Standing room only for Mo. virtual school

Missouri's state education officials know they have a good thing in its as-yet-to-be created virtual school because parents are lining up to find out how to apply, reports the News Tribune. The K-12 virtual school in Columbia, MO is still a year away from opening its cyber doors, but plans are underway for a launch in July, 2007. 500 students who may or may not have computers or access to the internet must be accommodated. Officials are doing their homework to work out the details. Curt Fuchs, the virtual school's director, is talking to officials in the more than 20 states that already have virtual schools.

“I'm still learning,” said Fuchs, former Columbia Public Schools technology director. “I see the potential out there. I really do.”

A website explaining school procedures and courses will be up soon. Students will most likely be chosen by a lottery system, and will likely have to fill out a questionnaire so they can determine if it's a good fit for their learning style.

“They can move through it quickly or take a year to move through a course,” Fuchs said. “It's individualized...The goal is 'anyplace, anytime, any pace'.”