(Lincoln, Neb.) Gov. Dave Heineman today was joined by Nebraska education leaders to announce the creation of the Nebraska Virtual Partnership, and outline plans for the creation of the Nebraska Virtual School and the Nebraska Virtual Library systems. Efforts of the Nebraska Virtual Partnership will significantly increase educational opportunities for students throughout the state.
“This is a significant step forward for the future of education in Nebraska,” said Gov. Heineman. “The Virtual School will provide Nebraska students a rigorous online high school curriculum with an emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, commonly referred to as STEM courses, and Advanced Placement courses in both rural and urban areas. Additionally, the Virtual School establishes a single, centralized website informing students, parents, teachers and schools of virtual learning opportunities in Nebraska.”
Nebraska educational leaders signed a Memorandum of Agreement (M.O.A.) formally establishing the Nebraska Virtual Partnership. The M.O.A. represents the commitment of the Department of Education, the Educational Service Unit Coordinating Council, the University of Nebraska and Nebraska Educational Telecommunications (NET) to the construction of the Nebraska Virtual School.
In addition to the Virtual School, the Nebraska Virtual Partnership will establish the Nebraska Virtual Library. NET has proposed to make multi-media and digital instructional resources available to students and teachers across Nebraska.
To help kick off the Nebraska Virtual Partnership, the University of Nebraska is announcing the launch of the NU Virtual Scholars pilot program, which will extend the benefits of high-quality online learning to more students in Nebraska.
Through the Virtual Scholars program, the Independent Study High School at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln will offer 50 free course enrollments to high schools across Nebraska on a competitive application basis. A school may apply by accessing the application on the Independent Study High School’s website: http://highschool.unl.edu./
University of Nebraska President James B. Milliken said, “The Nebraska Virtual High School will be an important part of providing educational opportunities to students across Nebraska and the University is very pleased to join Governor Heineman in this initiative. We look forward to working with our partners, leveraging the successful record of UNL's Independent Student High School as well as other state resources to increase access to science and math curriculum, Advanced Placement courses and other opportunities all Nebraska students should enjoy. This represents a true partnership among educational and political leadership in Nebraska and the beneficiaries will be our high schools students.”
Fully accredited by state, national and international agencies, the Independent Study High School now serves more than 300 Nebraska students as well as students from 135 countries around the world in a flexible, asynchronous environment.
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