Creation of Michigan Virtual School, along with the state requirement that every high school student take one online course, has put Michigan second in the nation for online learning, according to a ranking released Tuesday by the Center for Digital Education.
The first ever such ranking put Michigan behind Florida for online learning opportunities and students taking advantage of them. The top five also included Idaho, Arkansas, Louisiana and Maine.
State officials said the MVS was a primary reason for Michigan’s ranking. The program, run through Michigan Virtual University, provides a variety of courses to 45,000 students in 500 school districts in the state. The program launched in 2000 as Michigan Virtual High School and was accredited in 2005.
“In a world that demands knowledge workers, we are giving our students and our state a competitive advantage when it comes to preparing for the 21st century economy,” said Governor Jennifer Granholm <http://www.gongwer.com/index.cfm?link=bio.cfm&nameid=6701&locid=1 > . “This national ranking reinforces Michigan’s vision for innovation and our commitment to use leading-edge delivery methods to ensure our students are ready for higher education and today’s workplace.”
“Michigan has provided significant leadership for the rest of the nation in online learning and is routinely looked to as a pioneer,” said Marina Leight, director of the Center for Digital Education. “The creation of the Michigan Virtual School, Michigan LearnPort and the nation’s first high school graduation requirement for online learning are all significant milestones that demonstrate Michigan’s leadership position in this area.”
