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News Release EVENT NEWS / October 30, 2008 Idaho Charter School Network Hosts Virtual Forum on Nov. 20 Featuring Education Expert John Watson The Idaho Charter School Network, a project of the Center for School Improvement and Policy Studies at Boise State University, will host a forum about virtual education from 6-8:30 p.m. Nov. 20. The forum will take place in room 118 of the Simplot-Micron Building on the Boise State campus, and free parking will be available in the parking structure located on Brady Street. The forum is free and open to educators, parents and the general public. The forum will feature opening remarks by Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna and a keynote by John Watson. Watson is the founder of Evergreen Consulting Associates, a consulting and advisory firm that focuses on K-12 online education and virtual schools. He created, and is the lead author of, the national online education policy report “Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Education: A Review of State-Level Policy and Practice.” “Keeping Pace” has been funded and guided by education organizations such as the Florida Virtual School, Connections Academy, Virtual High School, Texas Education Agency, the Wyoming Department of Education and the Clark County School District. Watson has conducted numerous program analyses and research projects regarding virtual education. Watson has been cited in the New York Times and Education Week and has appeared on “NBC Nightly News.” Before founding his consulting agency, he was the director of business development for eCollege and was instrumental in developing the company’s K-12 strategy. Watson’s speech is titled “The Importance of Virtual Education: National Perspective.” The forum will also include a panel, “What Does the Future of eLearning in Idaho Look Like?” Panelists will include Shirley Rau, school choice coordinator for the Idaho State Department of Education, and Lisa Dawley of Boise State’s Department of Educational Technology. There will be open question-and-answer sessions after Watson’s speech and after the panel discussion. The virtual forum is sponsored by the Idaho Charter School Network, the Boise State Department of Educational Technology, the Coalition of Idaho Charter School Families, the Idaho Digital Learning Academy and the virtual charter schools of Idaho. For more information or for a parking pass, contact Diane Demarest, executive director of the Idaho Charter School Network, at (208) 866-1654 or icsn@boisestate.edu. -30- Media Contact: Julie Hahn, University Communications, (208) 426-5540, juliehahn@boisestate.edu Boise State University is “The New U Rising” with record student enrollment, new academic buildings, additional degree programs and a growing research agenda. Learn more at www.boisestate.edu.
Last reviewed on Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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