California's first virtual high school was launched today. The free online charter school primarily serves students in Imperial and San Diego counties. KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.
It's called the University of California's Online Academy. Here's how it works: Students pick and choose from the academy's offerings of college prep and academic courses. The young people do all their coursework and classes online, on their personal computer. School officials say the courses satisfy state academic standards and UC admissions requirements. Imperial County School Superintendent John Anderson says the academy is geared toward independent learners.
Anderson: "If the parent is working and wants an adult with the child at all times, then maybe this is not the thing for that family. On the other hand, if a youngster is capable of working independently, then maybe it is."
About 125 ninth-graders are enrolled. The UC system and the Imperial County Office of Education partnered to create the school. Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
