VIRTUAL SCHOOLS FILL REAL GAPS

States are increasingly looking to create virtual schools in a shared-services model to consolidate e-learning programs for students. IBM is working with North Carolina Virtual Public School to offer high school students courses online that aren't available in their local schools. Students can enroll in advanced placement and foreign language classes, and even in community and state college courses so they can graduate high school with college credits under their belt. If they fail a course, they can repeat it online. Online learning can fill in curriculum gaps and offer students more routes to graduation.

Outside the U.S., online learning is helping to cross the economic divide in China. Blue Sky, China's first learning portal for basic education, runs on pure open source technology. IBM is rolling out the platform to 15 primary and middle schools. It provides tools for distance learning and facilitates the creation and sharing of content. The goal is to close the gap between the well-developed Eastern region and rural Western China, so that "under the same Blue Sky we have the same opportunities."

Imagining a 21st century education

• Every student's record and portfolio of work follows him from school to the workplace and back
• People routinely learn outside the classroom from a variety of education providers
• Governmental leadership has the data and tools to align learning programs with workforce development initiatives
• Lifelong learning is integral to careers
• Services, processes and data are shared securely between educational systems