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The Missouri Virtual School has its first director. KSMU's Missy Shelton reports.
The Missouri Virtual School has its first director.
Earlier this year, state lawmakers approved legislation establishing the non-traditional program which will provide a wide range of courses for students in kindergarten through grade twelve.
Virtual education technology allows students to take entire courses from their home, a public library or a school building using television or internet.
Curt Fuchs recently retired from Columbia Public Schools where he was the director of informational and instructional technology services.
Now, he's signed on to be the director of the Missouri Virtual School.
The Missouri Virtual School will accept up to 500 students in its first year of operation, which will be the 2007-2008 school year.
Fuchs says he wouldn't be surprised if more than 500 students wanted to take courses through the virtual school in its first year.
Fuchs says he envisions the Missouri Virtual School offering a variety of courses.
There was little opposition among lawmakers to the creation of the virtual school.
While some lawmakers and educators see this as a revolutionary way to provide education, Fuchs says it's not as dramatic as some may think.
He says virtual education won't appeal to all students.
Missouri State University has offered virtual education courses to school districts for several years.
Fuchs says he expects existing programs like the one at Missouri State to apply to become a provider of courses for the Missouri Virtual School.
