Schools
Oswego Schools Considering Virtual Education Expansion
If the district applies for a waiver and it's approved by the state, high school students would be able to take up to 40 percent of their coursework online.
Oswego School District 308 will have a public hearing at 7 p.m. Monday, July 14, at Oswego East High School, 1525 Harvey Rd., to get public input on a proposal to apply for a waiver from the state that would allow the district to offer additional "virtual education" for high school students.
The waiver would allow District 308 to apply for an exception to a state requirement that students receive five clock hours of instruction per day, "in order to provide a blended platform in which students could take up to 40 percent of their coursework through virtual education program."
Director of Communications and PR Brian Graves said the waiver application would allow the district to expand its selection of online coursework for high school students in both core and elective classes, and at both advanced and support levels.
The district already offers a limited selection of online courses. Virtual courses offered for the 2014-15 school year are health, consumer education, environmental science and contemporary American literature, according to the district.
The soonest the waiver would be in place would be the 2015-16 school year, according to Graves, and students would not immediately be able to take 40 percent of their courses online.
"Rather, students could work up to that amount under procedures established by the administration and overseen by staff," Graves said.
If the school board authorizes the district to apply for the waiver, the district will submit its application in time for an Aug. 15 deadline, according to Graves.
From there, if the Illinois State Board of Education gives the go-ahead, the application will be submitted to the Illinois General Assembly for consideration by Oct. 1. The General Assembly would then have 60 calendar days after it reconvenes to disapprove any of the waiver requests in the report, Graves said.
If the General Assembly doesn't take action to disapprove any of the waiver requests, the waivers will be granted.
The earliest District 308's request could be approved is Dec. 1, according to Graves.
If it goes through, district high school students would be able to take approved courses online either at home or at designated district facilities.
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