Forty seven schools this year joined Virtual High School, a Maynard, Mass.-based nonprofit consortium that offers online courses, bringing the total number of participating middle and high schools to 419, the Boston Globe reports.

The collaborative in volves more than 9,500 students and 260 teachers in 28 states and 23 countries. Several schools that already participate in the program, such as Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School in Marlborough, are expanding their offerings to accommodate its growing popularity among students.

“Schools all over the country are being affected by the economy and budget cuts,’’ said Carol Arnold, a Virtual High School spokeswoman. “Advanced Placement and enrichment courses are often the first to get cut because they are not required.  That’s one of the reasons they are turning to VHS. They are trying to bridge that gap.’’

Filed under: K-12 Education News