Virtual school enrollment period to reopen

Twenty Cape Girardeau County students have enrolled in online classes that will be offered by the state's new virtual school starting this fall.

They are among some 1,700 students who enrolled this month in elementary and high school courses that will be offered through the Missouri Virtual Instruction Program or MoVIP.

But more students locally and throughout the state still can enroll in online classes. The initial enrollment period ended Tuesday. But state education officials have decided to reopen the enrollment period beginning Thursday and extending through at least June 13.

"I think we could handle another thousand to 1,500," said Dr. Curt Fuchs, MoVIP director.

Students can take the online courses free of charge. The state is providing more than $5 million to pay for the first year of the online school.

For more, check back at semissourian.com or read Thursday's Southeast Missourian.