RALEIGH ó While many students are out of school, the N.C. Virtual Public School is open for summer session.
According to the N.C. Department of Public Instruction, 4,135 high school and middle school students are enrolled and taking high school level online classes this summer for the first time.
For the fall, 1,611 students already have registered for classes.
“Today is a landmark day for 21st century learning,” said Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue. “The Virtual Public School is about giving our students options for learning and access to rigorous courses 24-7, regardless of where they live.”
Since the start of May, North Carolina Virtual Public School is averaging 100 enrollments per day. A total of 312 schools across North Carolina have registered students for the summer or fall.
“The N.C. Virtual Public School offers North Carolina students unbounded access to the coursework they need,” State Board of Education Chairman Howard Lee said. “This is an exciting day for North Carolina. Wherever you live, wherever you go to school, the same learning opportunities are available to you through the N.C. Virtual Public School.”
In addition to student enrollments, at least 150 qualified North Carolina teachers will be teaching summer school courses for the North Carolina Virtual Public School.
More than 800 teachers have requested to teach online classes. The online classes range from courses students need to graduate to the most rigorous, accelerated courses.
“All the Virtual Public School courses are certified to align to state standards and to meet expectations of quality and academic integrity,” N.C. Virtual School Director John Boling said. “Our students will be taking top-notch classes taught be professional teachers.”
The N.C. Virtual Public School started receiving funding for the North Carolina General Assembly in 2006 as a way to meet the State Board of Education’s goals of 21st century learning.
“Our regular classrooms will always be the fundamental way our students learn in North Carolina, but the North Carolina Virtual Public School augments those classes and helps prepare our students for a 21st century global economy,” Perdue said.
Enrollment for summer school elective classes ends Monday for credit recovery courses.
Registration for fall semester is still open and a schedule of more than 90 courses will be available.
Students and parents can learn more about the North Carolina Virtual Public School and registering for classes by visiting www. ncvps.org.