Holliday to Promote Virtual Learning Program to Offset Disaster Days

by Kentucky Public Radio's Tony McVeighThe head of Kentucky public schools believes virtual learning on the Internet may be the best way to avoid losing instructional days to disasters.Last school year, disaster days, which don’t have to be made up, were granted to 11 Kentucky school districts, including nine days each in Knox and McCreary counties. But Education Commissioner Terry Holliday is trying to figure out a way to avoid disaster days, and believes virtual learning may be the answer.“The solution we think might be possible is to build upon a system we already have in place and it’s our virtual learning system," says Holliday.He wants five districts in eastern Kentucky to participate in a pilot project to see if the system can work. Holliday wants to present the proposal to lawmakers in January.Among the obstacles to be overcome are computer availability and Internet access in rural areas.