Since its inception in 2002, the Indiana Virtual Academy (IndVA), formerly Ripley County Learning Network, has provided online classes for thousands of Hoosier students.

IndVA is a Ripley County Community Foundation initiative that was made possible by a Community Alliances to Promote Education (CAPE) grant from Lilly Endowment, announces executive director Dr. Fred Sagester.

"Any time you have grants, you have ending dates" when the money runs out, the director remarks.

"In order to sustain the program …. we looked at ways to bring money in."

Originally established to achieve virtual consolidation of Ripley County school corporations, it is now open to students throughout the state. As of the end of summer, teens and adults from 75 of Indiana’s 92 counties have taken at least one course.

A one semester course is $275 for Ripley County students and $295 for all others. However, in February, the Indiana State Board of Education approved the IndVA as an interlocal, meaning public school corporations that join this organization receive reduced registration fees for their students.

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