The Arkansas Department of Education is announcing a program that will offer a new instructional choice to students enrolled in public schools in Arkansas. The Department has been awarded $11.5 million over five years to operate a statewide virtual school pilot called the Arkansas Virtual School (ARVS). ARVS is funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Voluntary Public School Choice Program. The Voluntary Public School Choice program is an initiative that promotes new school choice options through the landmark No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Under certain conditions, ARVS offers an opportunity for schools designated to be in school improvement to offer parents an alternative method of choice to that of transferring students to another school.
ARVS is an innovative instructional alternative in which students of all abilities can access a customized, self-paced, standards-based, online curriculum. Students may work directly with supportive adults and Arkansas certified teachers at home or in a small group setting.
Public school, private school, home school students from any part of the state are eligible to participate as long as they enroll (or are already enrolled) in their district of residence. Students not currently enrolled in their school district of residence must enroll in order to be eligible to participate in the program. Available funds limit the 2002-2003 enrollment to 450 Arkansas students from grades K-5. A lottery will be held on November 8 if more than 450 enrollment applications are received. Plans have been completed to request additional funds and expand the program to serve students in grades K-8 in subsequent years.
The Arkansas Department of Education was awarded the grant after submitting a proposal for a statewide virtual school pilot that will use the online curriculum by Virginia-based K12 Inc. K12 is a curriculum company founded by former U.S. Secretary of Education William J. Bennett that has developed lessons in Mathematics, Language Arts, Science, History, Music, and Art that meet or exceed the Arkansas standards.
ARVS will appeal not only to public school students, but also to private and home school students.
Parent Information Sessions have been scheduled during the week of October 21-25. You are invited to attend these sessions and meet some of the parents who may choose to enroll in the program. Additional information can be found on the program’s website, www.arvs.org.
Direct questions about the program to James Boardman, Assistant Director of Information and Technology, at jboardman@arkedu.k12.ar.us or K12 toll free at 866-512-2273.