children may attend with their parents.

For the rest of the article, go to Virtual charter school offers information session in Riverside

Last week the Bonanza printed a guest column by Cindy Reid, wife of Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Rory Reid, written in response to my June 26 column in the print edition of the Bonanza titled: “Dissecting Rory Reid’s education plan.”

Her column was a response, not a rebuttal, since I had earlier expressed my admiration (and that of many Republicans) for her husband’s education proposals. Her purpose was to inform readers of the experiences she and Rory shared in bringing the plan into existence. It’s nice to know that a single small voice in Incline Village can be heard in top Democratic echelons in populous Clark County.

In the mean time, Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Brian Sandoval has issued his education plan for Nevada. It encompasses the main proposals of the Reid plan (funding based on number of students; merit pay for teachers; if students fail, fire teachers and administrators; evaluate schools/teachers based on improvement in student performance; test to pin point remediation needs; school choice; no new taxes; and better use of existing funding) but goes quite a bit further.

The Sandoval plan would additionally: (1) abolish social promotion, (2) expand visual and distance learning opportunities, (3) provide merit pay for both teachers and principals, (3) assign letter performance grades to schools, (4) establish a Nevada Charter School Institute to depoliticize granting of new charters, (5) privatize services such as cafeterias, facilities management and human resources, (6) reform Nevada’s teacher licensure laws so more professionals can enter the field and (7) implement a voucher program which would allow parents to send their kids to any school of their choice.

For the rest of the article, go to Jim Clark: Sandoval’s education plan ups the ante

The percentage of high school students taking online courses nearly doubled in a single year. According to the latest data available from Project Tomorrow’s annual Speak Up Survey, more than one-quarter (27 percent) of all high school students took at least one class online last year, up from 14 percent the year before. But the numbers could have been higher, according to the researchers.

According to a new report released at this week’s ISTE 2010 conference, “Learning in the 21st Century: 2010 Trends Update,” the percentage of middle school students taking online classes has also climbed. Twenty-one percent of middle school students reported taking online classes in 2009 versus 16 percent in 2008.

The statistics were released as part of an update to the latest annual Speak Up report, which surveyed 299,677 K-12 students, 38,642 teachers, 3,947 administrators, and 26,312 parents in fall 2009. The update was sponsored by ed tech developer Blackboard.

For the rest of the article, go to Report: Online Learning Nearly Doubles Among High School Students

Elk Grove Unified School District has opened enrollment for its first-ever virtual school.

Students attending the school will have all the supplies needed to finish a school year delivered to their doorsteps. They will learn most of their lessons at home, but will visit a campus for tests and to meet occasionally with a teacher.

The school is free and open to any student in grades K-12 in Sacramento County – along with students in Amador, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Placer, San Joaquin, Solano, Sutter and Yolo counties.

For the rest of the article, click here.

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Written by Diana Lambert.