Virtual school registration begins Monday

State education officials will start accepting applications Monday at 8 a.m. for Missouri's new virtual school, offering online elementary and high school classes starting in August.

The online registration process will close on May 29 at 8 a.m. Applications must be submitted through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Web site, officials said.

The Missouri Virtual Instruction Program was authorized by state law last year. Private vendors selected by the state will offer the online courses. Classes will be taught by teachers who hold Missouri licenses, DESE spokesman Jim Morris said.

State funds will pay for the MoVIP courses for about 2,500 full- and part-time students. Students will be selected through a lottery process after the May 29 application period ends, officials said.

At the elementary level, courses will be available in communication arts, math, science, social studies, art, music, Spanish, French and technology literacy.

High school courses include English, algebra, geometry, biology, chemistry, American and world history, economics, Spanish and Latin; plus Advanced Placement courses in English literature, calculus, physics, U.S. history and art history.

On the Net

http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/curriculum/movip/