HISTORY

In September 2002 the North Carolina General Assembly enacted a general statute to create BETA, the Business Education Technology Alliance.

This alliance of key leaders including business, local and state policy makers, and educators was charged with ensuring that the effective use of technology be built into the North Carolina School System for the purpose of preparing a globally competitive workforce and citizenry for the 21st century.

North Carolina must be prepared to provide on-line courses to its students anytime and anywhere using a variety of instructional approaches to accommodate individual and schedule differences.

The BETA Commission established the E-Learning Commission and charged it with establishing the North Carolina Virtual Public School.

The purpose of the North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) is to provide courses that students are unable to take at their local schools. In other words NCVPS will provide courses that augment a student's local school's program of study.

For example a student may wish to take an AP course the local school does not offer. Another student may want to complete the remaining requirement for graduation this semester yet the course needed at the student's school is already full this semester. Another student may be home bound or hospital bound due to illness or injury and wish to remain on schedule to graduate on time. Yet another student may wish to graduate from high school in three years.

All courses will be taught by a certified teacher in the subject certified to teach in North Carolina. Once the on-line course is completed the student receives credit on his or her school transcript

The initial course offerings were for high school students. In subsequent years course offerings were made available for middle school students. In 2008, NCVPS added Learn and Earn Online under its umbrella as well for high school students seeking college credit via community colleges and/or UNG I-school.

The authorizing legislation for NCVPS states:
"NCVPS shall be available at no cost to all students in North Carolina who are enrolled in North Carolina's public schools, Department of Defense schools, and schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs."