Online Schools: West Virginia

Situated in the Southeastern region of the United States, West Virginia is noted for its significant political history, logging and coal mining industries, and for the Appalachian mountain range. West Virginia was the only state to secede from the Confederate states during the Civil War. Home to several national state forests and parks, such as the Appalachian National Scenic Trail, George Washington National Forest, and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, the West Virginia is well known for a wide range of outdoor recreational activities like skiing, whitewater rafting, hunting, and hiking. As one of the top coal producers in the United States, West Virginia ranks high among states in net electricity exports. According to the United States Census Bureau, West Virginia has the lowest percentage of college graduates in the nation, totaling 16.1 percent. Recently, the state has sought ways to increase graduation rates by improving and expanding its online schools for high school and college students.

Postsecondary online schools in West Virginia are limited in number, but have been gradually expanding over the past decade. West Virginia University (WVU), widely recognized for its Forensic Science program, is the largest public research university in the state. WVU Online offers a bachelor's degree in Multidisciplinary Studies in which students choose three minors or areas of focus that combine together to form the degree. Fifteen "minors" are offered, including subjects such as Advertising, Family and Youth, Entrepreneurship, and Professional Writing and Editing. The culmination of the program involves completion of a capstone course (offered online), which is taken during the final semester of the student's senior year. A Bachelor's in Nursing is offered as well as well as an Infant and Toddler Certificate for teachers or professionals working with this age group. The University's online graduate program offers 22 master's degrees, a Doctorate in Nursing, and a variety of professional certificates. The vast majority of WVU's graduate programs is in the field of education and includes the Masters in Elementary Education, Secondary Education (with emphases in science and social studies), Instructional Design and Technology, Physical Education, Reading, School Health Education, and Special Education.

High school students in West Virginia have had the option of taking online courses for credit since 2000. The West Virginia Virtual School (WVVS) was approved by the West Virginia Department of Education on July 1, 2000, and launched the following fall. It partners with providers such as Apex Learning and the Florida Virtual School to offer more than 250 college preparatory, Advanced Placement, Honors, and credited remedial courses to high school students. Though the school does not offer full-time options, students may apply course credit toward receiving a diploma from their district school. Secondary West Virginia online schools are unique among virtual schools in the nation. In response to a nearly 25,000 West Virginia students who failed at least one course in 2008-2009, WVVS now requires all students taking online courses to do so under the guidance of a mentor who works closely with the student, facilitating progress reports and serving as the student's academic advisor. If success continues in secondary online schools, West Virginia is likely to continue developing its distance education programs. Recent actions include adding 25 new courses during the summer of 2011 and initiating the school's OnTargetWV Credit Recovery program, which offers (free) differentiated and individualized instruction to students taking courses for recovery credit.

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