THE Spring play, page 4 and 5
VOLUME 52 ISSUE 21
1015 Division St. Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613
Online schools receive mixed reactions Lindsey Davis Staff Writer
Wasting time on the Internet is part of a new-world life. Imagine doing that seven hours a day, five days a week, for 13 years. That is what some Iowa students may be starting to do with the institution of online K-12 schools. While wasting time is certainly not the intention, according to a recent New York Times study, the success rate of online schools certainly seems to fit that mold. Nearly 60 percent of students enrolled in a cyber school are behind grade level in math. Almost 50 percent trail in reading. A third do not graduate on time. Within months of enrolling, hundreds drop out. With all these negative figures, why are two Iowa school districts pursuing this very wrong path in education? Kids mean money. Clayton Ridge Community School District (Guttenburg) and the CAM (Cumberland, Anita, Massena) School District have partnered with K12 Inc. and Connections Academy to offer a completely online education for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Because of these partnerships, students from any Iowa district can enroll
in the online schools. When a student enrolls, nearly all the public money accumulated for the child’s education ends up in the pockets of the out-ofstate companies. It costs almost $6,000 per pupil in tax payer money, but the state ends up keeping only 3 percent of that. Where does the other 97 percent go? To the for-profit companies, of course. Many schools already face harsh budget cuts. Some worry that siphoning more money away is doing nothing to help improve Iowa schools. Not only do online schools mean money problems, but legality issues too. Iowa school districts are in chains to “Dillon’s Rule,” which means they are only allowed to do what the law clearly says they can. The Iowa Code states that schools cannot operate completely online. Somehow CAM and Guttenburg got around these rules. Iowa Department of Education communications director Staci Hupp explained how this can happen. “Iowa law provides a different pathway through which school districts have the authority to develop online schools. It is through this pathway that the CAM and Clayton Ridge school
districts are moving forward with online programs. The two districts did not need department approval to launch these online programs; they are arrangements between those districts and the online learning providers they will contract with. The department’s role is Are you in favor of K-12 to make sure those Internet schools in Iowa? programs follow state law,” Hupp YES NO said. So there are 77.5% Soph. 22.5% loopholes to almost everything. Dan Conrad, Cedar Jrs. 20% 80% Falls Director of Secondary Schools, 67.5% 32.5% sees a different side Srs. to this issue. This poll represents a total of “Several years 10 percent of all students ago, the state attorney general ruled that this — 40 per grade, 20 per gender practice [online curin each grade. riculum] violated the laws of open enrollment. It is my hope that this will happen again. The money for-profit companies,” Conrad that districts receive from said. the state to educate students There are a lot of opinions should be used to hire and on the online schools, but support highly qualified while havoc occurs because teachers, and not go towards of the CAM and Guttenburg
districts, the state’s education office is looking to more online learning. “The Governor’s education proposal supports the expansion of Iowa Learning Online, a state system that already provides high-quality online instruction to students across the state. The goal is to create a state clearinghouse through which school districts can choose to buy high-quality online courses taught by Iowa certified teachers. Technology has virtually changed every aspect of our lives; we must adapt in education by expanding quality online learning as an option for Iowa students,” Hupp said. Iowa lawmakers point to some other bright side to cyber schooling. Online schools allow students to complete coursework at any time during the day. They can go back and re-watch a lesson or lecture if they are not understanding the concept. Students would have the ability to turn in assignments electronically, and their skills in technology would be enhanced. For regular homeschooling, Internet academies like K12 may also be a smart choice for some students. Continued Page 2
Students at Columbus use iPads efficiently Izzie Hayes Staff Writer
A year ago this March, the Cedar Valley Catholic School system started making decisions about giving each student in grades six through 12 an iPad 2. The original plan of purchasing each student a Macbook laptop was put aside after opting for the iPad 2 at almost half the price of a Macbook. Students were taught how to use new apps
and how to apply their new piece of technology to their studies. According to staff, implementing the iPad 2s to the schooling of the students of Columbus High School, Blessed Sacrament, Sacred Heart and Saint Edwards grade schools has made learning more efficient. Tom Ulses, principal of Columbus High School, said, “I believe that we have raised the efficiency level of what we are doing.
For example, all students have access to the same device. Teachers can plan projects more efficiently because they know that all the students will have access to the tools that can help them complete it. Students are able to access digital content more efficiently, and paper consumption has dropped significantly,” Ulses said. Many students feel that the iPads have significantly helped their learning as well.
Having an iPad means automatic access to the Internet and millions of apps that can assist them in their learning. Junior Ashlee Sinnot said she believes that the iPads have helped her learn more effectively. “I think it helps for some things like being able to access the Internet all the time and being able to do projects. You can also get more done in class when working on a project or even taking notes
because typing things is a lot quicker,” Sinnot said. With technology comes maintenance. However, the students have not seen many issues with their iPads. Paticia Wiss, theology teacher, has at times struggled with the new iPads. The technology is sometimes difficult to get a grasp on. “It’s kind of like freshmen Continued Page 2