SANDY, Utah (AP) – The Canyons School District says students statewide have more options now that they have launched a virtual high school that offers 64 online classes. The Salt Lake Tribune reports students will be able to take two credits online this year thanks to Utah Senate Bill 65. That number will increase to six credits by 2016-2017. Murray, Granite and Jordan are among others Utah districts offering online courses.

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SANDY, Utah (AP) — Katelyn Krueger is like a lot of other high school students these days — busy.

The Brighton High senior has a full course load, is a competitive snowboarder, captain of her school’s dance company and an intern at a clothing business.

Students like Krueger figure to benefit the most now that Canyons School District has launched the Canyons Virtual High School, according to the Salt Lake Tribune (http://bit.ly/naoohq ).

By taking two of her classes online this year, the 17-year-old will have more time to hit the slopes and prepare to attend the Art Institute of Portland next spring.

Canyons, which opens its virtual doors this fall, is now one of several Utah public school districts — including Murray City, Granite and Jordan — that offer similar online classes.

Canyons will offer 64 classes online.

Karen Sterling, Canyons director of federal and state programs, said online schooling is the future of education.

“There’s been some research out that within the next four years, 40 percent of all high-school credits will be provided online; it is emerging,” Sterling told the Tribune. “A lot of our kids will go on to college. Many of their basic courses in college are online classes, so this is a good way to get them ready for that.”

Utah Senate Bill 65, which passed the 2011 state Legislature, allows online courses to provide students with more options.

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Brighton High senior Katelyn Krueger, like a lot of modern teens, doesn’t have much time on her hands. In addition to taking a full class load, the future fashion designer is a competitive snowboarder, captain of her school’s dance company and an intern at a clothing business.

She’s exactly the type of student Canyons School District had in mind when it launched the Canyons Virtual High School (CVHS), which opens its doors (not real, but figurative ones) this fall.

By taking two of her classes online this year (health and language arts), Krueger will only have to take three classes in each of her final two trimesters within the brick-and-mortar walls of Brighton High School, leaving her time to hit the snowboarding slopes.

She’ll also get to avoid fraternizing with mere 10th-graders.

“I’m way excited, because health is all full of sophomores, and since I’m a senior, this was one reason I really wanted to take it online,” said the Holladay 17-year-old, who plans to attend the Art Institute of Portland after she graduates next spring.

Canyons is one of several public school districts (Murray City, Granite and Jordan are among the others) that will now offer online classes to students in grades 9-12 thanks to Utah Senate Bill 65, which the 2011 Legislature made law to provide students with more options.

Canyons will offer 64 classes online this year, including 13 Advanced Placement courses. This year and next, students will be able to take two credits online; the number of credits will be increased by one each year until 2016-17, when students will be allowed to take six credits online during a school year. CVHS classes are available to students throughout the state, not just those who live in district boundaries.

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