Insight School Offers Online Education to Address Challenges Facing California Parents and Students

LOS ANGELES, May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Public education in California faces one of its most challenging periods, with large state budget cuts, high dropout rates and possible restrictions on homeschooling confronting educators, parents and students. A fully online public high school provides a powerful approach for addressing these challenges in Southern California.

Tuition-free Insight School of California - Los Angeles (ISCA-LA) offers a unique option for parents and students seeking the best educational environment for their needs. ISCA-LA serves California residents in Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.

The Los Angeles Times and Orange County Register have reported: $4.8-billion state education cutback expected; 20,000 potential layoff notices already sent out; L.A. Unified, one of 14 area districts facing red ink next year, may see $460-million deficit; 1,900 anticipated teacher layoffs and terminations in Orange County; schools appealing to parents for financial support. Impacts include higher student-teacher ratios, overcrowding, safety issues, and reduced resources for students struggling in the traditional brick and mortar setting.

Dropout rates can also be aggravated by funding cuts. According to the California Department of Education (2005-2006 school year), the statewide high school dropout rate was 14.7% totaling some 68,000 students. County rates included Kern 16.7%, Los Angeles 17.3%, Orange 5.9%, San Bernardino 20.1% and Ventura 9.0%. Students drop out due to boredom or lack of challenge, pursuit of a career in athletics or arts, work demands, illness and family obligations.

"Online education is a logical and imperative step in the evolving effort to provide an experience that addresses challenges ranging from public funding and student engagement to quality and results," said ISCA-LA executive director Bill Roden. "It's an environment offering flexibility and individual attention while requiring personal responsibility, the keys to student success."

ISCA-LA students earn their diploma in a highly personalized, student-led, teacher-facilitated program where they can work at their own speed with weekly deadlines and in their own setting. They are engaged by California-credentialed teachers and "iMentors" in a high-quality academic program adaptable to personal learning styles and situations. Student forums, clubs, online activities, events, field trips and community service provide active social interaction.

For homeschoolers facing a recent negative court ruling, an online program provides a safe environment that offers an integral role for parents in selecting courses and actively guiding their child's education.

Insight Schools report the following from students surveyed:

-- 82%, quality of education better than local high school
-- 76%, teachers better than local high school
-- 78%, adult mentors helpful
-- 85% of D students, grades improved since enrolling
-- 89%, more likely to attend college after graduation
-- 95%, would recommend to a friend

For information on Insight School of California - Los Angeles, visit http://www.insightca.net/ or call 800-670-5391.

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Source: Insight School of California - Los Angeles

CONTACT: Dave Holscher of KCOMM, +1-949-295-5515, dave@kcomm.com, for
Insight School of California - Los Angeles

Web site: http://www.insightca.net/

2008-05-05 18:23:48 0353152 PRNEWSWIRE