LAKE COUNTY — Arbor Education and Training welcomed Insight Schools Principal Linda Rosson to its JobZone site for a presentation Wednesday regarding the educational opportunities available to Lake County students. Insight Schools, an online virtual high school, provides students with the curriculum required for graduation and a high school diploma.
Insight Schools, owned by the University of Arizona, is an accredited free public online high school offering students an alternative way to gain an education and their diploma. The local program, Insight School of California ? North Bay is authorized through Windsor Unified School District.
“Our school is not for every student but it is for some,” Rosson said. “We reach-out to kids that can”t attend a brick and mortar school. Our curriculum is very vigorous. It is hard. This school is for kids who really want an education.”
Insight students are provided with a free wireless laptop computer to access their classroom studies. The students must meet login requirements and complete class assignments on a daily basis. Classes are accessible 24 hours a day, seven days per week, which gives each student the ability to complete assignments according to their personal schedules. Parents are given a login code as well so that they may check their student”s progress at any time.
Insight Schools offer comprehensive curriculum in English language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, health and physical education, occupational education, world languages, the arts, life and study skills and electives. The school also offers advanced placement classes, college and career prep courses and English as a second language courses.
To graduate and earn an Insight diploma, students must complete a minimum of 240 credits, 50 of which must be earned at Insight; participate in a community service project; submit a student portfolio; and complete an exit interview. Students are required to pass the High School Exit Exam as well, which is administered locally at the Lake County Office of Education.
“We do all the rigorous testing that has to be done to graduate high school,” Rosson said.
Rosson said that because Insight Schools are not bound by geography, teachers can be recruited from the entire state. “I am extremely proud of our staff. You can imagine the caliber of teachers we get to recruit when you take away geographical barriers. We have 35 exceptional teachers on staff right now and I”m recruiting for two more,” Rosson said, adding that she currently has 1,200 applications on file for two positions available.
Insight instructors are required to hold a virtual, interactive teaching session for one hour each week. The sessions provide students an opportunity to participate in classroom discussions and ask questions in real time. Sessions are recorded in order that students who could not attend the interactive lesson may still obtain the information presented.
Students also receive the support of iMentors, who help them stay on track for graduation. Online tutors are available as well.
“Arbor Education and Training is committed to helping youth 16 to 19 years old in Lake County. Our purpose is two-fold. First, is to provide a safe, motivating environment for youth to come after school and second, is to help teens make or set goals for their futures after high school, whether it be higher education or employment,” ?Arbor Director Sharon Anderson said. “The Insight program could be a tremendous benefit to our youth who have dropped out of high school or moving along those lines. The Arbor staff is always available to help youth not only with their homework, but also help them work through family and friend issues.”
Insight Schools is currently accepting enrollment for the spring semester. For more information visit the Web site at www.insightca.net. Assistance is also available through Arbor Education and Training; contact Gina Dickson at 995-9012, ext. 402 or ask for Director Sharon Anderson.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
