Distance Learning | News
Plato Launches Virtual Academy
- By Mike Hohenbrink
- 03/12/12
Plato Learning has launched Plato Virtual Academy, an online service providing curriculum and lessons to help districts maximize resources.
Curriculum offerings will be aligned to the Common Core standards, and will also follow the iNACOL National Standards of Quality for Online Programs, a standard for measuring K-12 online learning.
The academy will offer programming for grades 7-12 that includes:
- Instruction from certified teachers;
- Credit recovery for struggling students;
- Academic enrichment for students who may not be adequately challenged; and
- Classes to complement existing curricula in areas where districts may not have sufficient resources.
Credit will be granted through the virtual academy and noted in the student's transcript. Districts can also grant the credits themselves as a designated affiliate to streamline the process, according to information found on the company's Web site.
Students will be able to take courses beginning with summer school offerings in 2012 with more than 50 course offerings planned.
Accreditation for the academy will be provided by the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) with the virtual academy designated as a distance education school. Established in 1917, NWAC is engaged in school accreditation in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.
"Our goal is to help schools and districts to improve student achievement. The Plato Virtual Academy is an important step forward in doing that," said Jamie Candee, Plato Learning vice president of product and marketing. "We are here to partner--not compete--with educators to meet the needs of 21st century learners."
More information on the Plato Virtual Academy is available at Plato.com.