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Social-Networking Policies

State-Funded Online School to Open in Montana

The Montana Digital Academy will serve 500 students and 64 teachers who have signed on to meet in virtual classrooms. (September 2, 2010)

First K-12 Virtual School in Mass. to Open

The Massachusetts Virtual Academy opening in Greenfield will be the first virtual school in New England to serve students from kindergarten through high school. (September 1, 2010)

Canadian Politician Promises Laptops for Students

If reelected, New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham is promising to give the province's 61,000 middle and high school students their own laptops. (September 1, 2010)

Online Learning Attempts to Make the Grade in Chicago Schools

Chicago Public Schools now offers a battery of online programs, including a pilot program to add 90 minutes of schooling to the day using online courses in place of certified teachers. (August 30, 2010)

Judge: District Must Pay $260K in Laptop Case

A federal judge says a suburban Philadelphia school district embroiled in a laptop spying scandal must pay a family's lawyer about $260,000. (August 31, 2010)

Wyoming Trying to Amend Student Testing Contract

The Wyoming Department of Education is looking to amend its $40 million contract with NCS Pearson Inc. due to software problems on recent electronic tests. (August 31, 2010)

Okla. Virtual Academy Receives State Accreditation

White Oak school district was accredited by a sharply divided Oklahoma Board of Education, which also placed the program's tiny school district on probation with strict requirements. (August 27, 2010)

Despite Soaring Enrollment, Most Pa. Cyber Schools Don't Meet State Standards

The state's 11 digital academies have mostly failed to meet state testing standards. Six of the schools in 2008-09 did not make AYP because of academic performance in either math or reading on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment. (August 23, 2010)

Oregon Education Board Tackles Virtual Schools

The Oregon Board of Education has taken a small step toward resolving one of the thorniest questions of the virtual schools movement: who decides whether a child can attend an online-only school? (August 23, 2010)

UConn: 10,200 Applicants' Data on Stolen Computer

University of Connecticut officials say the names and Social Security numbers of the applicants were on a computer reported stolen from the West Hartford regional campus. (August 19, 2010)

No Charges in School Laptop-Spying Case

The FBI and federal prosecutors say no criminal charges will be filed against the suburban Philadelphia school district that secretly snapped webcam photographs on laptops issued to students.

Canadian Officials Say Wi-Fi Safe to Use in Schools

Federal health officials and Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health say wireless Internet technology poses no threat to children in schools despite some parents' concerns. (August 18, 2010)

District: Employees, Students Cannot Be 'Friends'

A southwest Florida school district is forbidding employees from becoming "friends" with students on social networking websites. (August 17, 2010)

Pa. School Settles Facebook Stripper-Photo Case

A school district has agreed to pay a teacher and the American Civil Liberties Union a settlement for previously suspending the teacher over a Facebook photo of her and a stripper. (August 17, 2010)

Net-Age Students Have Different View of Plagiarism

According to a recent news article, only 29 percent of surveyed students believe copying from the Internet constitutes "serious cheating." (August 16, 2010)

IU Questions Inclusion in 'Grade Incentive' Site

A new website that allows students to bet on the grades they'll receive could amount to illegal online gambling, an Indiana University spokesman says. (August 16, 2010)

W.Va. Web System Records School Data

Schools soon will be able to judge how they're performing with the help of an Internet program meant to keep track of factors such as attendance, discipline, course failures, dropouts, and exam results. (August 12, 2010)

Cost of Cyber Charter Schools Going Up as Popularity Increases

With each passing school year, cyber charter schools are becoming a bigger business across the nation, resulting in increased costs for some school districts. (August 11, 2010)

N.H. City Schools to Remind Teachers About Facebook

Teachers and administrators in New Hampshire's largest city are going to be warned about what they post to social networking sites and to avoid online contact with students. (August 11, 2010)