News

South Carolina is Tops in Education

November 20, 2009

 

South Carolina gets an ‘A’ in education.  According to a new study, the state is near the top in virtual learning programs.  A recent report conducted by the Center for Digital Education, shows 25 states now lead the country in online education. South Carolina ranks second; Florida is first.

A local family says the Virtual School Program is passing the test.  Marycatherine Driggers attends Airport High School in West Columbia.  However, when she learned a key foreign language course would not be offered due to budget cuts, she opted to take the course online.  She says the Internet class offers benefits traditional classrooms do not.

“[The teacher] does a podcast for history and one for grammar,” said Driggers.  “If she's talking too fast and I didn't get it, I go back and rewind and listen to it over again so I don't miss anything."

Driggers is one of thousands of South Carolinians enrolled in the state's

K-12 Virtual School Program.  Spokesperson for the state department of education, Jim foster, says having options is critical.

 “One of the things [State Superintendent] Dr. Rex talks about all the time is we need to have more choices for parents,” said Foster.  “We need to find ways of developing instruction that are different and will help individual kids. That’s what this program does.”

 

Originally post by ABC Columbia