Virtual Learning Comes To Detroit Schools

LANSING (CBS Detroit) Trying to lessen the well-documented achievement gap, Detroit public and charter schools are trying new programs, including the WAY remote learning program for some at-risk kids, and now the Michigan Virtual University.

The virtual university will provide online courses to 600 Detroit high school students, starting this fall, in a unique partnership with the state's Education Achievement Authority. The EAA is operating six Detroit high schools as part of Michigan's Education Achievement System, which was implemented by Gov. Rick Snyder to redesign public education by driving resources directly into the classroom in "priority" schools.

"We are excited about the opportunity to serve high-need students with an innovative educational approach that leverages the best of face-to-face support with online instructional delivery models to offer students a new way to achieve academic success," said Jamey Fitzpatrick, MVU President & CEO, in a press release.

Online sessions in the targeted schools will be led by Michigan-certified teachers, with a smaller teacher-to-student ratio than in a typical class. The goal is to get at-risk kids to become high school graduates.

To that end, mentors will also work with students, and social work caseworkers will be available to help overcome barriers to education.

Logistically, students will attend class at their high school every other day and do coursework online on the other days from their home or library. The students will work independently with their online instructors on those days and receive face-to-face instruction from mentors when they are in school. Students will work on their classes until they master them -- and then move on to other courses.

In this way, students will progress at their own rate, supporters said, keeping them more likely to stay in school even when they're having trouble in certain subjects.