State accepting applications for certified course providers for Course Choice program
Last Modified: Monday, July 23, 2012 9:16 AM
By Ashley Withers / American Press
The state Department of Education began accepting applications Monday for those interested in becoming certified course providers for the recently approved Course Choice program.
The program, which will go into effect for the 2013-2014 school year, will allow students in C-minus, D-minus and F-rated
public schools to take accredited classes that their schools do not already offer.
Students in A or B schools can also enroll if the course they wish to take is not already provided by their school.
Students will not have to pay to take these courses. The course providers will receive a percentage of state education dollars
allotted to the students’ school. Students will be able to take up to five courses from approved outside providers.
If the course students seek to take is provided by their school, they can still choose to take the course through an approved outside provider, but then their family becomes responsible for the cost.
“Students today are too often limited by what is offered within the walls of their particular school,” State Superintendent of Education John White said in a news release.
“By opening education to a variety of entities proven to prepare students, Course Choice expands options for students and families. Businesses will offer internships and apprenticeships that prepare our state’s students for 21st-century jobs. Universities will teach students before they graduate from high school. And excellent Louisiana teachers will find new opportunities to teach students beyond their current classrooms.”
Applications from outside providers are due by Oct. 12, and all applicants will go through a lengthy vetting process to be a part of the program, officials said.
Students will begin registering for Course Choice classes in March. Two online information sessions will be held Wednesday — one at 10 a.m. and one at 4:30 p.m.
Online: www.louisianaschools.net/coursechoice.Posted By: Brad Richard On: 7/23/2012
Title:
Let me just second everything said so thoroughly and forcefully by Lee Barrios.
Posted By: Lee Barrios, M.Ed., NBCT On: 7/17/2012
Title: Course Limitations
Yes, Supt. White, "Students today are too often limited by what is offered within the walls of their particular school.”
If you had any experience whatsoever in the administration of a school not to mention a larger school district (not to mention common sense) you would understand the shortsightedness of your comment.
Would Mr. White offer any specifics about which subjects are limited and how many students are clamoring to take them? I'm sure he has done some extensive surveys and studies or paid huge sums of money to contract those studies through an out-of-state education think tank.
Again, if Mr. White had an experience or knowledge about schools throughout the state and what they do offer and why he would be able to save a whole lot of time and administrative expense in simply addressing any specific needs. I know in St. Tammany we have a very limited number of students who QUALIFY to take a higher level course not offered in their grade level or school (i.e. junior high student ready for a math class at a high school level but doesn't want to choose the option of traveling to the local high school for instruction) and those students are accommodated in a number of ways as agreed upon between the parent and administration after careful consideration of all options, benefits and consequences. Then again, when I taught, I found that the STATE was the limiting factor in individualizing instruction in many cases - not the local district.
And now we hear very clearly through your publication - not our legislators or BESE - that "The course providers will receive a percentage of state education dollars allotted to the students’ school." Somehow I missed that in the very limited legislative debate and hearings on all this legislation. Again - Governor Jindal opts for STATE GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE in local taxpayer support of our schools.
Gov. Jindal and Supt. White continuously state that PARENTS are highly qualified to make education decisions for their children and that experienced educators are ineffective and incapable of providing professional advice. Be careful what you wish for Mr. Jindal because when parents become fully informed about much of the new reform legislation and Mr. White's usurpation of their rights as parents, taxpayers and voters, there will be heck to pay.
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