The Chicago Virtual Charter School to use a high-tech 'blended school' education model. Families across Chicago will soon have access to a new high quality public school option for their kids with the announcement of the Chicago Virtual Charter School (CVCS) — the city's first K - 8 online public school. CVCS is one of a number of new public schools created as part of Chicago Public Schools Renaissance 2010 initiative.
CVCS families, teachers, and administrators, along with members the CVCS Board of Directors, gathered in Chicago to introduce the new public school. CVCS students and teachers also conducted lesson demonstrations to show how the online school program will utilize powerful technology and a comprehensive, standards-based curriculum to deliver education to students' homes across the city.
The Chicago Virtual Charter School (http://www.chicagovcs.org/), serving students in grades K - 8, was approved by Chicago Public Schools in January 2006. The school is currently awaiting certification from the Illinois State Board of Education.
The Chicago Virtual Charter School will be unique to other public virtual school programs because it will utilize two types of learning environments — home-based and brick-and-mortar. In this "blended school" model, CVCS students will participate in traditional classroom instruction with CVCS teachers at a downtown learning center at least one day a week, while students who need remedial instruction can use the learning center to receive additional academic support.
The CVCS learning center will be equipped the latest state-of-the-art technology and education tools, including computers, high-tech and interactive whiteboards, projectors, high-speed wireless Internet, and classroom science equipment. CVCS teachers will primarily teach science classes for all the students, using a customized science classroom learning program developed by K12 that features video, flash animation, and dynamic web-based simulations, in addition to exciting hands-on science experiments.
For students who are behind in math, reading and writing, CVCS teachers will use the learning center to provide additional academic workshops and tutoring focused on the individual needs of each student. These remedial classes will be aimed at improving students' knowledge and understanding of critical concepts so they can advance to their appropriate grade level.
The Chicago Virtual Charter School is governed by an independent, non- profit Board of Directors made up of Chicago residents.
"The Board is extremely excited about the Chicago Virtual Charter School," said Leslie Contos, President of the CVCS Board of Directors and lifelong resident of Chicago. "This is a school that we believe will help many children who have education needs that are better met outside the traditional school building, and who benefit from a more individualized approach to learning."
Students in CVCS will have access to the exciting K12 curriculum, which is widely recognized as the highest quality and most innovative learning program used in online public schools across the country.
The curriculum challenges the student and gives them a solid education foundation by introducing them at an early age to critical scientific concepts, fundamental mathematical skills, problem solving, critical thinking, reading comprehension, and a love for learning. The K12 program continuously builds on the base of knowledge acquired by the student through a "mastery- based" approach of instruction and assessment to ensure every student fully understands the concepts of every lesson before moving on through the learning program.
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