Advanced Placement Incentive Program
The U.S. Department of Education's Advanced Placement Incentive Program (API Program) supports activities to increase the participation of low-income students in both pre-AP and AP courses and tests. Its grants support the development, enhancement, or expansion of AP courses, including pre-AP courses aligned with AP courses in mathematics, science, English, and other subject areas.
http://www.ed.gov/programs/apincent/index.html

College Board
The College Board is a nonprofit membership association composed of more than 5,000 schools, colleges, universities, and other education organizations. The College Board supports students with major programs, such as Advanced Placement, which includes both courses and related examinations. Its Web site provides AP standards, exam locations, information about laboratory science standards, as well as other valuable information and tools for districts considering an AP program.
http://www.collegeboard.com

International Baccalaureate
Since 1968, the International Baccalaureate (IB), a nonprofit education foundation, has offered an internationally oriented curriculum to schools worldwide. Its two-year diploma program, for students ages 16 to 19, has begun piloting several online courses. Its Web site explains the curriculum and other aspects of the program.
http://www.ibo.org

Keeping Pace with K–12 Online Learning: A Review of State-Level Policy and Practice
This 146-page report, published by Evergreen Consulting in 2007, provides an in-depth analysis of state, district, and full-time online programs across the nation. Issues include students served, funding, curriculum, policy, and quality assurance for both teachers and courses. The report is available at no cost by downloading it from the Web site of the North American Council for Online Learning.
http://www.nacol.org

Maryland Virtual Learning Opportunities' Local School System Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation Guide
The Maryland Virtual Learning Opportunities' Local School System Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation Guide is a useful resource when considering program implementation. Planning considerations are divided into a threepart checklist of planning, implementation, and evaluation. Additionally, suggested roles and responsibilities are provided for both districtand school-based personnel. The guide can be found online at the following URL, using the link on the left-hand side for the "Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation Guide."
http://mdk12online.org/schools/schoolshome.htm

National School Boards Association's Technology Leadership Network
The National School Boards Association's (NSBA) Technology Leadership Network is a district membership program that offers professional development opportunities regarding the most current information about education technology, including how districts can measure the impact of technology on student achievement.
http://www.nsba.org/site/page_micro.asp?TRACKID=&CID=82&DID=214

North American Council for Online Learning
The North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL), established in 2003, is an international K–12 nonprofit organization that strives to enhance K–12 online learning through the sharing of knowledge, advocacy, and research. NACOL research areas include course content, course management systems, teacher professional development, virtual education program administration, and state and federal public policy. The NACOL Online Learning Clearinghouse provides a listing of online-learning-related laws and programs in the U.S. NACOL organizes multiple conferences each year, such as the Virtual School Symposium and the Regional Professional Development Symposium. Additionally, the organization sponsors a monthly Webinar series about online learning issues; a current schedule is on its Web site. Top 10 Myths About Virtual Schools, provided by NACOL, dispels common misperceptions about online learning and courses and how virtual schools fit in the contemporary education landscape.
http://www.nacol.org
http://www.nacol.org/resources

Southern Regional Education Board/ AT&T Foundation State Virtual Schools Alliance
Southern Regional Education Board/AT&T Foundation State Virtual Schools Alliance was created in 2005 to assist SREB's 16 member states to increase middle- and high-school students' access to rigorous academic courses through state-supported virtual schools. Through AT&T Foundation grant funding, the alliance facilitates collaboration and information and resource sharing between states in order to create and improve state virtual schools. Valuable resources, including but not limited to the SREB Standards for Quality Online Courses and Standards for Quality Online Teaching, are available, respectively, at the following Web sites:
http://www.sreb.org/programs/edtech/pubs/2006Pubs/
06T05_Standards_quality_online_courses.pdf
http://www.sreb.org/programs/EdTech/pubs/ PDF/06T02_Standards_Online_Teaching.pdf