On Wednesday, June 19, 2013, the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted to allocate $2 million to fund the statewide Louisiana Course Choice program for the 2013-14 school year. This is good news for public school students attending a school graded with a C, D or F on the state’s accountability system, or students attending a school that does not offer the course they are interested in taking. Now, these students will have the ability to enroll in these courses by choosing from a diverse group of providers that have undergone a rigorous approval process. Today, Digital Learning Now!, the Clayton Christensen Institute and the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) released the following statement regarding the funding of the Louisiana Course Choice program:
“Every student is unique. Each child has different learning needs at different times. Every student deserves a chance to learn in a personalized, high-quality education system that harnesses their strengths, recognizes their needs and offers the best opportunity for success and advancement. Louisiana has taken a bold step toward doing just that. By moving forward with the Louisiana Course Choice program, the state is putting students first and offering course options to meet their needs, all through the use of online learning technology and new education models.
“We congratulate Louisiana for its commitment to resolving the funding mechanism issues raised by the Louisiana Supreme Court’s decision. The 2013-2014 pilot program will offer high-quality classes through a diverse group of providers ranging from institutions of higher education to private providers to school districts and other virtual schools.
“Students will be able to select courses from a state-managed catalog. Although some will be offered entirely online, many will use a blended learning model to combine the best of face-to-face instruction with the best of online learning. Students will have access to courses they might not otherwise be able to take. Through innovative career and technical education courses, internships and apprenticeships, course access programs help motivate students to graduate high school on time or early – and often times with college credits.
“We commend Gov. Bobby Jindal, Education Superintendent John White and the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for their commitment to funding and faithfully implementing this innovative program. And we urge state policymakers to continue working toward securing a permanent funding solution to ensure the program is able to grow and serve students for years to come.”