Press Release

EASTERN SUFFOLK BOCES TO OFFER NEW PROGRAM
USING REAL-TIME DISTANCE LEARNING

In order to ensure that every child is provided with quality educational instruction, Eastern Suffolk BOCES has formed a partnership with the Babbage Net School to offer instruction directly to students over the Internet. By utilizing the Internet, Eastern Suffolk BOCES will now be able to help school districts furnish instructional services for underserved populations. With the more frequent availability to personal computers and Internet access, students in various locations can be brought together electronically for live classes in a virtual classroom with an experienced, certified teacher. Traditionally, schools cannot provide classroom instruction for only one or two students. Now, Eastern Suffolk BOCES can provide instruction for elective or enrichment courses that attract too few students in one school by offering the course, via the Internet, through several schools. This partnership will also enable those students who are unable to attend school due to illness or injury to keep pace in their studies.

“Through the years it has been extremely difficult, if not impossible, to provide educational services to a large number of children across Suffolk County,” stated Dr. Michael Griffin, Eastern Suffolk BOCES’ executive director of instructional support, planning and technology services. “While we cannot guarantee that every child will be accounted for by using distance learning through the Internet, we can significantly decrease the number of children currently not receiving a proper education.”

The educational benefits of the new distance learning program are numerous.

• Small school districts can offer the same educational opportunities as large school districts.
• Students at home can enroll in classes that provide more instructional time, certified teachers, educational resources, a classroom environment, and the opportunity to interact cooperatively with classmates.
• The cost of placing a student in a virtual classroom is a fraction of the cost of having a teacher instruct a class with only one or two students.
• As students gain experience in enrichment courses, other students will become interested and the enrollment will increase to the point where schools will offer the course themselves.
• School districts using the distance learning program will bring further cost savings to the district due to the additional state aid school districts receive for using shared services provided by BOCES.
• This program will make the significant investment in technology made by school districts across Long Island more valuable and meaningful.