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Reprinted with permission from Virtual High School Global Consortium: Press Release
Virtual High School FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Virtual High School Receives National Accreditation Online Learning Pioneer Found to Meet & Exceed National Education Standards May 8, 2008, Maynard, MA – Virtual High School Global Consortium (www.govhs.org), the pioneer of online learning for high school students and online course design for teachers, today announced that, after an extensive review, the Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools (MSCSS) has granted them national accreditation. While the organization and its award-winning courses conform to multiple sets of national standards for online education and state standards, this is the first national education accreditation for the organization. “MSCSS has confirmed what we, our member schools and their respective staff and students have known for over 12 years, that Virtual High School's (VHS) level of excellence in online education is unsurpassed,” said Liz Pape, President & CEO of VHS. “We are delighted to receive their seal of approval and to be in the company of such fine secondary schools.” After an extensive review by the Commission, VHS was found to be setting the bar for online education and to be an exemplar of how quality courses can be delivered over the Internet. The reflective review process consisted of self-examination and strategic planning that examines an organization's adherence to MSCSS's seven standards. These standards ensure that organizations demonstrate the critical role that inputs such as organizational design, planning, curriculum, instruction, assessment, and student programs and services play in creating the conditions necessary to promote improved student performance and organizational growth. Following the on-site evaluation, Commission staff commented on the passionate belief by everyone in VHS in the possibilities provided by online education and concurrent passion for delivering that education only at the highest levels of quality. In addition, VHS was commended for highly developed systems, sophistication and maturity in upfront operations (developing courses, professional development for new teachers, etc.) The Middle States Commission on Secondary Schools, a division of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools is a non-governmental, nonprofit, peer-administered organization of diverse educational institutions committed to the highest quality education for students. Its purpose is to ensure the continuous improvement of its member institutions through effective leadership, self-study, peer evaluation, accreditation, exemplary programs, and supportive services. For more than 85 years, the Association has provided leadership in educational improvement for its member institutions in six states in the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, the subcontinent of Asia, and Africa. # # # About Virtual High School Global Consortium (VHS) Virtual High School Global Consortium is the pioneer of online course design and instruction for teachers and online education for high and middle school students. VHS partners with schools to provide rigorous, student-centered online courses that help expand vs. replace existing curriculum options. Members of the VHS collaborative include over 9,000 enrolled students per year, 370 active member schools and 235 teachers in 30 states and 23 countries. The recipient of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA) 2005, 2007 and 2008 awards for Excellence in Programming and Excellence in Best Practices and the Stockholm Challenge 2001 Award for exemplary use of technology in education, VHS was founded in 1996 and is headquartered in Maynard, Massachusetts. For more information, visit www.govhs.org or call (978) 897-1900. Press Contact: Carol Arnold, Arnold Communications, carol@arnoldcomm.com, (877) 718-4604 x2 To learn more about MSCSS, follow this link to the organization's website: http://www.css-msa.org/
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