Massachusetts District To Launch Statewide Virtual School

Greenfield Public Schools has partnered with K12 Inc. to launch the first full-time statewide virtual public school in Massachusetts. It's also described as the state's first "virtual 'Innovation School'" under new legislation designed to ease the way for districts to establish their own alternative education programs.

The Massachusetts Virtual Academy at Greenfield (or "MAVA@Greenfield") will serve primarily K-8 students, with just a limited number of high school applicants to be accepted from specific regions for the 2010-2011 school year. (The high school program will be expanded over time.) A total of 500 students will be accepted initially.

Ron Packard, founder and CEO of K12, said in a statement released earlier this month, "The Massachusetts Virtual Academy at Greenfield will be a school true to the goal of the state's Innovation Schools legislation, providing excellent education programs designed to meet students' individual needs. Over 200,000 students have used the K12 program and we look forward to successfully serving students and families in Massachusetts."

MAVA@Greenfield, like other schools associated with K12 Inc., is a tuition-free public school that will provide a computer, printer, and software to students, along with a stipend to cover Internet costs. The school will follow K12's online curriculum with individualized instruction and will provide students with hands-on learning materials as well. Teachers will work with students via e-mail, chat, phone, and face to face meetings and will also facilitate field trips and other activities for students and parents.

The Massachusetts Virtual Academy at Greenfield is enrolling now and is expected to be operational in September.

Aside from the virtual academy, Greenfield Public Schools serves students in nine schools and special programs, including an earl learning academy, three elementary schools, one regular middle school, and one regular high school. It also operates an eighth-grade academy, a science academy for sixth and seventh graders, and a therapeutic day program administered by its high school.

About the Author

David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.

He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


Featured

  • abstract illustration of a classroom with glowing circuits and technology gradually integrated from left to right

    Not All Tech Is Created Equal: Transforming Classrooms with Purposeful Technology

    Classrooms will always be places where students build relationships, develop critical thinking skills, and grow into who they’re going to be as adults and citizens. Technology should be a tool to support these goals.

  • interconnected geometric human figures forming a network

    CoSN: School Staffing Is the Top Hurdle to K-12 Innovation

    Hiring and keeping educators and IT staff remains the top challenge for K-12 education in 2025, according to the latest Driving K-12 Innovation Report from the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN).

  • teacher

    6 Policy Recommendations for Adopting AI in the Classroom

    The Southern Regional Education Board's Commission on AI in Education has published six recommendations on adopting artificial intelligence in schools, colleges, and universities. The guidance marks the commission's first release since it was established last February, with more recommendations planned in the coming year.

  • robot waving

    Copilot Updates Aim to Personalize AI

    Microsoft has introduced a range of updates to its Copilot platform, marking a new phase in its effort to deliver what it calls a "true AI companion" that adapts to individual users' needs, preferences and routines.