Gov. Sanford moves for more educational options
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Gov. Mark Sanford

Gov. Mark Sanford called for the passage of the South Carolina Virtual Schools Program, a program recommended in his Executive Budget aimed at creating more learning options for our state's students on Feb. 12, 2007.

The governor's budget called for $3.1 million to implement the program on a statewide basis, which would be available to children in both public and private schools. The program would give students greater flexibility to advance at their own pace by earning required graduation credits online and would also allow them to take courses that wouldn't normally be offered in their attendance zones, such as advanced placement or foreign languages. The legislation was passed by the House Education Committee and is awaiting floor debate in that chamber.

"While we certainly have miles to go in terms of creating a system in South Carolina that maximizes choice for all parents and students, this legislation would be a small but important step forward on that front," Gov. Sanford said. "This bill will not only open up choices to students who wouldn't normally be available, but it also provides an important opportunity for more students to interact via the Internet, which in this changing world will become an increasingly important part of learning. I want to thank the House and Senate for the work they've done so far on this bill, and look forward to working with both bodies to move it past the finish line," said Gov. Sanford.

With this legislation, South Carolina would join a growing number of states with a similar program. The Florida Virtual School already enrolls 65,000 students. The Georgia Virtual School was created in 2005 as part of a governor's initiative to offer high school students greater choices, where $1.4 million in state funds have been contributed to the program to serve 1,285 students. Virginia has purchased the curriculum for its Virginia Virtual Advanced Placement School from Florida to create a virtual schools program that targets prospective Advanced Placement students in order to increase participation and success in advanced level coursework.