Opportunity: Online Classes for Gifted Students?

Michigan has a new opportunity for gifted learners!  Students 5th grade and up can take up to two online classes in place of their standard classes.  While available to all students 5th grade and up, this opens the door for gifted students to take advanced classes through other districts or Michigan Virtual University that their district does not offer.  This new opportunity has been created through Section 21f of the Michigan State School Aid Act.

Students can find classes to enroll in via Michigan’s Online Course Catalog at https://micourses.org/, but need to enroll through their home district.  A very helpful F.A.Q. is available at http://media.mivu.org/institute/pdf/21F_FAQS.PDF.

A student taking an online class may make some parents nervous.  However, all classes will be taught by certified teachers and the student’s home district is required to supply a teacher as a mentor for the class.

Gifted students in Michigan need your help!  As this opportunity is new, the courses listed thus far are limited.  It is expected that many districts will be adding courses in the next few months.  Please contact your district and districts near you to ask if they will be offering online classes for gifted learners under Section 21f and which courses they plan to offer.  By being out front in this, we have a chance to increase options for gifted learners.

When you hear back from other districts about their course offerings, please post a comment with their response.  Do not worry about overlapping.  The more parents that contact a district, the more likely they will be to offer these classes.

Thank you for reading Rochester SAGE.  Together we can make a difference for gifted children!