Cyber, Kiosk, & Episodes

Students soon may be able to attain a high school diploma without having to set foot on a school campus. This is the intention of a project called "Cyber High."

The Fresno County Office of Education currently operates the Portable Assisted Study Sequence program primarily serving students in migrant farm worker families.

The program is offered in 165 schools in California. Students who move from community to community can sign up at the nearest school and become current with the homework they have missed. More than 8,000 students are enrolled in the program.

Fresno administrators are transforming PASS curriculum into the Cyber High project by putting the course work onto the Internet. Cyber High students would be able to log in from their homes, schools, libraries and other sites. The Cyber High project director said it will not only save high risk students from dropping out, but introduce them to 21st century technology.

"We're trying to bring down the walls and make the world available," said Guido Prambs. "We want them to exchange information with other human beings, making it a powerful learning experience. They will have an understanding of what it is going to take in the intercultural world to be able to do business with other nations."

The Fresno County Office of Education has a $3 million grant to implement the Cyber High project. It is expected to be fully functional within five years.