The South Carolina Virtual Charter School (SCVCS) Charter Committee announced that its new online public school will open in August 2008. It is expected to be the largest K-12 online public school in South Carolina serving up to 1,000 students across the state. The school intends to use the nationally acclaimed curriculum, technology and academic services provided by K12 Inc., a technology-based education company and leading national provider of high-quality curriculum and online learning programs.

On March 6, the South Carolina Public Charter School District approved the application presented by the SCVCS Charter Committee -- a nine-member school board made up of South Carolina parents and community leaders who will oversee and govern the school.

"We're grateful to the South Carolina Public Charter School District for approving our charter and we're confident our public school will make them proud," said Dr. Kathleen Brady, resident of Greenville and Chair of the SCVCS Board of Directors. "We believe the South Carolina Virtual Charter School will be an outstanding public school option for a diverse population of children with a variety of needs. By using the best practices in individualized learning and online education developed by K12, along with its excellent professional development and teacher training programs, we believe SCVCS will be the gold standard for online public schools in the state and will help advance South Carolina as a recognized national leader in 21st Century education."

SCVCS will provide students across the state with the opportunity to receive an excellent public education regardless of their geographic, financial, or demographic circumstances. SCVCS students will learn outside the classroom and receive instruction, direction and oversight from state-certified teachers. Younger students will work alongside a learning coach -- a parent or responsible adult -- who will provide guidance and assistance. Students will be required to meet accountability standards, including academic and attendance requirements, and must participate in state assessments in a proctored setting.

SCVCS teachers will assign lessons, provide instruction, and regularly interact with students and parents via email, web-based classrooms, online discussions, phone, and face-to-face meetings. Teachers will also organize a variety of school outings for students and their families.

Every student enrolled in SCVCS will receive an individualized learning program using K12 courses in math, English/language arts, science, history, art, music, along with a complete menu of high school courses, including AP(R) and honors-level courses, electives, and foreign language offerings. Students will access the web-based lessons through the innovative K12 Online School (OLS) and use other K12 education materials (textbooks, workbooks, math and science supplies, hands-on projects, and much more) that will be shipped directly to each student. Because SCVCS is a public school, it is tuition free and open to all students who reside within South Carolina.

"K12 is looking forward to the opportunity to work with the South Carolina Virtual Charter School to serve families and children across the state," said Ron Packard, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of K12 Inc. "We are passionately devoted to our mission of helping children maximize their potential and achieve academic success. We do this by focusing intensely on the unique abilities and needs of every child, and by delivering personalized education programs that make learning engaging, fun, and exciting."

K12 Inc. is a leading national provider of proprietary curriculum and educational services created for online delivery to students in grades K-12. K12 provides individualized, one-to-one learning solutions for students in online schools, distance education programs, and classrooms.

More than 40,000 students are using the K12 academic program in 18 statewide online public schools and other e-learning programs across the country.

Families interested in registering for SCVCS can find information at Free information sessions and other exciting events are scheduled across the state for families to learn more about SCVCS and the K12 curriculum.