Online Schools: Mississippi

Mississippi changed hands between French, Spanish, and British governments through the early decades of United States history. Although later the state had a thriving slave market, the French and Spanish years saw the first class of free people, where interracial unions were common. Even in its beginning years as the 20th state in the Union, Mississippi was a leader in technology -- using new steamboat machinery to transport important products like crops and cotton. Though the state was ahead in terms of technology, when it came to social change Mississippi lagged behind the times, taking 20 years to unban interracial marriage after the law was ruled unconstitutional.

Beginning in 2006 the first state-funded online schools in Mississippi opened for high school students. However, the system had yet to devise a way to include all students. In 2012 the Digital Learning Now Act was designed to change that, making it simpler for virtual academies to work. Before, only 12 charter schools were allowed in the state, including online schools, and could only be located in school districts that were deemed low performing. The new law now allows full-time and part-time students to enroll in online courses, no matter which school district they are in. The change was badly needed, especially since the only state-funded distance learning program’s enrollment filled to capacity in 2010, turning away students who needed the program to graduate or fulfill requirements that their schools don’t offer.

The University of Mississippi, or as it’s known to students Ole Miss, has an entire distance learning program, equipped with full degrees and resources for its students. Among the degrees offered are healthcare administration, business, education, and engineering, in master’s and certificate degrees. Hundreds of individual online classes are offered throughout the year, which can be taken in a hybrid online/on-campus program or by themselves. Although Mississippi’s online schools are somewhat behind the times, Ole Miss still offers resources such as financial aid, an online library, writing center, and counseling for online students.

Mississippi Virtual Public School is the only state-funded online school in the state. The school often fills to capacity however, leaving scarce options for students who didn’t make it off the wait list. The University of Mississippi’s virtual high school is a viable option for those who didn’t make the cut, but the program is costly and resources are thin.

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