Secondary students from different school districts can now connect with one another courtesy of distance learning technology. Al.com reports that educators in Alabama have launched the "biggest advance in leveling the playing field in Alabama education since desegregation." State Superintendent Joe Morton says "the program has the potential to change the face of education in Alabama."

Alabama has made distance learning courses available to so-called overachievers (students who wish to take advanced coursework), as well as to students in need of remedial coursework.

The article goes on to report that because "the program is still new, it's hard to quantify whether it has raised student achievement, but it has resulted in more students than ever before participating and receiving college credit for AP courses."

Online courses also allow students to work at their own pace. And teachers receive a bonus for their involvement in new distance learning programs: Those who teach web classes earn $150 per student, per semester. Those who teach video conferencing classes receive $75 per student, per semester.

Administrators of the program dream of including even more electives. But even as it currently stands, Alabama's new distance learning program has brought positive change to the lives of students throughout the state.