District May Create Charter High School

Increasing demands from parents and students and shrinking budgets have forced many school districts to create new learning opportunities. Coronado is no exception.

In an effort to give high schools a more flexible learning experience, Superintendent Jeffrey Felix has proposed making Palm Academy a charter school. The trustees will vote on his proposal at the district board meeting Thursday.    

This would be a new high school, Felix said in his proposal. All classes would be "accredited, rigorous and suitable for college-bound students." 

The charter would offer both virtual and on-site learning. Most classes would be online, but students also would meet with teachers and have opportunities to join on-campus study groups.

This format allows students to "complete course work in a much more flexible, self-directed manner than in a traditional classroom," Felix wrote of the plan.

Students will be able to choose from over 120 online courses. Teachers from the district will oversee the classwork.

Online classes have a number of advantages, the district argued, allowing students to take advanced placement work, and accelerating progress in high school, for example.

In January 2005 the Department of Education recommended that all students have the opportunity to take online classes. A report prepared by Advanced Educational Ventures cites experts who contend that e-learning helps students acquire the skills necessary to compete in digitalized world. 

The firm prepared a charter school application proposal for the district. Felix recommends that the district hire the firm to “facilitate the application process.”

Classes would be open to students attending Coronado High School or Palm Academy, as well as those attending other schools.