The Michigan State board of ed is considering a proposal to require that every student take at least one course online prior to graduation, as a means of preparing young people for the increasingly Internet-based world of work and university.
The state has a strong distance-education program for high-school students through the Michigan Virtual University, which despite its name now provides exclusively K-12 courses and resources. Many high-school students take advanced-placement courses through the virtual university, and Mr. Flanagan said those students have used online education to great success.
Under the proposal, students would be permitted to count noncredit online courses, such as ACT-preparation courses, toward the requirement. But Mr. Flanagan said he wanted to encourage students to take the online courses for credit.
(Thanks, Evan!)