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Hernando Today

School Board Endorses Online Ed For Dropouts

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By TONY MARRERO

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 10, 2008

Hernando Today

BROOKSVILLE - Some of the county's high school dropouts will soon be logging on to earn their diplomas.

The school board during a workshop Tuesday gave a rousing endorsement to a pilot program using one of the nation's premiere distance learning providers.

It's a way to bring former students back into the educational fold without the need to convince them to return to the traditional classroom.

As part of the agreement, the district will pay Penn Foster $1,500 to allow a student unlimited courses.

"I think this is probably the wave of the future," school board member Sandra Nicholson said.

"You're not going to get them back in the classroom," School Board member Pat Fagan said of the county's dropouts. "A lot of them have young families and responsibilities."

Board member John Sweeney was so excited by the program that he wanted to offer it at two schools.

But board members agreed with Superintendent Wayne Alexander, who had recommended the district start with 30 students.

Alexander, who strongly endorsed the deal, agreed he'd "like to go full bore," but reminded board members about the district's uncertain financial picture and the expected further revenue reductions by the state.

A computer lab will be set up at Hernando High School to accommodate students who want to use district computers, but the program can be accessed by participants from anywhere.

Dropouts who left that school with the most credits will likely be encouraged to take part in the pilot program, Alexander said. His goals, supported by the board, are to expand to other schools, and to allow students who haven't dropped out but have essentially stopped making an effort to participate too.

"I think this is going to take off and absolutely explode," Alexander said.

Penn Foster was founded in 1890 in Pennsylvania to train coal miners in that state, Chief Executive Officer Stuart Udell told the board.

The company now has some 210,000 students nationwide and 12,000 in Florida, said Udell, who also serves as vice chairman of the National Dropout Prevention Center.

It has struck deals with Polk and Pinellas counties, and is in talks with Hillsborough, Brevard and Palm Beach counties, he said.

Teachers are certified by the state of Florida, Udell said. Students can go at their own pace, but they better be prepared to make the effort because the program is not about just logging "seat time or viewing pages," he said.

"Our kids have to work and they have to demonstrate learning, and we've found that kids that struggle in traditional forums can do that if given the support," Udell said.

Board member John Sweeney said he was "psyched up" by the flexibility of the program.

Board members also liked that students might be motivated to move on to Penn Foster's online career school or certificate programs, though they would have do so with their own money.

Despite his warning about starting out too fast, Alexander pointed out that the district will receive full-time enrollment money from the state about $3,800 for each participating student. That means the district could wind up coming out ahead financially, he said.

The board asked to have a contract with the company ready for approval on the agenda for its Jan. 20 meeting.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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