Teachers (or prospective teachers) wishing to earn certification or degrees can now take advantage of an online program offered by Western Governors University (WGU) and partially financed by the U.S. Department of Education. The Teachers College at WGU, a virtual university that received accreditation last month, will offer associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees in education. The university itself does not offer any courses; it awards degrees based on evaluations of student competencies, which can be gained through experience or by taking online courses through institutions that have formed partnerships with WGU. U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige praised the program, which he said would help school districts meet the "highly qualified teacher" requirement of the No Child Left Behind Act.
"Western Governors U. Opens a New Online College for Teachers," by Dan Carnevale, The Chronicle of Higher Education, March 11, 2003