Question of the Day: Are Online Schools a Good Idea?

Online schooling might be good for some kids. But they have to have some good social contacts also and enough exercise.

I recently decided to home school. My husband and I realized we can no longer allow the morals and opinions of others to raise our children. The bullying is out of control and there is a lack of leadership on the part of the administration at the school we had our child at. We are fed up and are ready to put the responsibility solely in our hands.

I do not think that online schooling is a good idea.
There is the usual risk of bullying and other’s opinions affecting your children, but that is part of life and it is not up to others to take a lifetime of realization away from their children.
School is a good thing, through the ups and downs I would never trade my school years for anything.

It’s about time. Enough government!!!!! How about quality vs. quantity time? I am fed up with requirements. Who cares how many days my kids are in school as long as they are getting great grades?

This takes away from one of the core lessons learned in school, the interaction with other students and the development of social skills. Teachers also cannot engage students in classroom activities as well as in a traditional classroom.

NO! NO! NO! Online schools reduces need for teachers. We need live teachers in schools. STOP TAKING U.S. jobs!!!!

No, generally I think this is a terrible idea. Taking children away from the social enviorment is taking away a large majority of the most important things they learn from going to school like how to interact with people, and how to handle certain situations. Sure, one may argue its accesible and regular schooling is a thing of a past, with our world so overcome by technology, but don’t you think we have enough of that?

Online education: better than getting shot.

I am glad that parents are realizing that they do have choices for their children’s education. Our two children have only been homeschooled. They have never been in public school. It is what works for us and would not be the right choice for all parents. I am just glad we have a right to choose and more and more parents are taking that right into their own hands.

I do not feel it to be a good idea. I currently attend a University that has online classes. I’m currently enrolled on campus but I still have a online classes. The online class have the lowest passing rate of any classes at my school. Its harder for students to get in touch with teachers. They allow us to call, e-mail and even Ichat (form of instant message) them but still can be a challenge.Also if you allow young children to take online schooling they will never have the chance to socialize.

It all depends who is taking the course. All students have different learning styles, and not every student can just sit at a computer all day. This could be a problem for kinetic learners.

Virtual schooling is absolutely not a good idea, not for the mainstream students at any rate. Students depend greatly on their daily interactions with others to build important social skills. In today’s world of excessive cell phone usage, interpersonal communication is much different than it used to be, and in my opinion, not for the better. As a public school biology teacher, I also wonder how students would learn to utilize scientific equipment in investigation. Will every kid have a microscope and a dissecting tray at home? Virtual schooling is a necessary alternative for students in unique situations, but it cannot be the answer for mainstream America. I shudder at the thought of what our children would become with even more time spent in front of the computer.

We decided to home school our oldest son 4 years ago when he was ready for high school. Combining Florida Virtual School and Community College he was able to finish his high school requirements in 3 years, scored a 1490 on the SAT and was excepted into some of the top engineering colleges in the US. He started at Missouri University of Science and Technology last fall at the age of 17 and recieved 34 hours of credit for the work he did at the community college. For those that are motivated home shooling is an excellent choice.

It would be good for home-schooled children. Parents can save money as well by using “Virtual Textbooks”, saving poorer parents money. It can also be of use for honors courses in regular school. Our local junior college & college both use it for distance learning…

There are a variety of different approaches to online education, and the story only covered one. There needs to be an overview story about the range of online education programs to help put online education in perspective.
For the people who say online isn’t for everyone, remember that neither is face-to-face — need proof of that look at the drop out rate

I appreciate the options of: homeschooling with your chosen curriculum, online public school w/ public curriculum, and public and private schools. Ultimately, it should be the parents option for the education of their child – the state should not get involved in each individual family choice.

First, lets be clear online schooling isn’t for every student. The mere fact that a computer is used gives some parents the foolish idea that my kids are already on the ocmputer so doing school work should be easy. Wrong answer. Most kids need to have an adult with them to make sure they are focused on the task in front of them. Particularly, if the child is of early school age. Even teenagers can suffer from lack of concentration and will allow themselves to be distracted by other aspects on the computer. Virtual learning to me is for the students who are focused and have demonstrated a unique ability to do work regardless of adult supervision. I believe this will cause some students to suffer more in the math and sciences on standard state tests. Be clear this isn’t for the parents who want to have less to do with their childs education.

This is our 6th year with OHVA (Ohio Virtual Academy) and we love it. It works for our family. We have 4 kids, one in high school, 1 in Jr. high and 2 in elementary. I am glad I live in a country where I can give my children the best education possible, and I have a choice in how that is done. I have a child with ADHD and he would fall through the cracks at a public school, and at home, I can make sure he gets the education he needs. As for the comments about socialization and exercise, my kids probably are more social and get more exercise than a lot of kids who go to a brick and mortar school. My kids are super active and play organized sports, as well as take music and theatrical arts lessons on top of being active in our church and busy going out with their friends on the weekends to the movies, dances, etc.

No way. If education is to be a top priority, then this is a huge step backwards. Did anyone see the video? The young girl is asked to associate the words penny, nickle, and dime with the correct pictures. Can we see here that the education is lacking in some way? And how does it make sense to pay one teacher per student? Why would that save money? Online college is also ridiculous. Doesn’t anyone remember the teachings of the greatest professors of all time?? They all included discussion, practice and exhibition. ONLINE SCHOOL SHOULD BE CEASED, at all levels, PERIOD.

Virtual schools are great! The really broaden opprotunities for education, and allow students to learn at their own pace. I could take classes through virtual school that wouldn’t have been avalible to me otherwise

Yes, I wish it was more widely available. In Nevada, they are called Charter schools and my son thrived in that environment. Computerized learning, a devoted parent, a professional educator to guide and direct is a winning situation for all of our students and a relief on our budget situation.

The TV spot and this article show online schooling but not how it works. Where can learn about it ?
Thank you.

I do feel like the on line school is a good idea, for some parents, of course not all. I love the fact that it is moves more to the individual rather then the entire class. I have a child in the public school system, cannot afford private, and does a great job with homework, when he gets someone who moves at his pace. His teacher complains that he doesn’t keep up with the class. She seems more interested in having our kids study for the state test that are closely coming, and her class reaching a certain percent, rather then the individual children progress. In my case, I wish my state was involved with on line schooling.

I believe that LDS(long distance schooling) can work under certain conditions. If the learning is done with a post a respond system with little teacher interaction then I am against it. However, A one or two hour video online video lab were the students can interact directly with the teacher makes for an incredible program!

I think that virtual school would be good for my autistic son and other students like him. He is going to be starting high school next year and I am terrified of the other students bullying him. He is in a regular education setting and gets straight As. He has the assistance of a one-on-one aide but will not have an aide available to him when he starts high school.

Online schooling is one of the most absurd things I have heard of. Children are suffering from ADD today because of all the television shows, video games, and phones with text messeging that have fast moving pictures, so now kids can’t keep up with slow-moving teachers. I myself am a student and I get bored really easily if a teacher slows down for any amount of time. Learning on a computer is just adding to this problem. Fast-moving pictures on the computer screen will cause even shorter attention spans in kids and they won’t ever be able to sit down and take a test for 3 hours straight.
Another problem with this virtual schooling is its increasing our dependency on computers. Yes, im a hypocrite for telling you this while using a computer, but I think we are way too dependent. If some terrorist found a way to take out every single computer in America, there’ll be chaos and mass suicides. Adding schooling to the list of things that computers do for us will make things worse when and if all our computers are wipped out.
One last terrible thing about virtual class rooms is that kids need interaction with actual people; not telephones or characters on the screen. If they want to develop social skills, they have to go to a school every day and pass by hundreds kids and learn how to be an actual PERSON. We are only human because of our connection to other humans.

My son has been enrolled in public virtual school for nearly a year and a half. I couldn’t be more pleased. There are profound differences in the virtual school program than that of traditional brick and mortar schools. Children learn at their own pace. School is not supposed to be a social. Our kids are there to learn. There are plenty of social gathering places for kids. I was mortified by the School System my son went to. The administration was clearly not focused on academics. Springboro High School in Ohio threw my son and his needs under the bus and criticized us for it. He has since thrived in virtual school. As of right now, he is 72 lessons ahead. We couldn’t be more pleased

I don’t think this is a good thing for each and every child. To be eaqual you have to assume that everyone can have access to computers, otherwise it is only the middle to upperclass who have access AND supervision as needed, we create a biased enviornment. Having taught some children who came from homeschool situtations, they can truly be lacking in social skills unless the parent makes a true effort to provide them with the social interaction needed to develop. I agree that the bullying can be out of control, but having taught 25 years I can tell you that we as educators are not allowed to address things like they should be addressed or we face a potential lawsuit. I teach because I love students and feel I can give them something besides just the academic side of life. I teach in an area where most are single parent families and most of the time even those truly aren’t there for their kids, so yeah a computer is really gonna give them the personal touch they need. Right! It’s not all academic.

Virtual schooling is a great idea! Regular school has many drawbacks: no flexibility, working on the schedule of the teacher, outrageously early hours. My daughter was dropped from school 3 months before graduation because of anxiety issues; that would not have been a problem if she’d had the option of going to an on-line school. Naturally, it’s not great for everybody. Neither is regular school.

Of the four grandchildren my wife and I have three are in Ohio virtual academy. The fourth will be enrolled next year when he is old enough. The first child went to public school and when he asked questions , was ignored or told to sit down and shut up. When he leaves school he will be able to read write and do math, unlike “graduates” of public school.

I teach integrated technology at the elementary school level and see the benefits of educational software for reinforcing the core subjects, as well as offering differentiated curriculum for learners with a range of abilities. Texas has a few school districts with an active one-to-one computer/student program and has seen an overall improvement in those students’ interest in their studies. Houston ISD offers online education for high school students now. Elementary students are already using home computers for entertainment and homework, so to alleviate the real-time cost of education with a virtual ‘text book’ offering is practical, and an existing trend in education.

Schooling is not merely a matter of subject-based learning. It is the means through which we mold citizens and a society that interacts and cares for one other. On-line classes foster isolation. Bi-lingual classes encourage a lack of citizenship and cultural isolation. As a former teacher, I am firmly against any form of learning which is not based on interaction within a social setting. Roosevelt understood that we need unifying forces to endure as a nation.

It’s a bad idea. Kids need to socialize.You see how responsible they are with texting. And most parents where I live work.Both parents.And a lot of kids in rural areas don’t have access to computers, except in school.It would leave a lot of kids out. There are some religous groups in our area that homeschool, but the women don’t work.Homeschooling requires a parent’s supervision and state mandated requirements. Unfortunately not all parents take an interset in their children’s education, or worst case scenerio, the child at all. Sometimes teachers can “save” a child from a terrible environment and act as a mentor.

My son is completing his senior year after being in virtual school for four years. He has gotten a wonderful education and been encouraged by his teachers to be as successful as he can in all his endeavors. Ironically he has had more personal support than he ever received in our local district! He has been accepted to the college of his choice and feels fully prepared for the future. Virtual schooling may not be for every family but it definitely deserves the the money that is spent on it. I feel a lot less frustration when I write out the check for my school taxes each year that he has been in the virtual school.

Online learning is an inevitable part of learning and teaching today. It has its place in our education system on a limited basis, Some school districts are beginning to require that all students take at least one online course before they leave high school. With online learning becoming so popular in higher education this is a good thing, but it should not replace classroom learning. Students learn so
much more than just subject matter from
the school environment and good
teachers. Cutting costs is a great idea but not soley through an online education

I am a public school teacher. I am also a father of four children, three of whom are in a virtual charter school. Our children flourish in this program. My wife is quite capable of teaching our children on a daily basis. My oldest child, age 10, has scored in the highest percentile on the PSSA (state test for NCLB). I love it because my children do not have to be part of the regular public school where there is an agenda that goes beyond teaching my child the basics of education. All parents should have the opportunity to have their children in the school of their choice. Stop reporting that tax dollars are being siphoned off to educate my children. It is my tax dollar as much as any other person’s.

As a parent who has struggled to find proper schooling for her gifted but dyslexic little girl I will tell you that all options that a parent can have are wonderful. Not everything fits everyone but I think the biggest benefit of this type of schooling is opening up the possibilities of choosing the proper curriculum for your child instead of whatever the school decided to buy into and then has to stick with. I think this encourages parent involvement, encourages personal achievement and more direct interaction with a certified teacher instead of forcing these parents to resort to the daunting task of homeschooling. I think this is a fantastic option and should be promoted for any who wish to participate. Let’s hear it for CHOICES!

I believe that online schooling is a great idea, but it would have to be on a case-by-case basis. My oldest daughter is 15 and has been repeatedly assaulted because of her refusal to date a certain boy. He has been disciplined, but the school states that there is little that they can do anymore except for suspensions & possible expulsion. My sons do very well in public school, but I am worried about my youngest daughter starting school in a couple of years because the violence keeps increasing & the administrations ability to deal with it is decreasing. If online schooling becomes available in our area, I will definitely be looking into it for her.

I teach immigrant children. Our public schools are uniquely qualified to help them learn more than just English language skills. Schools form communities where these students learn a lot about the culture they will be living in. I have been profoundly touched by the experience of watching students from one cultural background become friends with students from a completely different one—based on mutual interests in academics, sports, music, art, etc. They then begin sharing so much more. I have seen them come together in times of happiness and sadness. This is the greatness of America. Our schools are about so much more than test scores. We seem to have forgotten this. Virtual learning can only go so far—at some point we have to get along with each other and the whole world. I am so proud of the opportunities that this country continues to offer people—much of it through our public schools.

I understand that children learn in different ways, however my comment had nothing to do with methods. My question is what would this do to the arts? What will happen to kids doing art class projects, painting, drawing, music class, learning to play an instrument, acting, and even singing in a choir? They’re gone. Also, what would happen to physical education classes? Now the responsibility is upon the parents or guardians to have their children exercise which is not always as reliable as we’d like to think. Finally, the last thing that upset me was the lack of social skills concentration. Sure there will be field trips, and they can talk to their teacher over the computer or phone, but what about other kids? I personally see day-to-day social interaction as healthy for kids and growing up. Is bullying a problem? You bet. But then let’s make that a larger focus of supervision.

Attending school with other children isn’t only for learning reading, writing and arithmetic. School gives our kids the opportunity to learn important social and relationship skills that sitting in front of a computer just won’t teach them.
I worry that this generation of texters and internet surfers won’t be able to communicate face-to-face as adults without a screen and keyboard in front of them.

Absoltely a great idea.As a parent already thinking of homeschooling next year,my husband and I weighed all the positive and negative.They will be fine with socialization because of sports and other organizations.My children will get one on one teaching,and I don’t have to stop until they learn a task.Teachers do.Parents need to be more responsible for their children.The government is not taking care of our children,we are.

I don’t think that online schools are a good idea. I believe that every child needs to have the experience of going to public or private school K-12. There are so many memories made and lessons learned. I think that all children/young adults need to go through the challenges and road bumps in school and with friends. It is the only way they can grow and learn true lessons in life. Online schools may sound right at the time but I don’t think it helps a child in the long run.

I debated for years whether to take my son out of the public school system. The bullying was out of hand and I felt helpless as the school kept turning the other way. Many other parents also felt the same way. Also, I watched him as he went from an advanced kindergardener to a struggling “special-ed” 6th grader. I took him out at the beginning of this year and we haven’t looked back. He has come so far in just one year. And as for “social skills”!!! I certainly don’t miss the social skills he was learning. How to be cruel? No thank you. Lastly, I keep hearing study results of kids in home-schooling doing so much better than the ones in traditional schools. But all I really need to do is look at his smiling face to know I did the right thing.

Online schooling is the FUTURE now! HELLO?? The person who posted it takes teacher’s jobs away is just CLUELESS. Online schools hire LOTS of teachers used SAME as in the classroom instead of standing in front of class at chalk board they use technology to teach class over the computer to a group of students. Online schooling offers a WONDERFUL option for a segement of kids. Don’t knock it until you try it -and it is LAUGHABLE at those who say kids are not interacting with other children – last time I checked Online Schools have MANY orgaized group activities and there are ALL sorts of places kids can interact with other kids from soccer, youth groups,etc.

We use an online school for our daughter. She went to a public school for her first year of school and this is her first year doing an online school. She has done well in both settings. I think that if parents are determined to be a part of their children’s schooling then they will do fine either way. Our daughter has been enrolled in gymnastics and an art class and she has plenty of friends so I am confident that she is doing well socially. She does math and reading one grade above where she is placed. Enrolling her in an online school has allowed me to tailor her lessons to meet her needs while having the gudiance of a local public teacher. The best of both worlds!!

As with any program, this has it’s pluses and minuses. There are children that will benefit greatly from online schools, particularly special needs kids living in districts that don’t have the ability to provide fully for them. However, I don’t think people should use online schooling as a way for their kids to escape situations like teasing or bullying. As a child, I was bullied more by neighboring kids than kids at school. Should my parents have packed up our house and moved? I learned to deal with them, and even became friends with most of them. Our childhood experiences help mold us into adults, The learning process goes on in and out of school. You can’t learn how to interact with different people if you’re never exposed to them.
Book smarts are great, but our life experiences and application of knowledge (including morals/beliefs) is what builds character and wisdom.

NO! NO! NO!NO! What kind of thinking is this? For a child to learn everything on line is not true learning, the computer is a learning tool just like the pencil and paper. Children need the interaction of other students, other programs(music,P.E.,arts,etc.)I realize our world is quickly advancing and our children need to learn all of these new ways BUT not 24/7 on a computer.Maybe 2 days aweek on line and 3 days going to school, interacting with other students and sharing their on-line experience.

OK, I really need to get this off my chest. People who think home schooled kids or online kids are not socialized are terribly wrong. My kids along with others now have more time for gymnastics, swim team, karate and play time. All of our work is done before 1 or 2 p.m. We go to museums and aquariums any time we feel like it and incorporate our studies in our visits. Yep, mom tests them and has them take notes. My children were in public school and begged to be removed. The socialization they get in school is not the good kind. Unless you think a 2nd grader coming home and talking about porn and sex acts is ok. (happens all the time) There are fabulous teachers out there who just are not able to do the jobs they would like to because of issues w/kids in the class and politics. Everyone has a God given right to their opinions, but please do not stereotype when you have no idea what you are talking about.

School is for learning and not to teach social skills. That is a byproduct. We cannot continue on the path started many years ago. So many things are changed. The internet is a great medium for teaching. More buildings, utilities, busses and fuel greatly increases the tax burden to support such a plan. I do agree interaction with a teacher is good. Perhaps onece a week a teacher could bring students in but it would be better for the teacher or teachers to go where the students are. A community center or local learning center should do. Bus a teacher not a mass of students.

I think Technology in general has taken enough interaction away from society. We are becoming far too dependent as it is on the computer to take care of all our needs.This very minute as I type this opinion. I’m trying to raise my child to know how to converse with people in person and not by the computer, texting, ext. Before you know it, the library and schools will be the next item on the list of extinctions. Our society has really reached the point of having too much and not taking the time to appreciate each other.

If online is anywhere near as good as homeschooling then we should go for it!

I think online schools can be great for some familes and children. My son attended a public Kindergarten, but it didn’t go well for him (mostly due to a teacher that couldn’t teach 20 + kids properly) We then used a online school for him for 1st and 2nd grade, it was wonderful, he learned so much. Due to my health I sent him back to public school for 3rd and 4th grade. I’m considering using a online school for him next year for 5th grade. I feel that he learned more at home with me helping him and his online teacher. We used OHVA for our online school. Bottom line I support online schools, even though my son is currently not using one this year.

I think they’re brilliant, not only for economical benefits to parents and dept of eduction, but especially to students. Parents who are able to dedicate the necessary time can truly mold their children into the adults they will become and get a true feel for the child’s strengths and weaknesses.

Some folks are confusing socialization with socializing. Socialization is best done by the parents NOT YOUR CHILD’S PEERS. “Socializing” is rarely allowed in school anymore. God forbid your child has his or her own thoughts. Neurodiversity has become something to be pathologized rather than celebrated. Too bad for our public school kids.

As a former public school teacher, I think we are going to continue to see a growth in virtual schools. Meeting the needs of all learners in the classroom is not possible for one teacher to do no matter how passionate and devoted the educator. With safety concerns, bullying, drugs and negative influences parents are left with no other choice. As far as socializing, virtual schools should offer weekly gatherings for teaching special classes as well as public speaking skills–with parental involvement. It is wonderful to see so many parents wanting to take responsibility for their child’s education.

I don’t believe online schools are a good thing at all. Taking courses through a computer screen and a voice on the other side does not provide the type of interaction condusive to learning. Plus, this strategy will continue to foster isolation.

As a former teacher I felt homeschooling was NOT the way to go…UNTIL, during his 3rd grade yr my son begged me to remove him from school. He’s advanced and was being ignored!! We enrolled in OHVA(Ohio Virtual Academy)and we couldn’t be happier.He’s socialized through outside act.Also, he uses books and worksheets,as well as the computer. Once “regular” school is out he’s outdoors. We parents also make giant efforts to see that the arts are given the care they deserve(private lessons,ect)
By the way, I have a BS with Grad classes, his father has a BA, his step-father has a Masters, 2 audlt sibs have a BS as well. We’re NOT uneducated and DO take his education seriously.
HE already made sure we re-enrolled him for next yr.

On-line courses may be fine for high school students who need them because they need the flexibility these courses offer. They may be okay for students who have a long-term illness or injury and are facing getting way behind in their grade. Maybe a home-based teacher just won’t work for them. For students from K-5 through 8th grade, they are not a good idea. Educational research states that children learn better when they are being directly taught with other students and are drectly involved in the lesson in a group setting. This cannot happen in an on-line classroom. Students need face-to-face interaction with teachers and other students in classroom settings to learn effectively. They learn to value other’s ideas and share their own in a safe(hopefully) environment.I have been a teacher since 1977, and in public school classrooms for 19 of those years. Now I teach in an alternative school with students with behavior, drug, and family problems that have put them out of regular classroom settings. I can tell you that the last thing these students need is to be in an on-line classroom. They need all the one-on-one instruction they can get from a real person who knows and cares about them. With America’s students lagging behind the rest of the world’s industrialized nations, especially in math and science, public education needs to be at the forefront of our concerns, along with health care and foreign policy. Let’s find ways to spend our education dollars more effectively, not look for ways to cut costs. There is no sustitute for the personal touch in public education. With all its problems, it is and will continue to educate the vbast majority of our children.

As a Parent/Teacher: Virtual schooling gives students an opportunity to retrieve credit to fulfill graduation requirements. Students get behind for different reasons. Giving them an opportunity to makeup subjects eludes the surrounding of underclassman in credit recovery situations. Status quo is important to K-12 students.
Field trips establish non-differentiation of social relativity to inside and outside classroom student activities. Field trips are on the chopping block for the non-virtual classroom. As important, are technological skills acquired, time management skills, opportunity to improve their GPA, and last but not least early graduation. Early graduation means entering into postsecondary school or early pursuit of a post high school career.
Virtual lesson plans reduces the needed for subs, helps with the budget planning. Virtual school is 21st Century technology needed for America to preserve its prominence as world leader!

Online schools are a great idea for parents who are willing to be actively involved in their children’s education. Home educators have been doing this for years with great success. We have chosen to take the responsibility for our children’s education as well as guiding and training them in all areas of their lives. It has been a wonderful experience with great results as 4 of them are now well rounded, responsible and well educated adults, one of whom is a college graduate. We are grateful for the opportunity and privilege to do this for our 7 children. By God’s grace it is being the success it is.

No question involved parents make a difference with any kind of educational system–some teens are pressing for cyber school to avoid the attendandance requirements of public schools–they are no better at getting them selves to be productive in cyber schools than they were in public schools–but with cyber schools a year can go after which point they return to public schools having missed a year of education and probably more at risk to leave school before graduating

This is a TERRIBLE idea. I am in high school and second in my class. I am currently enrolled in an online class and taking it in addition to all of my other courses at school. To have students learn all day at a computer is stupid. It not only would increase child obesity, but the children would not learn as well or socialize with other kids. I would NEVER sign my children up for virtual school. It is extremely difficult to learn off the computer and in the casual setting of one’s home.

Any parent who would sign their child up for online school an extremely bad parent.

Before you knock on-line school, please do your research. The people who cry “What about socialization? What about Phys Ed?” do not know what they are talking about.
Our daughter is in 2nd grade and has been in OHVA since Kindergarten. She is socialized, we go out on walks, we go to the store, she’s around people of all different ages, all different situations all the time. We are not stuck in our home 24/7. Her little brother is learning things right along with her.
By being in an on-line school, there are certified teachers who work with the students via a chat system or by phone, but the parents do the bulk of the educating. It’s a partnership. Nobody is losing jobs, they are just working from home, just as many other people are doing when the telecommute.
Our school has a phys ed requirement. We have to log 36 hours of Phys Ed a year, but probably do more. The person who cried, “What about sports?” There are summer leagues, swim teams, martial arts. Our Phys Ed requires that it be “Structured, Organized and Supervised”. You can to do it with your child, or in a group sport. Just playing in the back yard by themselves doesn’t count. She also takes swim lessons every summer that don’t even count toward her Phys Ed requirement.
On-line schools are held accountable. Matter of fact, they are held more accountable than the B&M schools in our area. How many levies have they had to pass to “raise money for the kids”, yet the money is used for other puproses?
Our daughter has had to take the same achievement tests as the B&M schools, and had a 99% percentile in her math for her grade and 96% for her language arts. So, I’d say she’s doing quite well, wouldn’t you?
Before you start saying they are no good, learn something about how they work. They aren’t for everyone, not everyone has the temperament, the organization to home/e-school. But do NOT presume to think you know best for all families, especially not mine. We will fight for my right to educate our children in the way we see fit that best suits our children. Not you, not the government.
Educate yourself before making foolish statements that are full of half-truths and myths. Home schooling/e-schooling has gotten a bad reputation because of the media exploiting families who were NOT the norm.
More and more families are turning to home and e-schooling because it works when the tradition form of education failed their children. My child DOES attend a public school, just a non-traditional one. The local school still receives part of the tax dollars that should follow my child, but doesn’t. So don’t start crying foul without all the information.

I think virtual school is superior to many public and private schools. We have been doing it for two years and it works great for us. The flexibility and time saved (don’t have to wait for all the other kids to finish their paper, don’t have to wait in line at the water fountain or pick up line…)have allowed us to learn much more in a shorter time frame. It also allows for so much more family time and time for outings that we couldn’t do on a regular school schedule.

Online courses can be great for some kids. I would never recommend taking all classes online. One class at the middle school level or maybe two, at most, at the high school level seems fine to me. I teach an online Algebra 2 class to 8th grade “gifted” math students. For most of them, it is a fun challenging way to learn the subject as well as working independently, collaborating with others, and manageing time. Successful online students need to be mature, organized, comfortable with technology and self-motivated. It’s not for all!

I am the learning coach for my granddaughter through Connections Academy. It has been great for us. It takes a lot of time and dedication, but it is so worth it.

Terrible idea. Kids will have no interaction with peers or adults. What happens when they enter the “real world” later in life? Totally unable to adapt, poor working relationships; no doubt they’ll have to see a shrink to help them cope or become a burden to the average taxpayer

Yes, online schools are a good thing. Our experience in North Idaho with Idaho Virtual Academy has been excellent. The K-12 program is truly outstanding. It takes a strong commitment by the parents, but with this commitment the kids do extremely well. All three of our grandchildren are two years ahead of their peers in public school and they excel in mathematics, science and language arts. As far as we can see, ONLINE SCHOOLS ARE THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE, NOT ONLY AT THE K->12 LEVEL BUT ALSO FOR COLLEGE. We will see better courses, better instructors and lower costs and in the end, exceptional, world-class students!

I absolutely 100% think virtual schooling is a relevant option for children. Fairness is about giving a child what he or she needs. Is it fair to approach educating a child with a ‘one size fits all’ mindset? Any rational thinking person would say no. This is what virtual education does. It gives those students and families another option. Just like schools with a gifted program or special education programs etc. This is the same thing being provided in a different setting. These children do EVERYTHING that a child in a traditional school would do, except part of the learning is done online and an even greater part is done with textbooks and materials in the home. The curriculum is outstanding and aligned with state standards. I’d even go out on a limb to say that children educated virtually probably perform better on state tests (given that they were not already performing below grade level) than student taught traditionally because they don’t have to deal with the discipline concerns that could be present in a classroom. People should not be afraid that virtual schooling is going to take over the present model of education. We will always need traditional schools; however, this particular approach to education should not be denied because of narrow-minded thinking.

I am an entreprenuer that writes and delivers curricula to Title I public high schools. I can tell you that kids are 30+ to a classroom, the so called “small schools” are crowded to the extent that you have 3-6 schools under one roof with students eating lunch at 2pm. That’s outrageous and paid for with tax dollars.
To be clear, virtual academies aren’t replacing traditional schools. In fact they can enhance the small school/shared school building model by harmonizing online academics with the arts and extra curricula activities. I am forwarding this link with comments to a few dedicated teachers that would not only recapture their excitement for teaching, but will also work diligently to add value to the model, as I intend to, to transform our schools in the poorest neighborhoods.
If being suspended from school for fallatio in the staircase, assaulting or cursing out classmates and teachers is anyone’s idea of socialization or learning from your environment, then I feel for you. Something has got to give and I think this model is better than traditional charter schools where administrators are constantly under pressure to raise funds for their schools because they are only partially funded by the state.
Virtual academies are a great use of public funds and will shine a bright light on “traditional” schools as students excel on standardized tests now that the playing field has been leveled (better curricula, qualified teachers).

I am amazed at the arguments from those who are against online learning. Most have obviously never experienced what it’s like and your comments show how completely uneducated you are about online learning. I know from personal that it is a great model to educate your children, and yes, your children do have a social life and don’t suffer from not having enough exercise! Is online learning for everyone? No. Will it help many families where the B&M school will not meet the child’s needs? Yes. Please, please, consider it’s benefits through the eyes of others.
BTW, my daughter should be in 6th grade by age, but is able to do 8th grade work through online education. She isn’t being held back be an entire class of 6th graders.

FANTASTIC idea. Especially for visual learners and others who have more challenges in the classroom. Some people learn exceptionally well this way.

ABC News made virtual schools sound like kids just sit at a computer for the day. This is so not true. I have 2 children in the Washington Virtual Academy. They are currently in 3rd and 6th grade. Neither of them spends much time on the computer. We go on the computer to get their daily lesson plan but spend most of the time off the computer with textbooks and worksheets just like in a school building. What they don’t have is the lack of individual attention. Also, they don’t miss out on socializing. I saw one comment that said it was taking away all socialization. This person obviously doesn’t know. My children spend time with other kids their age at sports, at school sponsored field trips and get togethers and at church. They are both also in scouts. Of course there will be abusers of any system. Could someone please stop focusing on the few that are having trouble and see how well the rest are doing. These kids do have interaction with peers and adults. In fact most are better at interacting with adults than kids who attend a school building.

It’s got to be better than public school. What a fiasco that is.

Spencer, kids learning at their own pace means that kids LEARN the material. Material that will later serve them well at said jobs.
When kids don’t grasp material in school, they are lost (esp in math and some sciences.) Some never get it. Then, they remain unprepared for life. At least virtually, they can master it.

How much ‘physical activity’ do school children get anyway? Minimal… and with recess being cut and PE a day or two a week, kids spend most of their time sitting at their desks anyway.
So ‘obesity?’ Moot point.

I think online education levels the playing field. Everyone has access to the same lessons.

As an elementary school teacher, I could not disagree with this idea more. Our job is to educate the WHOLE CHILD, which goes beyond just academics. One of the biggest-and hardest- things to teach children is how to solve disagreements with one another and to accept each other’s differences and promote tolerance. How are children supposed to learn how to get along with one another and grow as human beings when they are sequestered at home all day? Field trips alone is not enough time with other children for them to learn such things. To think that is comparable is laughable.

I don’t think virtual schooling is good for students because it takes away the social interaction which is vital for students to have: good or bad.

No, I don’t think its a good idea. Where do these kids learn to interact with others and learn social skills. Going to school and being around other adults and children help round out the whole teaching process. Most kids taught at home have limited social skills- and are oblivious to the real world

Our online school is the perfect fit for our family. We are so thankful we discovered this option.

It appears that commenters opposed to the idea of homeschooling are concerned with the socialization aspect of education. This is not a problem with homeschooling if the child is provided avenues to interact with other kids. Our son has been homeschooled for two years and it has been wonderful. The materials are better than that of the regular school and the support from the teacher has been great (we meet with her and consult with her regularly.) One commenter mentioned that the goal of teaching is to educate the whole child. Yes, I agree and I am a teacher as well. But, it is a bit arrogant to suppose that one cannot help develop the child in a wholistic manner in a homeschool environment. Again, this is not for everyone.

In regardes to virtual schooling or even home schooling my main concern is that these children will lack the social skills required to function in everyday life. As children, but more importantly as adults. Understanding that there are some situations where these options are necessary, In my opion most parents that subject there children to these types of learning are either lazy or too scared to send there children to regular schools,

If you think parents who chose to educate their children at home are lazy, you have NO clue what it takes to educate a child at home.
Seriously people, do some research for yourselves. Meet some people who do this and it works. Talk to real live people who have normal, well adjusted children.

YES! A wonderful SOLUTION for some children and parents. Now as a grandmother, I can look back at how I successfully finished High School through old fashioned correspondence. It taught me self-reliance, independence, and kept me away from the distractions of a high school of 5,000. And on I went to several colleges and universities! Wonderful option for the right student!

Online schools are doing a wonderful job providing parents who are interested in educating their children with materials and teacher support. My two children are thriving and are two grades above their peers. We are usually done with our classes by 1p.m. and spend the afternoons in different museums or parks. Online schools give parents the tools to help their children succeed in academics.
Parental involvement gives kids the tools to succeed in life.

Georgia Virtual Academy is a great
fit for us. My children are learning so much more than they did in regular pub-
lic school. They also go to a home-
school co-op once a week and take sign
language, art and PE classes with a
lot of other kids. They have many
friends from this. My children also
have Boy Scouts, Baseball and T-
Ball. They get plenty of social
interaction with other children.
They also get to go on fieldtrips and
enjoy them. We are not rushed and we
go to places like the Natural History
Museum, Fort Discovery and other places.
Sometimes our fieldtrips go in line
with what we are studying.
They get plenty of social interaction
and they learn a lot. We never go to
a new assignment until they completely
understand and have learned the one
they are on.
Georgia Virtual Academy has worked out
well for us and we will continue to use
it.
Regina

I really think people need to do their research before making untrue statements about virtual education or homeschooling. My husband and I decided to use virtual education for our children. We both have college degrees. The parents I know who use virtual education or homeschooling have college degrees. I taught in public school for 8 years. Teaching at home requires a GREAT deal of commitment on the part of the parents. I teach my children. They don’t just sit at the computer all day. With my children, 10% or less of their lessons are on-line. We use the science equipment, math manipulatives, etc. to have hands on learning. As far as activity goes, my children participate in baseball, football, soccer, etc. They get plenty of exercise. When they aren’t doing those activities, they are riding their bikes and playing outside. On the socialization issue, I personally don’t want my children socialized by the schools. That is my job! I am responsible for how my children behave. My children have every opportunity to be around other kids. People need to get their facts straight before making comments like homeschool parents are uneducated and the children are unsocialized.

My son attends GVA as an 8th grader. I don’t know where to start. It was a blessing finding GVA. This is his 2nd year. After realizing that his middle school was not helping him but hurting him. I had to pull him out. He started with a 5th grade reading and math level, in 7th grade last year. To my surprise, I was never told of this at his brick and mortar. This year he is now at his 8th grade reading level and in Algebra I. Which we both worked hard on to achieve. He enjoys Science and all the labs. He has many friends that he waits for after school. And he seems to be ahead of many of them in GA History and Science. He also participates in youth sports throughout the year. He also is learning Latin through his vocabulary words. I truly recommend GVA as an outstanding learning source.

Online schooling is perfect for kids when they miss class because of illness, etc.

I respecfully agree with the idea that this is a free country and that we strongly emphasize having options. And okay, most kids get social skills through other activities other than school. But I fear that some day it won’t be a choice anymore. They show in futuristic movies and stories that children learn through “downloads” from a computer to their brain. It doesn’t seem possible, but had anybody ever dreamed of a space rocket in 1400? I strongly believe that sooner or later every little detail of our lives will depend on computers: taxes, shopping, communicating, SAT registrations, and a whole bunch of other things are already on there. I fear that we’ll no longer be human, just mindless zombies with enormous amounts of knowledge.
Yeah, there is swearing, and drugs, and other terrible things going on in public schools that I deal with every day. But these things can make you stronger and wiser as a person. Some of the wisest people on earth had to face the most horrifying obstacles in life. Ghandi is probably a good example of that. I’m not saying that your kid needs to be Ghandi, but maybe he/she needs to face these challenges so they gain wisdom as well as knowledge. And wisdom is probably one of the greatest things you’ll ever hold in life.

My children attend this school. I would like to clarify one thing.. They do get interaction with others through church, field trips (yes this school does have outings) and sports . Some not all school systems allow students from virtual schools to play sports at the local schools. And another thing we have State certified teachers. They work from home in our state they are not taking teacher Jobs away with this school they are actually adding them. My kids have raised their grades more than an entire grade level . They were behind from the regular schools . They are now advanced. I also love the fact they are able to learn at their pace Awesome program!.

One more thing They dont sit infront of a computer all day. They actually have regular text books and pencil and papers. They do very little “online classes” their daily asignments are given online but the work is completed offline and attendance is logged online. Work is graded by a regular State certified teacher. We do take all state tests CRCT etc..

While the students may be learning, they are not learning how to deal with kids their own age. A few school outings do not replace the every day interactions that kids need.
I really think that the learning of personal interactions is one of the most important things kids learn at school.

I think it’s both sad and comical at the same time that people really think our kids are holed up on the computer at home and not interacting with kids their own age. Parents choosing this type of education recognize the need for opportunities to build social skills. Our kids are involved DAILY in some sort of group activity, whether it be an outing at the partk, a field trip, organized sports, or Bible study. They have many many oportunities for interaction. Who says they need that all day every day? In fact, this is half the reason we chose virtual academy. My son has aspergers and can only tolerate groups of people for short periods of time. The classroom is a major source of stress for him and causes his academics to suffer. Is it better for my son to sit in a corner of the classroom all day trying to hold himself together, not learning anything than to be home where he feels comfortable and is able to learn freely? I don’t think so. In fact, my son’s social skills have developed IMMENSELY by simply taking that daily stress away. Yes, kids need to learn to deal with other people, but a class of 30 kids isn’t the only solution, and it’s a terrible solution for kids like my son. There needs to be many options available so that parents can assess the needs of their children and choose the appropriate educational setting for each child, rather than be forced into the only choice available and it having a detrimental effect on these kids. And as far as test scores go….our virtual school requires every student test every year, not just benchmark years like the rest of the public schools require. I’m proud to say that my 7yr old 4th grader (nope, not a typo!) EXCEEDED standards in ALL areas on his testing for 4th grade this year.

My kids have been attending Inspire Connections Academy in Idaho for 4 years. There is no doubt in my mind that being a part of an online education environment has given them more then just information, it has prepared them to adapt to the ever changing global economy that they are becoming a part of. They have learned that participating in a learning community is about more then what you do when someone is watching over your shoulder. Every assignment that they complete and present to any one of their teachers is a demonstration of initiative, self-direction, responsibility and personal accountability. When they collaborate on projects with other students, it’s about more then just an A in the gradebook, it becomes a practice session where they can hone the art of communicating thought with claritiy and precision using all of the communication tools currently available to their generation.
Social skills also take on a new dimension. They have a unique skill for being able to get along with people of all ages, backgrounds or geographic location. Their social calendar is not controlled by the date of birth, alphebetic order, height, weight or course enrollment or where they live.
Our entirely family values the educational guidance and opportunities that attending a public virtual school has delivered.

To say that “children need a classroom setting (as found in traditional public school) as a way to achieve social skills” shows a lack of understanding of what true socialization really is. Children do NOT learn positive social skills in school, nor do they develop a positive view of their self-worth in school. They learn those things at home. They practice social skills in a variety of settings. Children do not need to be with their peers 40+ hours a week to become socially developed people. The last 2 decades of homeschooling have more than proven that. Online education is an excellent educational option and should be supported as such.

School is important for children as a way for them to develop social skills. Imagine a world where kids grow up without friends. Child care would be more difficult, since you would need someone there during the day, which some families can’t accommodate. Finally, some families can’t afford internet service. What are they supposed to do? I hope this stays as an option, and doesn’t become the standard.

To the commenter about not affording interenet, the schools not on-line supply a computer for the student’s use, but most, if not all VA’s, provide an internet reimbursement up to the cost of dial up and sometimes DSL, depending on the program and age of the child.
Also, as for the day care issue, as a WAHM, I’m able to be here for my children all day AND make money from home, all while I’m educating them.
My sister and her husband work different shifts, so one of them is always home with their two, both of whom are also in OHVA. She started her older son in it a couple years ago because the school was mishandling his dyslexia and he was so far behind in his education it wasn’t funny.
His test scores have continued to improve as has his academic performance on a daily basis.
And yet again, homeschool/e-school children DO have friends. Again, people need to get the facts, talk to those of us who are doing it and not rely on rumors, myths and stereotypes.

Most people complain that there is a lack of socilaization when schooling your child from home. I say that there is more QUALITY socialization! GVA offers several FREE field trips or events EACH MONTH. My daughter’s public school offers none. Our children can meet online, at bowling, book, or pottery clubs each month. My 6th grade and 8th grade daughters get a better education, better quality socialization, and plenty of PE time. We have more time for soccer, cheerleading, gymnastics, and softball. GVA also offers excellent ideas for Health and PE resources for the Learning Coaches to do with their student. We parents are not blind or stupid. We know how to socialize our kids according to our morals and beliefs. We also know how to get our kids off the couch!

I have taken online college courses and my son is currently enrolled in a virtual school, has been for the past two years. For us, it has been a great fit. His grades are up and his love of learning has returned. He has teachers for every class that are very available when he needs help. Lectures are recorded or he can attend them live via a virtual classroom with a headset/microphone, whichever works best for him. Online schooling does not reduce the need for teachers and does not take away U.S. jobs. His teachers all work in the same state where we live. As for the socialization aspect, he has friends he socializes with. There’s no more drugs, violence, lock downs, locker searches, false fire alarms, or snow days. We never end up with shortened spring breaks or have to work longer into the summer. Even if the school office is closed due to a snowstorm, the teachers can log in from home and still teach their classes. There are many, many advantages to online learning and after doing this for two years, I haven’t really seen a downside. It’s even cheaper than traditional schooling. (Our state only allocates a percentage of the school’s tuition rate to the cyber, the rest stays with the local school district for “facilities maintenance.”) More and more families are signing up each year and finding that it’s a better, richer form of education. My son is currently carrying 8 credits (instead of the minimum requirement of 5.5) and is able to get his work done in the same 5-6 hour time stretch as the students in our local district. Some of the traditional school districts in the state are starting to jump on board with the idea, developing their own virtual school as an added-value feature to the district. So even the former nay-sayers are starting to come around, realizing this is the future of education. As for socialization, I send my son to school to LEARN, not to SOCIALIZE. Home schoolers and virtual schoolers often provide different opportunities for their kids to socialize…via sports, scouting, 4-H, co-ops, field trips, etc. You don’t need a physical school building to have a social life. Even the teachers are happier with it…they can spend their time teaching and not disciplining. Since the funds are public, the states that are doing virtual schooling just have to make sure the law is written to ensure oversight, just like any traditional brick & mortar school district. No, it’s not the answer for every student, but it’s a wonderful option for many, many students. Over the past two years, my son’s sense of personal responsibility and time management have increased dramatically, two things he will need in “real life.” He knows how to manage his day and ensure his work gets done on time without me standing over him 24/7. Great preparation for his college years.

There are so many comments on here about school being important for the reason of socializing. There are so many opportunities outside school with extracurriculars that school is not necessary for the sole purpose of socializing. Ofcourse the parents have to be proactive at doing that, but if the parent is willing to participate in virtual online schools they are probably willing to take their kids out to sports teams and academic camps too. The parents play a very important role in virtual education at this age.
Friends are important and can be made in the neighborhood, at extracurriculars etc. There are a lot of children who are absolutely tortured at school by other kids and most of the people here suggest they should just suck it up if the school isn’t going to do anything? School is not real life. When in again in your life are you in a room all day everyday with 30 people your same age and what you are wearing will determine how you are treated that day? This is a new day. School is not the same as it was when we were younger. People get mad and bring guns to school. It is not a safe place anymore.

This is our first year online schooling our 3rd grader and we love it. After volunteering at my son’s previous public school for at least 15 hours a week, I saw that kids in B&M schools don’t actually get much socialization in school anymore. All day long they are told to sit still and be quiet- even at lunch and PE! This has been a great way to give my son a quality education and explore his interests- and provide more social oportunities since he isn’t bogged down in one size fits all assignments and homework for hours each evening!
Being able to tailor each assignment to his learning style makes it just like having a private tutor for each lesson.

My family uses Ohio Virtual Academy and loves it. My husband works most evenings and weekends. In a traditional school setting, he would never see our daughter. This was unacceptable to us as a family. My daughter has done quite well in all her state testing and participates in many activities with other kids. We highly endorse OHVA.

The Georgia Virtual Academy has been a huge blessing for my son who is both gifted and learning disabled. We are able to go at his pace and meet his individual needs with the support of superior teachers and staff. I wouldn’t trade it for for the world and I am deeply grateful to the State of Georgia for making this option available!

I am in favor of virtual schools. After 6 very difficult years in a traditional, brick and mortar (BAM) public school system, I decided to transfer one of my four children to Georgia Virtual Academy (GVA). He is so incredibly intelligent, but his grades did not reflect that. With GVA, his grades are now A’s and B’s. His confidence level is high. He does interact with other children. Parents can become involved in home school groups in their area, church, county recreational groups, 4-H, or field trips with the virtual school. Let me tell you, these field trips are SO much better than what the public schools offer! Children learn at their own pace, which is usually more accelerated than BAM students. I am teaching him the material. He is not looking at a computer all day. This is a misconception. This has been the best gift I could have ever given my child. He actually LIKES school now! If you have ever considered doing this, do it. You will be pleasantly surprised!

I have children in the Georgia Virtual Academy and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!! I had my children in 2 different private schools and GVA is far superior in many ways. Virtual school is not sitting in front of a monitor for 6 hours a day. We only use the computer for about 25% of our work – and most of that time is when I am on the screen not my children. We use books and hands on activities for the bulk of the schooling day. Writing is a big part of virtual schooling. The great thing is that my children don’t sit at a desk for 6 hours a day filling out worksheet after worksheet. It is more hands on and learning in the real world. The computer and online resources enhance my children’s learning. So many of you people that are commenting on how awful virtual school is have really NO IDEA how it is done. Our experience has been wonderful and I am thankful we live in a state that offers students a variety of ways to learn, particularly because our state is at the bottom of the barrel in public education. Virtual school gives public school a whole new and improved meaning in the state of Georgia.
For those of you that think it is uneducated parents who choose this option of virtual school you couldn’t be more wrong. My husband and I have doctorate degrees and education is extremely important to our family. Most parents that choose virtual school for their children are so much more involved in their child’s education and devote more time to their kids than those that have their children in traditional schools for 7 hours a day. For those of you that are so opposed to virtual school – learn what it really is before judging it. Learn to accept that parents should be allowed this choice that works best for their family. Educate yourselves fully on a new idea before forming an opinion.

Online schools are wonderful programs that gives the child one on one learning. Slowing down to teach another child does not come into play here. The child learns at their speed with parents that actually care that the children receive an education in order to compete in the world they will survive in. Parents are informed daily of their status instead of waiting for progress reports and report cards every semester. The online school that I selected (GVA) for my two children was an answer to my prayers. My children do not have to be herded on a bus to be shipped to trailers sitting outside the real school building, eat lunches that aren’t quite up to par and to be abused and bullied by other children to hopefully receive an education somehow. Contact with an assigned teacher with the GVA system is wonderful and always there when you need them. I would have been much more fortunate if I could have had this opportunity when I went thru school. The material provided is wonderful. I just cannot say enough about the GVA system. You will provide your child with the best opportunity of their life if you dedicate yourself to offer them this program.

I have been virtual schooling 2 of my 3 girls for the past 3 years. They are very well rounded and involved in many outside activities. They both tell me they are learning more at home then they were learning in traditional B&M schools. Also, my oldest is a junior and looking at college, many colleges prefer “homeschooled” students because they are more responsible and able to work well independently. Coodles to CCA!

As a parent of a child that is currently enrolled online, I have seen a huge improvement. Not only in her school work but also in her attitude towards schooling in general. My child is highly active in sports and is focused on going to college after High School. She is nine years old (3rd grade) and has already begun thinking of what she wants in her future. We as parents have allowed the public schools way too much freedom with the way they allow disruptive behavior in the classrooms. It takes away too much time from learning when a teacher has to stop in the middle of a lesson to constantly discipline. ( I know this first hand by volunteering in a classroom for a year, and not in only one classroom ) This and the lack of education for the gifted child is unexcusable. The schools are more worried about teaching Spanish children English and making teachers bi-lingual than allowing teachers the time to teach our children what it will take to get into a decent college. It needs to start at an early age, not after they are in High School! In one year my child has gone from an average student to well above her grade level. Her reading is now in the 6th to 7th grade level and I have seen a love for Science develop in these past few months that I never seen in her brick and mortar school. Yes we have our bad days when she doesn’t want to focus, but that is where the parent becomes not only the parent but the coach. I have found that the staff to be very helpful in all parts of her education including helpful hints on dealing with lack of interest at one point. She is in the Gifted program and now receives the education that our local schools should have been able to give her all along. Because of being a part of the online cyber schools we have more freedom for her to excell in her sport of choice and it also gives her a chance to socialize. Unless the parents are fully committed to this, the program will not work. Then the traditional school is for them and they have to except the education that is formed for their child. Personally I feel my child is worth more than the traditional school is willing to offer and the few dollars I would make working.

NO! NO! NO! Online schools reduces need for teachers. We need live teachers in schools. STOP TAKING U.S. jobs!!!!
Posted by: B Lawrence | Apr 15, 2009 6:58:03 PM
You are completely incorrect. Teacher are online and do live lessons with the children. As the children continue into the higher grade levels they have more interaction with their teachers. Please get the facts before making a comment!

I have three children who are Ohio Connections Academy students. WE LOVE VIRTUAL SCHOOL! My children are not limited by traditional school schedules and can spend all the time they need on assignments. They have the freedom to spend a whole day on science if they are very interested in the topic. They are not limited by waiting for other children to behave or for a teacher to move on when they comprehend the material. They are excelling in this virtual environment!
For all those who say that virtual school is a bad idea because of “socialization,” I will tell you that my children are very active in our community through Scouting, 4-H, Community Choir, sports, dance, Youth programs, church, the Arts, and community service. We do not lock them in the house! They actually have MORE time for activities because the school day is so much more efficient. They are able to finish their assignments during school hours, which gives them time in the evenings to participate in other activities.

I really think that most of the people against homeschooling or cyber schooling know nothing about it.
I cyber school my kids and will homeschool them myself next year. They are a whole grade level ahead of their peers, and we spend only 2-3 hours per day hitting the books. They learn so much in such a short period of time when they have the one on one attention without all the distractions.
When they are done with school each day they’ll go outside and play for hours, or we’ll go to homeschool playgroup and play games or do crafts. I can honestly say that my kids have over 50 good friends. Friends that are nice, mannerly, and don’t bully them. What more could you ask for? We go on field trips all the time so they can learn about things in person instead of from books all the time. If you want to know how homeschool kids turn out just call a few colleges and see what they think of homeschooled kids. They LOVE them!
As far as socialization. I find it unreal that some people think being exposed to drugs, bullying, etc is “part of growing up and makes them stronger”. Wow, what has the world come to? I think things like that lead to drug addiction, suicide, etc. No thanks! And to be honest, I don’t know one homeschooling kid that is obese. Our kids get WAY more exercise than public school kids do.
My kids are doing great, and so are their homeschooling friends. Try it, you’ll like it :o)

As a parent of a student in cyber schooling already. I have to say yes it is a good idea, as long as the parent looks into all the different cyber schools there are and find the right one for there child. Every child learns differently and every child needs differently teaching styles.
As far as the “socializing” the advantage is that I could pick and choose where and when he gets together with other kids. In others words I can make it a positive setting, my son has Asperger’s and when he was in brick and morter school every chance he has to socialize was always in the negative setting. So, where was the positive to help him? No where! Besides the only time the kids really get to socialize is during lunch, which is too noisy for my son to handle that many, many times he could not eat in the lunch room, so he never socialized. Oh yea on the way to and from school where the kids would bully and pick on him and the school did nothing but suspend my son. He is doing much, much better his grades have greatly pick up, he’s happy about that and so am I.

Reading through the comments here, it quickly becomes clear that those with actual experience with virtual schools LOVE them! Negative comments appear to come from those with NO actual experience with a virtual school. Doesn’t that tell you something???
TEACHERS, real, certified, professional teachers, ARE teaching virtual classes. Teachers and education professionals provide the curriculum, instruction, assessements, grading, oversight, etc.
Parents have the same role in their child’s education in a virtual school that the parents of traditionally schooled kids have: to get their kids “to” school and ensure the work is getting done; knowing their child’s strengths/weaknesses and doing what they can do to help; getting to know and working with their child’s teacher, etc.
I’ve read many articles, blog posts, etc. by teachers who work in virtual schools and they LOVE working there. In fact, I’ve read about virtual schools where teachers are willing to get paid less than in a traditional school simply to work in a better environment. (Yes, really!)
Also, kids DO socialize in virtual schools. There are many schools that have real-time, online classrooms and avenues for kids to interact in a safe environment. All of the virtual charter schools I know of also offer opportunities for parents to network and for kids to attend real-world social activities, like field trips to museums, the local pumpkin patch, etc.
It saddens me to see so many people who would deny an alternative education option like virtual schooling to children who NEED it simply out of ignorance and the fear that accompanies it.
Will virtual schooling replace traditional brick & mortar schooling? It’s not likely as too many people NEED that type of education model.
Will virtual public schooling become commonplace in every state one day? Absolutely, as many people NEED such an education model.
Eventually, legislators who pander to special interest groups and capitalize on the ignorance and fear of the uneducated will be outmatched by an American public that has EDUCATED itself on the real benefits of virtual schooling.
I live in Indiana and I am hopeful that “eventually” is NOW and that our legislature will get it RIGHT and allow virtual charter schooling to become a reality in our state.

Children need to interact with other children. They need to learn how to handle bullies. They need to develop friendships. They should want to engage in school activities. I see a bunch more fat kids if they all start sitting in front of a computer screen all day.
Posted by: Michele | Apr 16, 2009 10:21:20 AM
Michelle, do know the first thing about virtual schooling? Read my comment right before yours….
You have no idea what you are talking about.

After my son failed every class in 7th grade and was still promoted to 8th grade, I had to make a change. This year he is attending an online school from home. During the first month I realized that he didn’t know his multiplication tables, didn’t know division was related to multiplication and he didn’t have any idea what a proper noun was or why it needed to be capitalized in a sentence. His teachers never reported this information to me – all I ever heard was that he was a popular kid that caused a lot of distractions with the other students. He had been passed year after year in an effort to get him out of their classrooms. With the online school, he is flourishing. There are no distractions, and not only has he completely redone the 7th grade curriculum, he is already 3 months into the 8th grade stuff and averaging over 90% in all his classes. My younger son has done K and 1st grade at the same online school. When I am asked about socialization, I point out that he plays sports through the local Park & Rec office, and has lots of friends at church too. Our neighborhood kids are in my yard all the time playing with my kids. School is not the only place for “socialization” and I truly believe that our online school can teach my kid everything that a traditional school can with one exception – he can’t learn stupidity from the other kids. Woo Hoo!

Quote from another comment:
“Taking children away from the social enviorment is taking away a large majority of the most important things they learn from going to school like how to interact with people, and how to handle certain situations”
My reply to that:
You are uninformed. The online school my child attends has many opportunities and outside acticities that enable him to interact with other kids on a social level. As for how to handle certain situations… “Regular” public school is a poor way to teach OUR kids (not the schools kid’s) how to handle anything. Schools do not have morals and the same values and beliefs as the parents do,in regards to what the praent may feel what is best for THEIR child. The bible teaches the best way to interact with people and how to handle things APROPRIATELY ,not the schools. What will probably happen (unfortunately) is that more and more people with religion or those who believe in gods standards, will remove their kids from this type of imoral envirnment, and then the gov will remove religion and try to remove god from our lives as well,in another attempt to control how our children are raised,because the Gov. thinks they know whats best, when its really god that knows whats best. And peopel wonder why kids are so messed up more and more as time goes by.

I agree with those that state every child learns differently. I have a 9 year old that I have enrolled into an online school. It has been the best think we have ever done for him. I has a speech delay along with ADHD which we choose not to medicate him for. He has some sensory issures as well. We began with a private school hoping the small class size would be a help. He did great educationally but could not sit still. We were told they would not be able to let him into the 1st grade class due to him disrupting the class. They could allow him to stay in the kindergarten class with 1st grade curriculm. So we moved him to his local public school. The teacher there lost him during class twice. He would get bored in class and just leave and most times she could not find him for at least 25 minutes. She would call me and let me know they did not know where he was. He was in the cafeteria both times. She then allowed him to as a 6 year old get on the wrong bus many times and the bus driver thank God would bring him back to the school and I would pick him up. As of 1st grade he was behind in class by 1 1/2 years. I then decided to try online and in the last two years he as not only caught up in math he has excelled. He is almost at grade level in Language Arts. He has been on the honor roll every quarter. So for this family a brick and mortar school is no longer an option for him. But, my daughter loves her school and does well. Every indivdual is different and learn on different levels. Lets do what is best for our children and help by leaving online schooling possible.

Virtual Homeschool vs traditional school…..
Virtual school is a fantastic alternative for our children that have a mom or dad able to stay at home. Not only do we teach and guide our children in education we are building a special bond with our children.
They are given all the tools nessesary for a well rounded education at home. Even the TAKS. Some of the books are the same as the brick and mortar! We have all the tools at home to accomplish the same goal. EDUCATE our children. Does a child actually have to be enclosed in a school to learn? I say no.
We also benefit from no peer pressure, no bullies, no exposure to drugs and violence, no timed lessons without being told to take work home and complete it later without teacher assistance.
I have been blessed to be able to be a stay at home mom and homeschool my children through a virtual program. It has been and always be my choice. As a homeschool family my child does socialize and is very happy. This lifestyle is a choice,our choice. It’s not for everyone. I do not frown upon other families that are unable or just don’t see homeschool as an option. Not being a homeschool parent doesn’t make them a bad parent. We do what works for us.
As for my child…Each and everyday we both learn something new together. My child does computer work but, we also turn off that computer and work together one on one with so many projects. Each and everyday our classroom changes. Our classroom may be the computer room, the kitchen, the livingroom, the local botanical gardens lying on the grass reading to each other. Each and every day is a teasured moment of education at it’s finest. It’s a winning combination.
My husband is a Public school teacher. We do not feel it takes away from his job or any other teacher. Teachers are wonderful beings. They work hard long hours educating our future. But in a different setting. Our schools are getting so overcrowed. Imagine the work load for teachers if they had every child in the world in attendance. It would be a disaster. There is no way schools could be built to hold all these students, maintained and filled with teachers within each district. The children would suffer in the end by becoming lost in the crowd.
Just my thought

“School is important for children as a way for them to develop social skills. Imagine a world where kids grow up without friends. Child care would be more difficult, since you would need someone there during the day, which some families can’t accommodate. Finally, some families can’t afford internet service. What are they supposed to do?”
This post struck me because there are so many people that feel this way and it’s completely inaccurate and misinformed. To the poster of this one, please don’t take this as a personal attack. I merely chose your post because it summed up what a lot of people are saying in a short post.
First of all, my son has more friends now that he is in virtual school than he did when he was in public school! He is more equipped to understand what makes a good friend and how to BUILD friendships, rather than being forced to play with the bully who constantly pushes him around on the playground but nobody does anything about. Not to mention, when I take my kids to a restaurant or grocery store or we take an airplane ride across the country…it’s not my kids causing havoc in the grocery store and on the playground! I get compliments every day on how well behaved and polite my children are and how accepting they are of other people, no matter who they are.
You’re right that child care would be more difficult. Schooling at home isn’t for everyone, nor was it intended to be. It requires a parent or other adult who can commit to being a “learning coach.” This is the person who is essentially instructing. But this is a wonderful solution for someone who has the ability to be home and commit to the five hours a day to school. As for not being able to afford internet…well, you posted so you must be online, right? American families have made internet access a priority, right up there with the electric bill. For those that cannot afford the $30 a month or so for internet access…did you know that most of these schools provide not only a computer but a subsidy to cover the cost of the internet service? All you have to do is ask.
So…it just seems to me that a lot of people are afraid of what they’re unfamiliar with. Just do a little research into these schools. It’s much more productive than relying on untruths and misconceptions.

My daughter needed one on one help and I tried for three years to get her the help she needed in your brick and morter school and failed to get it. I had her tested at Slyvan and she needed 5 days of one on one there and I could not afford that. So when I went to the school to ask for more help for her I got turned away for the right help she needed. When she was going into her 4th grade I went to the teacher because she sent home with an Algbra problem and she was still not understanding her basic addition and subtraction, much less her times table or even divison. This is what I got from her teacher. She should have learned her times table last year and I will not go over it again and I will not help her with her adding and subtracting at all. She will either get it or not. So I then decided right there that if I did not step up and get her the help she needed I would loose her in the education she needs the I found GVA and she was tested and was between a second and thrid grade level. She is now in her second year and has improved so much since and is the best thing I have done. You can ask her right now if she wants to go back to regular public school and she says NO! For the socialization as long as you keep your kids active with other children what is the problem. My child is envoled with so many children in so many ways that she enjoys the educations that we both chose together. i know that some parents can not help teach there own children but alot of kids need more one on one help more than me and you even know. If she and I decides she is ready for your brick and morter school I will let her go….. But as for now she knows she is not. But we are getting there…..

I school my daughter at home using a virtual Acadamy. She did not fit the cookie cutter mold that our local school taught to. I do have one daughter still in the local school. The one at home may go back in a few years but she needs this time to revisit the things that the local school did not teach her. We have been in two seperate virtual schools. The one we left was all online and not a good fit for her. The new one provides books, online things, books for myself (so I know how to teach her, art supplies and a microscope for science. No one should judge a parent for how they choose to school their children. If anyone knows how the child’s mind works it is the parent. Not someone outside the home. It is up to the parent to supply the social interaction needed. And to the people who said that online schooling makes kids obese~ look around your local school. It is not being at home that does that. It is bad food choices and laziness.

My husband and I decided to homeschool due to health issues with our son and all of the problems with the school system! It’s turned out to be a lifesaver. Our son was hurting emotionally and academically!!
We now see a child who is learning and his health is doing much better! Parents need and have the right to choose how we educate our children!!!

As a teacher at one of K12′s virtual schools, I am glad to see so many endorsements here for virtual learning. So many of our students excel with our curriculum because it is a COLLEGE PREP curriculum and the interaction with their parent or learning coach is the ideal mix to allow students to move through courses at grade level or above. At brick and mortar schools, we always tried numerous ways to get families involved with their student’s learning process. I can’t tell you how many open houses I sat in my classroom waiting for parents to show up and take an interest in their student’s work. Time and time again, only the few parents whose students were already doing well would show. Why? I found it was because they were the ones involved at home and kept their student’s education a priority once they left school each day. For the majority of students, I saw their parents when disciplinary issues required a conference with the principal and even then, the parents were usually defensive and out of touch regarding their child’s behavior in and out of the classroom. As teachers, we know how difficult it can be for many of our students when it comes to their home life and trying to keep them interested in staying in school to get an education. When I started teaching for K12, I saw a wonderful compassion from moms and dads who wanted to do the right thing for their kids. For virtual learning with K12, this same interest and dedication is the key to the success of our students. Our students have an accountablity to us and their parents, but they also have the added bonus of knowing their parent is involved with their academic success. Students have an “investment” in their education with virtual education. This type of learning is NOT for everyone. It isn’t easy either. However, for our families who choose this and dedicate their time to nurturing the curriculum provided, student success is always the reward for such efforts. We strive to make sure our students are prepared for the yearly achievement tests and we work with 57+ students each and every week to assist their needs. The K12 curriculum meets the national and state standards as well. We provide online sessions for all students to attend just like a classroom with a daily lesson. We also offer individual attention as needed in our online classrooms. We offer tutoring for specific lessons or trouble spots our students have in various courses. We have several other online resources for tutorial help and our students have all the materials they need to work diligently each day. We have field trips and mandatory group outings to encourage socialization among students in all areas of the state. Most importantly, every teacher must be highly qualifed per state requirements and many of our teachers have higher degrees too. We also have national board certified teachers on our staff and State Master Teachers. I hope those interested in virtual learning for their children will research this option before jumping into it. I agree our public brick and mortar schools need help, but until the government decides to make the changes needed to provide a safe environment and a TRUE learning environment for our children, these families should have the option to choose virtual learning. School districts don’t like virtual schools receiving funding as a public school and I understand that sentiment. However, it is imperative all schools get funding when public education is involved. Politicians tend to campaign on the education platform, but once elected, we realize change and improvements are never part of the four year plan. Our Governor would like to abolish virtual public schools and is making an attempt to cut us completely out of the education budget. Not only will hundreds of qualified teachers be unemployed, but nearly 90,000 students will be filtered back into school districts who couldn’t meet their needs in the first place and will have to stretch their budgets again to provide for their care. I hope readers will try to understand this is simply an education option that works for those who seek to homeschool their children with a qualified teacher and with state mandates to regulate their attendance and progress. We are scrutinized by the state probably more than most public schools because of the nature of our school. We must provide documentation on EVERY student and EVERY action we take with our students for the state to know we are doing our jobs. Virtual schools are a good thing. We’re not an excuse for kids who don’t want to ride the bus or don’t want to deal with others in a social setting. We are a REAL school and we offer a unique and wonderful opportunity for students and families who want to be involved in an accelerated curriculum. ABC had only a couple minutes to tell the story of online learning, but I encourage readers to learn more about virtual schooling before passing judgment on how successful we are with the majority of our students. I definitely miss the direct interaction with students on a daily basis in a classroom, but I feel the same sense of accomplishment when I see the smiles of students at outings who are excited about learning and who love to tell me about their achievements with the course work. It’s a great feeling knowing I am making a difference with students despite the virtual surroundings we share, but the best part is that I get to witness and help nurture the relationship between learning coach and student as they strive for academic and social success. Nothing compares to watching my students graduate from 8th grade, or being inducted into the National Junior Honor Society each year. Virtual learning can be a wonderful choice for you and your child.

To the person who posted this comment : “On line school is crap.I let 2 of my 6 try this. Chemistry, all she did was take her sisters experiments and tests and passed with the same grade without learning or doing any of the work. And how about P.E. online? then we wonder where all the obese children come from, other than the cafeteria that feeds them sausage biscuits and hashbrowns or Grands Cinnamon Rolls and they call that breakfast.”
#1) YOU ,the parent should not have allowed that. If you don’t agree with it,and your CHID was the one who cheated, don’t blame the school !
#2)So your blaming obese children on onlnie schools ? hmm,doesn’t make sense. They come from parents who do not teach proper nutrition and exercise and inforce it ! NOT the school they attend,although public schools do have horrible foods/nutrition :( .
Get your facts straight. My child attends virtual school,but guess what,I don’t let him sit around all day. He does real exercises,we go for walks,lift weights,run,play outside,do sports,etc.. I teach him about proper eating habits. my 3 kids are a healthy weight,NOT obese,not even over weight either ,hmmmm guess I better blame our healthy habits on the school… yeah right… I am being a good parent as best I can, maybe you need to be too. stop blaming the school,and start taking responsability for your own actions.

” Terrible idea. Kids will have no interaction with peers or adults. What happens when they enter the “real world” later in life? Totally unable to adapt, poor working relationships; no doubt they’ll have to see a shrink to help them cope or become a burden to the average taxpayer”
ANOTHER IGNORANT COMMENT :( .Looks like you did not even bother to read all the postaive comments about how socialized these kids really are . Kids taught “at home” ARE already in the real world. They g oplaces and do things with mom and dad,siblings, AND even with other kids ,and learn MORE about the real world. Everything you said is not true. It is really the opasite. Open your eyes and stop being so narrow minded :(

I have been using an online school for the past 6 years. Yes, it is harder on the family. As it makes us a one-income family. But it has many rewards. Our local school is not very good. Believe me, I know. I went there, my older boys went there. I am not giving them a chance at my younger boys. We also have ADHD in the family. Try fitting that into a schoolroom enviroment…in our town that just doesn’t work. Both the older boys dropped out. I took our second son out after 9th grade. He did not even have his basic math facts learned. As I dealt with the school on concerns over their education, my mom told me she had the same fights with them over my education. Things should have changed over 20 years, shouldn’t it?

*sigh* another ill informed ignorant comment :(
IN reply to :
“This virtual thing is an absolute tragedy. I did not know that our country wanted to start heading into seclusion. It’s bad enough already that most of today’s kids spend all kinds of time on a computer instead of outside playing with friends or doing chores. By not going to school kids miss out on interaction with other kids. I feel that going to school teaches certain values to kids that they need in every day life. A computer does not. ”
YOu keep saying “school” as if an onlnie school is not “school” …. My son attands a virtual online school,but gues what? he is not sicluded !! ( Sounds of GASPS/SHock )He lives life like most other kids that “go to school” he just goes to a DIFFERENT school . He still palys outside and plays with his friends and goes places, but Just MORE than those poor kids that have to sit at a desk,and are really infact secluded from the outside world.

Our brick and mortar local public school treats children not as individuals with differerent learning styles, but as little test scores on an assembly line: each to be forced into the same mold and stamped out. As long as our child was “at or above level” they did not care if he was learning anything, but his bottom needed to be in the chair every day for their funding statistics.
Our gifted child was expected to sit all day in a classroom geared toward the kids at the lower end of the testing spectrum – he was bored to death and not being taught anything at his level. Last year was the equivalent of him being held back a year in school.
This year we enrolled our chld at a new hybrid charter school: 2 days per week at a learning center and the other 3 days at home with a learning coach. The curriculum is the same that is used in the virtual schools. He was placed at his ability level in language arts and math. He gets to work at a pace that is appropriate for him. He is no longer bored – no more wasted days.
He is making amazing progress: learning to manage his own time and education, as well as valuable computer skills. His teachers at the new charter school are very caring and enthusiastic. The kids are there to learn, not just to be looked after while their parents are at work.
We can manage our time to go to museums and other activities that make our lessons come alive. We no longer feel that we are sending off our child to school for someone else to raise. His curriculum is much more rigorous and engaging than that at the local public school, yet yet he can complete his work during the day (no more evenings of mindless homework). He has more time for soccer, cub scouts and other activities that we can enjoy without rushing around.

Well, I have been teaching in a private school setting for 20 years and attended undergraduate and graduate school when my education at the time was on the very cusp of the computer / electronic age. I have one foot in each of the disciplines, teaching both mathematics (Geometry & Alg. II) and a humanities (US History).
It seems to me that America has a long fascination with the “latest & greatest” fades for educating our K -12 students. (I recall well the “new math” of the late 60′s….in retrospect I learned very little)In the years following, up to and including the present, our nation’s secondary education has continued to slip when compared to the rest of the modern world. Depending on the poll you use our children rank somewhere in the mid 20′s with regard to the math & sciences. Why is this?
While my own school is now actively searcning for the balance [between on-line course work & traditional classroom] I cannot foresee the removal of the teacher (or professor)from the classroom or the student from the classroom experience.
From my own experience, I can tell you what does work, though: small classrooms, involved & caring parents, and dedicated teachers with experience.
We should see where the notion of “on-line learning” takes us…..but please not at the risk of jeopardizing a whole generation of young minds.
I am dubious, a healthy skeptic, and a good listener….but, let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water.

Virtual homeschooling or traditional homeschooling is not for everyone. This is a fact. I have a 5th grader who started out in public school. This is his second year in the K12 program. He is dyslexic and has difficulty learning. He was picked on in public school (from kindergarten on) because he was a nice kid, to teachers and students. Here are my son’s opinion on his homeschooling experience. He is in a safe environment and not “beaten up by bullies” (his words exactly). There were days that he just didn’t want to go because of this. He was passed on to the next grade regardless of his achievement. He was finally placed in a special ed class to give him more individualized attention, but this was not done until half way through 3rd grade. We advised the school from the beginning (kindergarten) that he was most likely dyslexic but they did not want to hear that. They needed to have an “official” diagnosis from a dr before somewhat recognizing it.
My husband is dyslexic and he knew what to look for from personal experience. He went through much worse when he was in school. He was unable to read until middle school. Now he is a chemical specialist and completing and online degree!!! He is maintaining a B average with his online classes.
I have another son that is being home schooled as well due to a medical condition that affects his bladder. For him, public school would be a nightmare. We chose to home school him for his benefit. He is a VERY social 6 year old and I have no complaints about his social ability or even worrying that he may become obese.
Both of my boys are very active and play outside. They do not sit all day in front of the computer. Some of the course work is done online – science, art, history. Things that we may not be able to explain as well to the student. They are interactive lessons. The other basic work – Math and English is 90% book work. They have math review online but it is minimal.
My 5th grader, when he started last year in 4th grade, had to take a placement test before being accepted in to the school. He was placed in 3rd grade level math and English because he was not where he needed to be for 4th grade (based on the requirements needed by the virtual academy). After spending time talking with other parents, I was informed that the K12 material is typically 2 grades ahead of public school. So in reality, he was able to handle 5th grade math as a 4th grader. This put him well beyond the grade he was in in public school. Now as a 5th grader, he is doing algebra, geometry along with the other math. But this is at a 6th grade level.
The benefit of this program is that that student can work at his or her own pace. If they struggle, they can work slower and make sure they understand it. If they get it, move on and keep going. My son struggled in public school because when he didn’t understand something, he was discouraged in asking questions during class. By the time class was over, there was no time left to allow him to ask the questions. How is this good for any student?? If they don’t understand it, just fail them and move on?? Let them move on to the next grade without understanding a concept that they will have to know next year?? How is this a benefit to the students? Public school is only teaching for the Achievement tests. How are they getting a good education?? My son has to take these tests as well. It is required by state law. The teachers take time to help them get prepared to take the tests. They provide information to help them take tests better. Not what is on the tests. They spend only the last month or so before the testing to focus on this.
Public school is necessary. Not every parent out there is able to teach their children at home. I have friends who are teachers or studying to become a teacher. They applaud me for home schooling my children. They don’t know how I do it. But I do because, for now, it is what is best for them.
I will probably put him (my 5th grader) back in public school in the next year or two, but when he is ready. This has given him the opportunity to excel. We talked about it and asked what he wanted to do. It was not my decision solely. We allowed him to decide. Even with my 6 year old.
Parents need to understand that you need to do what is right for your child and family. If public school is the answer, then great. But if not, there needs to be choices available.
Yes, we are home schooling, yes it is online, but my children are benefiting from this. I wouldn’t be doing this if it didn’t. I only want what is best for them. They are getting a good education. At the same time, they do have socializing activities. They have friends near by that they play with most every day and are involved in other activities. Like church.
You can have social time for kids out side of public school. 4-H, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Sports teams at the Y… There are so many ways of getting kids involved. Plus outings and get-togethers with other kids that are home-schooled in K12 in the area.
Public school is necessary, but not right for every student. Just like homeschooling is necessary but not right for every student.
I am all for home schooling… Just remember, these kids are our future. Do you want bullies or smart kids running this country???

I think The Texas Virtual school was an answer from god for me and my daughter. My daughter had been having trouble with going to public school because she has been diagnosed with really bad anxiety and panic attacks she would get them constantly while going to public school The Over crowded classrooms would trigger her panic attacks. Also She would get constantly bullied by the other kids and the teachers didn’t want to teach they were not very good teachers. So I wanted to take her out of public schools but a private school was to expensive for us and Then I found Texas Virtual Academy the answer to our prayers. My daughter loves it. She doesn’t have to worry about the problems that she use to get and have in public school anymore. The daily schedule is very easy to follow and they provide everything and she has the most wonderful sweetest teacher ever. Her teacher is always there to help and answer any questions any time we need her. Also people always ask if she misses having friend and interacting with other kids her age that is why people don’t want to switch to virtual schools but in my opinion interacting with other kids her age and having friends is the problems in schools these days because having to fit in and all of these clicks and gangs and bullies. Although we can still interact with other kids because we always have a lot of field trips and outings set up by the virtual school. Anyway Virtual schools are a answered prayer for us.

I keep seeing comments about socialization. My daughter ice skates, does gymnastics, plays soccer, takes dance, swims, and makes friends with just about everyone she meets. I don’t think she has any problem with being “social”.
She is also getting a first rate education. I admire most teachers, but there is no way even the best teacher with 30 kids can compete with the one on one teaching done in our home.

I think online schools are are good thing. It keeps kids out of the bad enviornment that modern public schools present. Since there are no other kids around, the students do not have to worry about pier pressure witch can make them focus more on there actuall school work. Online schools also allow students to work at their own pace. They are not rushed like they are in public shcools. If there is an area they are strugling with, they can spend a litle extra time on that subject. Students can’t do that in public schools.

I think that online schools are a very good idea. Children can access their school from anywhere that there is an internet connection and they can do their school work at their own pace as well. AND FOR ALL YOU PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO THINK IT IS A BAD IDEA THEN YOU’VE PROBABLY NEVER EVEN TRIED IT SO SHUT UP!

Whoops! I meant that Tracy posted that, not Petra.

Online schools are a brilliant idea! With the current diverse population and transient nature of some families, why are folks still trying to force students to meld into the traditional public educational mold? The traditional model does not meet the needs of all students. Online students and their families seek out online programs for a multitude of reasons: teen parents, accelerated pacing, full-time working student, individualized program for learning disabilities, victim of criminal act, college credit opportunities, expulsion from traditional public school, illness, and good old-fashion parental control. Online schools are an innovative option to meet the educational needs of students who are being left out or left behind by the traditional model.

For those of you who would like to actually see how a virtual school works please watch the videos of real families using a virtual school. Search online for k12xpotential.
Also, the question asked was “Are online schools a good idea?” and not “Should we replace traditional schools with online schools?” which is how several people have answered the question. We are not suggesting that everyone leave their traditional school and learn this way. It just needs to be an option.

My children have been in public school and have also schooled on the internet for the passed 4 years. I am very greatfull for the choice we have to do either. I think that is the important point to make here. We need to have a choice. What works for one child may not work for others. This choice gives every child an opportunity to succeed in education and that is the real goal of every parent. Be it in public, private or home school environment. May all of our children succeed.

I have a teaching degree myself, but when it came time for my oldest (now 9) to start school, I realized homeschooling was best for him. Since that school year, we have traditionally homeschooled *and* used public virtual schools (OHVA and OCA).
I can’t tell you how valuable I find those schools. We are now back to traditional homeschooling, but for some parents/children, virtual learning is the way to go. I have many friends that use it and they love it. Also, for a parent leaving the traditional school system, virtual schools can provide a nice help along the way.
Not every kid is cut out for public school- because public school is not able to differentiate between the children very well. Public schools teach to the average, and not all kids fit that mold. Children need to be able to be taught in the way that will help them reach their best potential, ,whether it be public, private, home or virtual schooling.

I’m in agreement that there is not “a one size fits all”. I know that cyber school works extremely well for my daughter. I’m also tired of hearing about “socialization”. My daughter socializes with children in the neighborhood, library activties, classes she will be taking in the summer at the community college. She has phone calls she makes and receives from fellow classmates from all over the state. I’ve also noticed while sitting in on her web classes, how overall well behaved and polite the students are to each other and their teacher. People have a RIGHT to do what works best for their child! If it doesn’t work for you, you still have the brick and mortar schools. Don’t prevent alternatives that work for others.

As a parent of a child with Autism, this option has given my son an actual education. Something he truly never received in the local school. Socialization never happened for him and he and his one friend a boy who volunteered to be his peer buddy were ridiculed and bullied mercilessly. I was constantly told he would learn by example. Well the example that he had was not one I wanted to see repeated. So after years of fighting for his rights locally. I realized my son had no time for me to fight this fight for his education, he is 10 and was still working in a Kindergarten curriculum. So my husband and I chose this option in hopes of providing him a solid curriculum that met his needs so he could learn all the basic skills we take so for granted in this country. This was not a commitment taken lightly and I know of no family in my school that treats it that way. This is not in any way shape or form the easy rout. This path my family is walking in a long and challenging journey but for the education of a child it is more than worth every step. The venue of virtual schooling weather it be private or public is one that can give students freedom, knowledge and a awareness of the world around them that many children do not get. As Americans I would like to think that we would be inspired by others who have taken the American spirit one step further, not Why virtual school but Why not. So I no longer have to fight for the needs of my child, I am in a Public Virtual school and he has for the first time. A FULL APROPRIATE PUBLIC EDUCATION.

I agree with most of these postings saying that schooling is not a one size fits all sorta thing. I myself am homeschooled and I think its great. I can start doing my work when ever I please. Wake up whenever I want. And I never have to get up at butt30 in the morning to get on a smelly bus full of kids. online schooling is great for people who want to work at their own pace (with set due dates by instructers of course) and the ability to get instant accses to anything on the internet instead of having to flip through who knows how old text books. Sure kids who like being social may miss out on a lot of stuff happening at the schools but not everyone wants to be a part of the pure stupidity that happens in schools.

YES indeed, Virtual Schools ARE a good idea. We are enrolled in Georgia Virtual Academy. We also belong to many home school groups for socialization. For those to who say we stay at home, indoors, and never get exercise, I would tell you that is completely NOT true. The wonderful thing about virtual school is the fact we can school ANY PLACE. We can school out side on a beautiful day (lap-top and side walk chalk), and we do. We can school at McDonald’s or any place that has WIFI. We grab the lap-top and head out for the horizon. It is worth it to me, because we can go on vacation early in the Spring or a Winter cabin trip and my son can still take time to do his assignments. Educate your self before you have something negative to say!!! This is a wonderful idea if you do your research, educate yourself and join as many Home school Groups to socialize your self and your children.

Although I know that virtual schools are not for everyone, I am glad it is an option. I have five children and am a stay at home mom and college student. For my oldest, the virtual school wasn’t a perfect match, so she is back at the local high school. But for my other 3 that are school age it has been an awesome experience. I never felt organized enough to effectively homeschool on my own. But with OHVA (Ohio Virtual Academy) I am not only provided the curriculum but I have support of teachers and staff and I am held accountable for my childrens work progress and attendance. Some added benefits are if the kids have a cold, they can still “go to school” and not fall behind. If they don’t feel well one day they can work over the weekend or evenings and not fall behind or have the work pile up. Doctors appointment, you can go and just extend your school day to accomidate the missed time. All that OHVA offers has been especially helpful for my special needs child. He can get the instruction he needs without the usual class distractions.

Not only is online school a good idea, it is way overdue as a solution to the horrors of public schools for those who cannot afford to send their children to private schools. You would only need ato spend a little while in a public school classroom or in the cafeteria to know what I am talking about. Kids are out of control, and for any “normal” decent kid, school is a dangerous place to be. Yes, it’s a great idea, and as for socialization, field trips and shared lessons provide plenty.

I once heard it said that “no one knows your business like you know your business”. That statement applies to most aspects of life. I doubt there are many brick and mortar public school teachers who would disagree with me when I say, “parents must be involved in their childs life if they want to see success.” Public school, private school, online public school and home school all have individual strengths and weaknesses. Each child is an individual with different learning styles, personalities, talents and struggles. Based on that, it is imperative that a parent be tuned in to their son or daughter in order to direct them in the best educational path possible.
My oldest daughter graduated from Karval Online School after spending the entirety of her high school years there. Prior to this she attended public school. She is now on her second semester of college and is flourishing. I need to emphasize that she is not a brain, but rather, she studies very hard. Through her scholarships, she has not had to borrow a single penny for college. Changing to online school opened a door for her to pursue her passion while the public school was thwarting her.
Currently my second daughter is on her 3rd year of online school. Just like the public school, she excels in some areas and struggles in others. This is where the parental involvement comes in. Through the direction of the teacher and curriculum the parent must take an active role in being the person that helps their child work through the obstacles.
People need to be careful not to create boxes that stifle our childrens development because they have not experienced it or worked hard enough at it. Saying that children would not receive enough socialization is as much a problem as those who receive too much. Sadly, I believe that our schools have lost sight of teaching the brass tacks of academics while parents have also lost sight of teaching the brass tacks of morals and standards. Online schools are prudent as they teach the brass tacks of academics, so the parents are free to teach the brass tacks of morals and standards while their child is in the home.
Lastly, we need to be grateful to live in America where we are free to have wonderful choices. Having the freedom to choose the best education for our children is something to be cherished. Please encourage your neighbor regardless of what school they choose for their children.

My children started online schooling this year for numerous reasons. One was bullied everyday, with no help from administration. Another is gifted. The school here would not excelerate him and he started getting bored and playing, which got him in trouble.
For you that don’t know; all of my children still participate in the school sports, everyday. They see coaches, and students. They go to games with the local school. They also have a “play date” every Friday with the other students that are homeschooled and online-schooled. They spend more time with friends because they no longer have 6 hours of homework after school! We spend more time playing games and doings many things as a family because we don’t have to follow school time tables. If the weather is bad on Sat. they do school work so that when it is nice on Tues. they can play outside!
This may not be good for everyone, but for me and my children, it is GREAT!

Wow! Thats a lot of positive answers! Way to go for online schools eveywhere.
Nice job mom you tell them!!!!
Yes I am in 9th grade and I love to play volleyball. Infact that is the only sport that is fun for me. My coaches are the only two teahers I liked in JH. The only thing I miss is the science club with my favorite teacher ever, Mrs. Hoss.

We have home schooled my son for 3 years using the IDVA. He currently reads at 193 words per minute, and has excelled in reading, language arts, and mathematics. He is required to pass all the state test before moving on to the next grade. As far as socializing, he picks his friends, he attends Tae Kwon Do, church, cooking school, and many other field trips the IDVA sets up. What he doesn’t do is get bored during class, get picked on because he may be different, gets threatened, or eat unhealthy foods.

I think online home schooling is a terrible idea & that’s why so many of these kids have no social skills in today’s society. The parents are obviously just using this as an excuse to not have to face the music of there child being in a perfectly fine public school.
Wake up people!!!

I think online schooling is great! I had to take my daughter out of high school because of major bullying and noone did anything about it after numerous trips to see the Principal and plus her grades dropped down to all 50′s and 60′s. When we started online schooling I started to see her grades come back up to 80′s and 90′s and plus she is getting one on one help (which the teachers can’t do anymore). I think it also depends on your situation your in with your child, you have to know your child to know whether you think they will stick with it or not and so far we are in our second year of online schooling and she is doing great. I think it was the best thing that’s happened to her grades, and her self confidence in herself to do it. She does get the socialization, you have to make that happen for them.
Please don’t stop offering online schooling, I think it’s great.

I absolutely love the Georgia Virtual Academy! The lessons, materials and teachers are fantastic. Being able to watch your child discover and learn is an amazing thing. I would think that any child would benefit from this or similar programs. If your child is advanced, they get moved forward. If your child is behind, you have the materials all summer long to really master the skills. If your child is ahead in certain subjects and behind in others…again, GVA has you covered. If your child has an IEP, the teachers are there to help find a way for your child to learn.
And the socialization issue….my children are more social and outgoing than any of the children we’ve met attending brick-and-mortar schools. If you have the time to do this, you won’t regret it!

My son is a classmate of Alexandria (in the features piece)To clarify on a few topics that have been offered by others, the physical activity and social interactions of the children are what the learning coach makes of it. there are several opportunities each week to get involved with the rest of the class through field trips and just attending in the virtual classroom. As for the physical activity, we have become heatlhier, as a family, since enrolling in GVA as we have more opportunities to be active. For example, this past year we spent over three weeks on a camping trip. Hiking, fishing, swimming, running and playing TOGETHER, as a family. And we didn’t have to wait for a break in school nor did the children’s education suffer. We simply attended class and did lessons in between all the fun! Another major “pro” to this form of education is the fact that even though the teachers can be a hundred miles away, there is MORE one-on-one interaction with the children. My son, Dakota, has struggled in brick and mortar schools all of his life, and he has even been treated for ADHD, since joining this wonderful school, he is no longer “diagnosed” as ADHD and he is being tested for his real problem of dyslexia/dysphagia. (a learning disability that can have some of the same markers of ADHD as the child tries to cover his weakness with goofing off) This is definently not a school for a parent that believes that a teacher should be the childs educator, as this requires a MAJOR involvement from the parent/learning coach. However, if you have thought of homeschooling but the task seems to daunting to undertake, virtual education is a winning choice. You do not have to be a computer wiz either, the K-12 curriculum that is used is very clear, straight forward and user friendly for both the parent and child. I HIGHLY recommend this form of education to any parent with negative issues that effect the child in a traditional public school environment. My 7th grade daughter, Morgan, is also enrolled with GVA. At her previous schools, she has been sexually harrassed and offered drugs and drug paraphanalia whil AT SCHOOL and nothing was done by administrators. This is not an issue at GVA. I was worried about her social life,at first, since she is a young teen. GVA has actually given my daughter more opportunities to make friends and “be a part of her school” than she ever had at brick and mortar schools. This has been a postive and life changing decision for our family and I thank ABC for helping to inform the general public of this wonderful opportunity for hundreds of concerned parents and families that has yet to hear about all of their options.

It is the time for Parents to take back the responsibility of the education of their children. The online option provides one venue that allows greater ease for parents to do so. Public schools were originally intended to extend knowlege to the masses and have evolved to the point now of socializing and determining the values of the students they serve(not the original intent. It is the time for parents to the option of saying no to all aspects of endoctrination while saying yes to education. Online Schools partner with parents to provide what schools were originally intended to provide and supporting parents in their right of parenting and influencing the values of their children.

Yes!!!!!!! I am all for children being homeschooled. I am going on my second year homeschooling my daughter and we both love it. While she was in the school system and not the virtual school system she was constantly bullied. Her grades suffered tremendously because she was spending excessive time defending herself from these peer attacks and not concentrating on her assignments or lessons. Since we have started homeschooling her grades are all A’s and before she was a nearly failing student. The virtual school system has worked for us. Although for it to be successful both the student and the learning coach (parent/caregiver) have to have a positive attitude and be willing to follow the contingency plans that the virtual school sets forth for the student. I wouldn’t change my daughter’s homeschool for anything. Like my daughters says, “Homeschooling is awesome….It totally rocks!” Straight from the mouth of a homeschooled student.

I am a student who currently attends a virtual high school and I am very satisfied with it. I have been taught at either a virtual school or been home schooled my entire life. I have real teachers (one for each subject, all of whom live in my state), and they are all competent, but of course, as in all schools, some are better than others. My grades are excellent, I score high in state tests, and I scored in the 96 percentile on the PSAT. I am not bragging about these facts for my own sake, but for the sake of all of the smart kids that go to virtual schools. At the beginning of the school year, I am sent all of the books and equipment that I need. As for physical education, I have never been overweight in my life, and I find that the physical education that my virtual school provides is full of information on healthy eating and exercise programs. Some great things about doing school at home are being closer to your family, working by your own schedule, and not worrying about catching any of a multitude of sicknesses from other students.

“Children need to interact with other children. They need to learn how to handle bullies. They need to develop friendships. They should want to engage in school activities. I see a bunch more fat kids if they all start sitting in front of a computer screen all day.
Posted by: Michele | Apr 16, 2009 10:21:20 AM”
The issue of socialization has been addressed over and over, but I want to speak to this also. School doesn’t teach you how to deal with bullies. Parents do. The school’s response will be to suspend both children, even the child defending himself. The school does not look out for the best interest of the student but rather what is in the best interest for the school. It has become evident in the years my children spent in BAM school, values and morals are not reinforced at school. I know where my child is and who he is interacting with. He isn’t eating unhealthy but “nutritionally balanced” food at the school cafeteria. He is outside running and playing with his dogs. My son would rather continue his virtual school program than return to BAM. He loves school now, and that is a remarkable change from the previous 7 years. I find it wonderful to read the posts of the students of the virtual schools. I am so impressed with you guys! Keep studying hard. You’re going to be just fine!

Yes!! First of all it is up to the parents to get the kids social. Most homeschoolers are very social in sports, arts, and music classes. If you are thinking these children do not get any social experence you are very wrong. That might of been true many years ago, but now there are so many home school groups in many different county’s. You will be very surprise how many. My child is in 1st grade and she attends GVA. We all love it. The reason we choose a public homeschooling (GVA) is because of the how much the board of education has over the children and the parents now. It is not like when you went to school in the 70′s & 80′s. You miss 10 days of school for any reasons you may end up in front of a Judge. It even counts against your child attendence if you have to take your child out of school 5 min early for a Dr. appt.

Of course it is a good idea, the news piece didn’t give all the information, big surprise! Yes, every student does receive a mircroscope and the ability to do all experiments, the student can meet online w/the teacher and many students at once or w/just the teacher alone for extra help. I have had my children educated in both B&M schools & at home and I prefer at home. It is about time that parents take responsibility for raising and educating their children and stop letting the government do it for them. The schools are no longer able to handle the problems that occur each day, guns, drugs, fights, etc. It is a lot worse than when my older children were in school. As for socialization, parents should choose who their child socializes with: church, rec ball, field trips, family events community service projects. We should never allow the government to take this choice away from us.

My child is enrolled in “cyberschool”. This is our first year – and we are both kicking ourselves for not knowing about it sooner! We had so many problems with brick and mortar systems. Serious problems. Ones where the only solution was to change schools nearly every year! Bullying and cheating were out of control, and the teachers and principals did nothing. Not their fault. The system would not allow them to interfere! My child has always had to be challenged. If no challenge – there was zero percent interest and 100% attitude. In brick and mortar systems I would continually beg for two things: please challenge my child, and PLEASE communicate with me – regularly! I am very much a hands-on and involved parent. I got, continually, Nada! So did my child. When I questioned why they weren’t challenging my child, I was told it was because they could not. They had to “wait” for “the other kids” to catch up! Would you believe my son spent his ENTIRE third grade RE-learning everything he had learned in 2nd grade?! Just so the “other kids” could catch up!! What a waste. And yes, I was irate! So were other parents. To no avail. In fact, we were all told they had to “concentrate on” (sounds like another word for “favor” to me) those slower kids. I asked about the bullying and cheating, it also fell on deaf ears. I questioned the blatant favoritism I witnessed time after time, favoritism of both children AND parents – for all the wrong reasons – and it fell on deaf ears. I questioned what seemed to be inane policies – like the one school system that did, would not, assign homework – at all – and even went so far as to discipline any teacher caught doing so – and I got shut down. Time after time after time.
So like I said, I am now kicking myself for not knowing about cyberschooling earlier. My child is being challenged, and he is loving it! And thriving! Rather than retreating into sullen, uncooperative silence, he is opening up and is now continually asking questions! He is no longer afraid to do so. He has more 1:1 interaction with his teacher – and so do I. The 3 of us are a team devoted to seeing my son not just succeed, but excel. The very thing I have always wanted. And so what of social interaction and development? First, where was any of that in the brick and mortar schools? It certainly wasn’t the caliber I wanted for my child. Brick and mortar schools tend to follow the maxim of “Punish the lot, for the sins of a few”, rather than having the courage to simply deal with the few. Don’t believe me? Then what of the rule one of my son’s schools had that FORBID talking – any and all talking – during LUNCH! I have to ask – where’s the opportunity for social development in that? Sounds more like prison to me. In fact, these days, public schools are looking and feeling more and more like prisons, rather than schools. So I ask once again – just where is the opportunity for social development, NORMAL social development, in any of that? And secondly, I have always believed that social development and opportunities are parental responsibilities. Schools are not day care centers, existing solely to make the lives of parents easier. And it is not their responsibility to raise our children. Teach them, yes. Help them to succeed, by all means. But it needs to be done in partnership with parents, and there are areas that are solely parental responsibility. Social development and exercise, I have always believed, are my responsibility. And quite frankly, I do a far better job of it. For instance, since when is cup stacking a physical exercise? Or for that matter, watching video movies? These are just two examples of the “PE classes” my son had to suffer through with the brick and mortar system. I, for one, believe in things like baseball, or bike riding, or basketball. And yes – I even believe in dodgeball!

I can’t understand from where all the blind hatred stems?? Homeschooling is not something parents do because they are lazy or clueless. It takes a LOT of discipline and commitment. It also requires the parent to make sure their child/ren have ample time set aside for socialization and exercise – which GVA actually more than offers through various outings and P.E. requirements.
If you are just responding with a negative “gut” instinct on the topic I would ask that you do some research yourself and most importantly LISTEN to what parents are saying. The best source in finding out the true effectiveness of anything is through first-hand experience. If it lacked anything that so many nay-sayers here seem to believe it does, parents would mention it. So far, it definitely seems like a success judging by what the parents here have said alone.

I really like the idea of this type of homeschooling and I hope that they do approve this type of homeschooling in Indiana. I am looking forward to enrolling my children. I homeschool them now and it doesn’t make my children any less active then what they were when they went to school. It just means I don’t have to deal with all the crap of the regular school setting. The way some teachers think they can treat kids like dirt. I am all for homeschooling and think it should be an option for as many as possible

As long as the child has a learning coach that is committed than that child will benefit. For anyone who has had a child in public school, you will know that the 18-20 children are on different levels and have individual needs. However, the teacher cannot accommodate for they are on a schedule. If any child excels or gets behind it causes stress at which point the child may act out or feel insecure. All along creating an unsatisfactory learning experience.
People are always worried about the kids “social life”, which is funny because when they are in a brick and mortar school they are not allowed to socialize, except grade school recess. The socializing becomes a problem in the classroom and the children are disciplined for talking, fighting, or being affectionate. So why not keep it separate. My child’s social life is better now than when he was in a brick and mortar school. There a lot of programs within the community if you take the time to look. People who are committed and serious about a “virtual” program will likely have enough sense to “socialize” the kids.
I do agree that this program is not for everyone. It takes a great deal of time and involvement, which may be difficult for some.

Absolutely, it’s great for some but not for all. However it does give parents an alternative. I have 3 children in GVA. 2 love it 1 doesn’t. The teachers and administration are great and easy to work with.

I find it sad that so many people have a misconception of the kids that school at home do not have socialization skills. I have meet so many virtual school kids that have wonderful socialization skills. They typically are much more respectful and friendly. They tend to be more sure of themselves and more confident. I myself keep my kids very involved with the youth group at church and with field trips that GVA offers. You should take the time to get to know MANY kids that school at home before you say they lack socialization skills. I have found it to be the opposite (even before I started GVA with my kids). The brick and mortor schools can not cater to all the different learning styles and personalities of children. This is a very valuable option for all states to offer. This is a good way to make sure kids do not get left behind. Just because they can not learn they way their classmates do in school does not mean they can not learn and learn just as much. I hope the DOE sees this option as a huge asset to our public school systems.

My children attend a virtual school. The oldest 2 for 6 years since kindergarten.
They receive one-on-one attention from their teachers and attend live online classes with their classmates. They also interact in person with both their classmates and teachers frequently during fieldtrips, school sponsored events, and parent sponsored events.
All 4 of my children, ages 5 to 11 are able to interact with individuals of all ages, not just their peers. They are equally comfortable with children and adults.
While virtual schooling is not for everyone, it is a great fit for a large number of families.
My children are excelling in school. And they do not spend all day on the computer! IN fact the younger 2 (k and 2nd) use the computer sometimes for less than 1 hour a day! Average about 1-2 hours.
I would not trade our experience.

Yes, having option of attending virtual schooling is a good idea. While it might not be right for everyone, online education can more effective that traditional classrooms for many types of learners. I see it as yet another way we can leverage technology to solve many issues, such as the space and energy utilization.

First, I have to admit that I did not read all of the posts, but I did see the common concern of online schooling to be the LACK of socialization. Is that really a problem? One look at our society and you can see many disadvantages to being socialized in a public school environment.
I have a education degree and home schooling by 2 boys for the elementary years, because we lived in a very remote area for our business. When we moved they went to public school and are now enrolled in online school. Through the course of these many schooling changes, by sons have adapted. I instilled a love of learning in the early years that has carried them through. I would have to say that the most negative experience was during the public school years and it was totally because of peer pressure and influence (not for the good).
Because of the flexibility of home schooling and online school, my sons have been actively involved in our businesses and have learned invaluable lessons on dealing with and working with people of all ages.
Socialization is not a home school or online school problem…are the skills learned in a public school situation really for the benefit of our youth? Bullying, drugs, alcohol…have we taken away the family influence for the good by allowing the school to dictate right and wrong?
Something to think about…

I have two sons in a virtual school. We love it. When I see articles about what is going on in regular schools I wish more parents would choose this free public alternative. (Yes, Free and Public) I think most kids would be better off with a caring parent at home during the day. There are always programs such as scouts, sports and art classes to take them to after school. Too many families have their kids in school all day and then sports at night and they really have little or no interaction with their child. Then when the child is grown, they wonder why their child followed the crowd and got in trouble.
Virtual school gives your child the socialization he really craves. Time with his parent.

GVA was the best decision we ever made. Their teachers and their staff have been a “GOD SEND” they are helping with the areas our child needs the help in and our child is learning better then he ever did. He has his own books that he doesn’t have to share and he can work at his own pace with out the worry of the kids in the class room with their negative comments and sarcasm like he had in the brick and mortar school. In less then 2motnhs our child’s confidence level, his accountability level, his self motivation levels, responsibility levels, among many, other things have flourished. We are seeing a lot more of our child’s growth & his happiness with his schooling prosper. At first our son was not sure about the whole idea of GVA and now he is hooked on GVA, he loves it and says he never wants to go back to a brick and mortar school again. He says he gets the help he needs where he didn’t get it before. In addition, he no longer has to face the bullying or being pushed around or beaten up nor does he have to deal with the peer pressure of all the inappropriate things he was exposed to at the brick and mortar school that no child should ever have to be exposed to at any age. Our child doesn’t have to stress or worry about those things any more, with GVA he can focus on school itself without the unhealthy distractions that he was exposed to in the brick and mortar school. Thank you GVA for a better alternative our child can be proud of!

My son has been cyber schooled for just over a year now. I monitor his schedule, but he has a certified teacher and he does all of the work on his own. I have never seen him do as much writing as he does now. This has been a great benefit over the public school system. Also, I would never see a teacher spend extra time with him individually to pull out his writing capabilities in a public school – they just don’t have that kind of quality time with their students, because they have 25 or more students in each class. I believe that students/parents need these additional choices for education. My son now is advanced in all areas of education. He in addition takes eight classes that reinforce literacy and language arts. He also has the option of participating in sports or extra curricular activities if he so chooses. All of his teachers in the public school supported this schooling, because of my son’s health issues and that it was extremely difficult for him to catch up. On-line schooling makes it easy to work when he is well, and take it easy when he is not. It would be a travesty to take such an educational program away from students. He still has to take the state assessments as a requirement for participating in the cyberschool. Therefore, what is the problem? These students are not bothering anybody. The are good kids who have morals and values, in addition to having to learn to be organized and disciplined. These are all qualities that we want our citizens to have!

Children in public on-line/virtual schools do not sit at a computer all day. They have workbooks and do science experiments, and phy-ed, read books and do all the same things that kids do in a brick and mortor school. Social contact is increased – not absent. Kids go on field trips, have play dates, join clubs, sports, music and many meet in other’s homes and do classes together. They are “coached” by their parents and answer to real teachers who monitor and grade their schoolwork. Virtual school has allowed us to teach our daughter at home with the support of a school system. She can work at her own pace and is doing above grade level work in all classes. I feel that before you criticize an option, you should learn what it really is all about. I applaud the states who provide this as an option for their children.

“The social experience in schools is an artificial environment only reproduced in school settings with no connection to the true social skills to be learned in a community setting with the safe guidance of the parents and older siblings, relatives and church members nearby.
This form of socialization is responsible for the disasterous social skills most adults have today. School is where children spend time with their same age group without the supervision and wisdom of their families and their values are challenged too soon.
Education is a big mess. Teachers unions have ruined education. Society is screwed up because of our schools.
People do not learn love and toleramce. They learn competition and how to succeed not how to love their neighbors.”
Mom, that was VERY well said! Bravo!

A public virtual school saved my Asperger’s Syndrome child, but I agree, a virtual school is not for every child which is exactly why parents need this option because a brick and mortar school is also not for every child.
My kids are both in a virtual school now, 7th and 10th grade. I never thought my “social butterfly” younger son would do well in VI but he was tired of being bullied and having to sit through classes that went at the pace of the slowest learner. He is thrilled to be able to work at his own pace, in fact he is taking a high school level math class which was not offered in his other school. He played tackle football in the Fall and is currently in lacrosse.
Both kids see their classmates and teachers on a regular basis during field trips, live lessons, and other events. Even the principal joins us on field trips. A school is about learning, not socalizing, it is the non-classroom time like afternoon clubs where children socalize and VI schools have activity clubs that the kids can join.
I also love the regular one-on-one time my kids get with their teachers, something a busy brick and mortar teacher just can’t schedule. There is a lot of accountability and state testing.
This is not a leave the kids in front of the computer program and it does take involvement on the part of the parents, in fact both my husband and I work but we have worked out a schedule.
Even if this school is not right for your family I encourage everyone to support this as a parent option. I certainly never expected to have my children in VI, but I’m glad I had the choice when I needed it.

I strongly believe in the parents right to choose what is best for their child and their family. I have children in both virtual school and in our local public school district. I also work in our local school district. Virtual school does NOT mean you just sit in front of a computer. We do have books and we do have teachers who are quite easy to get ahold of and quick to help. We also have “live” online classes where a licensed teacher and several students interact on specific topics and assignments. We have “bridge” groups that get together weekly for face-to-face type classes and activities with a licensed teacher. We have picnics and field trip outings that fill our calendar. Most online students are involved in clubs and sports organizations such as soccer, basketball, gymnastics, dance, boy/girl scouts, theatre, and yes they can also be in band as well. Socialization is NOT a problem. Online schools do have an office staff, head of the school, principals and teachers, but only part of our tax dollars go to the virtual school, the other part still goes to our local school districts. I pay my taxes and I should be able to use it for my child’s education. America has always thrived on competition. If the public schools compete for attendance, just like all private schools do daily, then maybe they will start focusing on what is best for the children and not on self satisfying political agendas of the local politicians.

Thanks Marnie, but sadly children today only have the either or option and the cyber students who want alot of daily interaction and move to brick and mortar schools encounter students who have screwed up , but considered to be normal social skills- you know the high school cliques and the like.
And what high schooler wants a parent around at school??
So even if they try to fit in they are not considered normal unless they conform and there goes the wonderful skills they learned from their cyber community.
We need access to the taj mahals our tax dollars are building for the public school teachers. We are paying for them after all. Why do they sit empty all summer and most weekends except for sports and drama activities??
Can the new education secretary change things??
I hope so.

Virtual school has been a Godsend to our family. My granddaughter has ADHD and traditional school was torture for her. The teachers did not have the time to provide her with the learning methods that she requires, the social environment was frightening – daily bullying and physical violence, but worst of all was the damage to her self esteem. She had given up on being a success in school or in life. In virtual school she has blossomed far beyond anything we could have hoped for. Her grades are outstanding, she looks forward to new subjects, her writing and communication skills have improved dramatically, and best of all she knows that she can be successful in life. The teachers in virtual school are the best she has ever had; they are devoted, encouraging and are available to students and parents both day and night. The students work on collaborative projects and have the opportunity to go on field trips, join clubs, participate in national programs/contest, and are encouraged through labs to work outside the home.
No one delivery system will accommodate all students, but there is definitely a place for virtual education. If your state is experiencing financial problems, consider the advantage of supplementing tradition schools with choices delivered virtually. Curriculum could be expanded without massive budget increases. Virtual schools do not replace traditional schools, but provide cost effective alternatives. I thank God that the state Florida provides this service.

I love online schooling for my family.
My children are in Florida virtual academy and they have been a blessing.
My son has ADHD and couldn’t read and with the help of his teachers he is now learning to read because he gets one on one help with the teacher and me.
We also are able to teach throughout
the day with breaks in between lessons.

There are many comments on the socialization aspect fo this. If a child’s self esteem is destoyed in the Brick and Mortar schools, what type of socialization experience is that? My daughter who is in 3rd grade and participates in Texas Virtual Academy ended second grade a crushed individual. She has severe Dyslexia and the bullying, teasing from her peers, the lack of emotional support and protection from the staff left my daughter literally asking me…”Mommy, why did God make me if He was going to make me different?”
What does a loving Mother do at that point? Protect her child. I have seen my daughter go from a reading level of 14-22 this year. She also made a PERFECT score on the state standardized reading test. How many non disabled students in the B&M schools can pull that off?
As for her social skills…she is doing BETTER now than what she did in the regular school because her self esteem has risen to the point that she is comfortable with herself and who God made her to be. She has more friends now than she ever did before. She is truly a beautiful individual and I am blessed by her presence in my life.
In defense, I have another daughter that excells in school Has no disabilities and completely thrives in the Brick and Mortar school environment. I do not believe that the Virtual Academy would be beneficial to her at this point. All families should be given a choice. If this would not have been an option for us, I would hate to see how devistated my dyslexic child would be right now. TXVA is helping my daughter do more than just survive school!

I think Virtual school is a great option. My son went to a traditional brick and mortar school for the first 6 years of his schooling. He was having much difficulties with social interaction, behavior skills and overall learning. He has Asperger’s syndrome. I am not saying he can not do school, but brick and mortar school was not the best choice for him. I signed him up for virtual school for this school year and he is prospering. He does have teachers, a councilor, principal, and a special ed teacher.He has assignments to hand in and is in contact at all times. He has interaction with other children, we have field trips, we do have PE and he is not lacking anymore. He really enjoys being home. He has more confidence now than when he was in brick and mortar school. Keep virtual schools open. They are a great option for kids and their parents.

Two of my children attend virtual school. They do not spend all day in front of computers. Their school assignments include reading, writing, figuring out math problems, doing experiments, art, and getting exercise. Their curriculum is excellent, and they are able to easily access their teachers by phone or email. They can also interact with their classmates by email and during live lessons. Their on-line school also plans excellent field trips and social opportunities. They also participate in many other social activities outside of school hours. They are not at all reclusive or ill-prepared to function in society. We’re very glad to have this option. Would it suit everyone? No. But it’s just what we need.

Online schools can provide access to Advanced Placement (AP) courses and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs for schoolchildren, connect higher education students globally to the best content around and transform the lives and careers of working adults. Distance learning is one of two components needed to transform how we educate, measure and continuously stimulate students about learning. Distance learning paired with active, constructive and collaborative involvement from parents as the second component will empower the entire learning community to excel to new heights.

Yes,Yes,Yes,I do think puplic cyber schooling is a great idea! I think if this type of schooling was around during Abrahm Lincon’S time this is the type of education he would of had. Love having my children home and watching them learn.I have more contact with teachers in cyber school rather than B.M.(brick & morter) school I have access to all contacts example: I one of my children is struggling in math I simply say get extra help from the school’s matc sprcialist well the log on to her “classroom” and get the help they need. Wonderful school choice go Cyber School’s . Thank you for this type of choice.I am a happy parent!

Online schools are not for every child and family. Traditional public schools are also not for every child and family.
It is a personal choice, and one that must be very well thought-out. I do believe that parents ought to have choices when it comes to their child’s education.
So yes, I do support online education for children. But the online school must provide exceptional curriculum, teachers, staff, and resources (such as special education); outing opportunities to supplement social and educational experiences; and the school must hold parents accountable for attendance. PAVCS is one such online school.
My children have learned more through a home-based charter school than at our local district. I attribute that to being in a loving environment, free of bullying, goofing off, and most distractions, in conjunction with the quality of PAVCS.
There are many myths and assumptions surrounding online schools, that hopefully time and vocal proponents can quell.
Different does not mean ineffective.

Just because a student is learning from home doesn’t he or she never leaves home or lives in a bubble. There are plenty of other opportunities for children to have social interactions. Quite frankly,children schould be allowed to focus on their education and not social interactions that can be very distracting. There is plenty of time for social activities after school hours. It seems to me that most people are really more concerned about the social aspect rather than the educational aspect. And schooling at home doesn’t make a child “shy” or socially inept. There are plenty of traditional public school kids who are shy or socially challenged who only get worse due to bullying and picking. People pay taxes for public education whether they have children or not and whether they choose to send their kids to a regular school or not. Because of that, I think that there should be a free form of public education for parents who want to be a part of their child’s education in a more direct way. Schooling at home usually means a one income family. They choose to make that lifestyle change for this kind of opportunity. They should be able to bennefit from their tax payments too.

I have personally seen the good and bad side of online education as both a parent and a student. The curriculum, instructors, and software make all the difference just as those things make all the difference in a B&M school.Both of my children attended a B&M school for years and were then home schooled. Both have taken online classes with diverse experiences. My son, who is ADHD, did several of his high school courses in the GA Virtual School which is very different from GVA in every way. He had a very good teacher in GVS to start with and had a wonderful experience. He learned a lot and did very well. The next time he took a GVS course the experience was totally opposite. My son knew more about the subject than the instructor and most of the kids in his class were in the B&M school the teacher was in and they got help during regular school hours. He got behind due a schedule mix-up, couldn’t get caught up and failed the class. That could have happened in a B&M school too. He is now a freshman in college and has a 4.0 avg. He is very smart and finished his high school courses in just 3 years even with the GVS failure by being home schooled. My son had trouble socializing in B&M school where he was the victim of bullies, a couple of which were his teachers. My son is now comfortable in his own skin, has true friends, and is finishing up his Eagle Scout requirements. Yes he entered college prior to turning 18. He is active in Scouts, OA Vice-Chief of his lodge, church youth group, and the community. He played soccer for years. He is very socialized, some of which we had to push him into. My daughter is an 8th grader in GVA and has been a GVA student for 2 years after being home schooled for 3 years. She is an accomplished horseman whose instructor loves to get home schooled kids to teach because “they are so smart, fast learners, converse well, and well behaved.” She is active in the community, church youth group, and sports. Unsocialized? I don’t think so. Both of my kids are well read, have read on a college level since they were 12, and converse well with any age person. They can communicate without cursing, using slang, and with an impressive vocabulary. I attribute a lot of that to not being in a B&M School for the last 5 years of schooling. My daughter will be attending a B&M High School next year since GVA doesn’t offer high school and our family’s situation has changed making that a more reasonable option for next year. I’m grateful we live in a country and state that has afforded us the options we’ve exercised over the last 5 years. I wouldn’t have traded this time with my kids for anything. I got to see the “lightbulb moment” more than once because I was there when it clicked. I got to know who my kids are and as a result my daughter will be better prepared for what she will encounter next year. I’ve had more B&M school Moms express their jealousy of my relationship with my kids and I tell them that they could have this too if they just take complete responsibility for their children and teach them themselves for a couple of years. I stated earlier that I have experienced online education as a student and that is because not only is my son in college but I have gone back to college too. I work full time, serve as my daughter’d learning coach in the evening, and attend courses finishing up my degree. My online course was a fiasco due to the software the college used and the instructor wasn’t familiar with the course. I passed the course with a 4.0 in spite of the difficulties I encountered. I guess that blows the theory that the parents who home school or e-school their kids are uneducated themselves, lazy, have low paying jobs, and don’t want better for their kids. In my experience, it is just the opposite for the majority of parents who choose non-traditional education methods. To me, it depends on the class, the instructor, the student, the software, and the currulum on whether online classes are appropriate. No one form of learning suits everyone and the sooner that is realized, the sooner our education system will improve and become what it should be… the best in the world using every type of teaching tool that is available. I enocurage everyone to learn all they can from a variety of sources about non-traditional education and not just from a few TV shows and news articles that focus on the minority groups. Talk to people who have used more than one type of education for their kids to hear the good, bad, and the ugly of all of the types of education out there. If the student isn’t committed, it won’t matter what type of education tools are used. If the student is committed, why not give them every opportunity to learn? Some people worry about the kids not having deadlines, where did they get that idea? Learn at your own pace doesn’t mean there isn’t any deadline at all. It means that the child must master the subject before moving on to the next lesson but when they get it, they don’t forget it. Some of my kids’ friends in B&M school have asked me for help in subjects just like I’ve asked for help from others when my kids were struggling with a subject which any responsible parent would do. I’ve always required my kids to master their subject, even when they were in B&M school and in danger of being left behind. One thing I’m not happy with in GVA and won’t like next year in B&M school is teaching to the CRCT test and all of the emphasis placed on this one time test. The school might as well not grade anything during the year since this one time test can determine whether she passes the 8th grade or not. That is rediculous but it is the law due to “No Child Left Behind.”

In reading some of the other posts, I saw something I would like to address. The virtual program does not mean that the children sit in front of a computer all day. I am sure that some will do that, but my boys have the luxury of taking their lessons where they want. We have taken lessons to the gym and worked while waiting for MMA class to start. We have finished lessons on the way to the library, the grocery store or skate park. They even lie on the trampoline out in the sun and do school work.
My children have more time to play and be outside with home schooling than their schedule at public school allowed. The schedules that the teachers must follow at school do not allow for much playground time.
Going to the skate park is our favorite PE activity. We do not go everyday, so they ride bikes and skateboards, jump on the trampoline and go to MMA class for exercise. They have a lot of options.
I must say, there are alot of perks to schooling at home. Every family is different and will take advantage of what is offered them in different ways. It is a matter of doing what is best for your family and the virtual program is an amazing option! We are very thankful that our district offered it this year.

i think online school a great idea. im a 11th grader in high school currently inrolled in Karval online. i just started online school this semester but wanted to at the begining of the year. i have done so much better since i joined. yes its not for everyone. but its me and the computer. i can IM my teachers at anytime. call there home or cell. they have made them selves avilable 24/7. that says a lot. they put the students before themselves. when i was in a high school. i dreded getting up and going to school. expessialy this year, they drama and distractions were afull i was failing, and ill amit it was my fault, but every day became a nightnamr. i got teased, in fights and the drama. with online school i have no distractions, no stupid people. online school is the best thing that has ever happened in my life. and if you dont like it im sorry. but dont judge anything you havent tried.

My daughter was enrolled in GVA in 2007, I hope they move it up to high school,I would enroll her again. It was great because she was more at ease, instead of being bullied while in public school. There is nothing wrong with online schooling.

As a former public school teacher, I highly recommend home schooling. My children were in a very good private school yet they were not begin motivated and I was having to supplement their education on a daily bases. Now they work at their own pace and in some areas are working well above grade level. They are very social children and love being at home and have had no problem making new friends.

I homeschool my daughter because the school district we live in is simply unsafe. I cannot, in good conscience, send my daughter into a virtual war zone. She is in 2nd grade, and they are finding dirty needles, and paraphernalia that some kids have stuck into other kids. They bus all kids, even the “walkers” because of the risk of children getting caught in a literal crossfire from gang wars. I cannot just move, either. The part of town I live in is quite safe, but the surrounding neighborhoods are not. In addition, my daughter needs help focusing and staying on task, and we had problems with a different public school system (from teacher, counselor, and pricipal) not being willing to get her the extra help she needs. I know not all public schools are like this, but some are. For us, homeschooling is the best option.
In response to some peoples concerns: Online schooling does not take U.S. jobs away from teachers. Most (if not all) online schools (including college level) still have teachers overseeing the student’s progress and having regular contact via email, web conferences, telephone and face to face contact.
In response to the social interaction and physical fitness concerns: Yes, if you choose to homeschool your child, you have the additional responsibility of making sure that your child is involved in some type of organization where they can have socialization, be it 4H, girl or boy scouts, or other various volunteer organizations. As for the physical fitness aspect, most states regulate how much physical fitness a student should have per year. You, as a homeschooling parent, are required to ensure that your child completes that time. The best way to ensure this, is to have their time be Structured, Organized, and Supervised. So team sports is wonderful for this.
Please don’t be so quick to judge others’ decisions about homeschooling. Know the facts. And know that, yes, there will be people who break rules, lie, etc. But that is no different than anywhere else. Please don’t let the few problems ruin a very good thing.

My daughter goes to a virtual academy here in Ohio. She is doing wonderfully! She has never had discipline problems, or any other for that matter. She attended a brick and mortar for K-2. I was tired of not being informed. Sure, I was as informed as a parent could be, but it wasn’t enough. This is MY child. She is my responsibility. She does socialize. She sees her peers at church on Sunday. She is a Girl Scout, in a troop of almost 30 girls. She takes horseback riding lessons with her best friend, and she takes guitar lessons. She also does homeschool swimming lessons at the Y. She is not missing anything. Her life is more fulfilling than ever before.

I think online schools exist because there is a need for them. Obviously the families of those 4,400 kids in GA felt this was the best option for their children. Maybe the questions should be more about why our traditional public schools aren’t meeting the needs of so many kids.
In the end, my tax dollars are going towards public education and my children have the right to a free appropriate education. Here in PA there are countless private schools. You have to wonder why so many families are not choosing a traditional public education. Even the Obamas have gone that route. I just wish vouchers had been approved in PA and that we could use our tax dollars on whatever school was best for our children – public, private, online or not.
Public school disticts are really no different from monopolies. They can underserve our kids and ignore our concerns, they still get our money no matter what. If you choose to send your child to private school then they get your money plus don’t even have to put any of those resources into your child. It was win-win for them until now some of their funding can be taken for public cyber schools. I think like any business they should have to compete for customers and actually shape up!

my name is kara i attend OHVA its a online public school in ohio and its great. its so much easier to understand the work that you are doing and the teachers give you individual attention that you usually dont get at school where the teachers have 25 other students in the classroom. You work at the speed that is best for you and the teachers make sure that they help you and you understand but the most important thing is that you dont miss out on anything you still do pretty much the same thing the kids that go to school away from home everyday do!

My daughter is finishing her second year with Florida Virtual Academy, and we love it!
On those days when the weather is too beautiful for staying indoors (and every child who is in school is staring out the window and daydreaming anyway), we are doing spelling tests in chalk on the sidewalk. Sometimes we head to the neighborhood pond for our science lessons, or we go on a drawing safari for our art lessons.
It’s astonishing how many families in our area are choosing home-based education, so the social opportunities are almost overwhelming. Since we are in control of our own schedule, we often take advantage of informal group field trips with other families (no buses to charter, no waivers to sign!), run outside to see the space shuttle launch, or even take longer trips as a family to explore subjects our daughter has enjoyed the most.
With the K12 curriculum that our state employs, my first-grader is getting a thrill out of subjects that I didn’t see until high school or college! Her program is custom-tailored to challenge her at her present level (she was already devouring chapter books in kindergarten). What I appreciate the most, though, is that I am right there with her, knowing what she knows and seeing what she sees. When families are apart all day, the parents might ask their children, “What did you learn today?” and the children might shrug and say, “Not much,” or maybe get a little more specific, such as, “We learned some things about Egypt.” On the other hand, I know every detail of what my daughter has studied and can tie it in with whatever we encounter outside of school. On our trip to the Tutankhamun exhibit in Atlanta, I was able to point out items that related to Hatshepsut, Abu Simbel, and Howard Carter, because I knew that we had covered those topics in our schooling.
We have an experienced public-school teacher who oversees our progress, hosts online classes with the other first-graders, and keeps us accountable. My daughter adores her.
On top of all this, I’ve been told that the state of Florida saves $1500 per student by not having to accommodate them in the already-overcrowded brick-and-mortar schools! I am sold on this program, and we hope to continue for several years.

All I can say on the subject is.. it is 64 degrees out right now where are your children? Me and mine just returned from a 20 min bike ride to McDonalds where me and my 9 year old had an in depth history lesson on the Ottoman Empire via workbooks we brought. We came home to do research on a few questions before heading out the door to do sidewalk science with my 5th grader. Think of it as a big chalk board for the element and compound formulas he is working on at the moment.
Can anyone think of a more positive learning environment?
Oh and did I mention on the way home from McDonalds we reviewed their Japanese language course they are just starting?
When was the last time a B&M school grade took cameras into the local neighborhood looking for photo ops?
Virtual Academy is academically tough but worth it what makes it wonderful for me and mine, is all the instances they would never ever get in a B&M school to explore and inter grate their learning in a real life setting that is fun, interesting, and in general a wonderful experience.

My son will be participating in the virtual public school program “Connections Academy” in Colorado in the fall 09. This is a state funded program, at no cost to the parents. He will be provided a computer and all of the necessary textbooks, via UPS, at no cost.
He’s been in public school all his life. He’ll be entering 10th grade next year. He loves computers and is very excited (and surprisingly motivated) about being able to complete his work, without the distractions and enormous lapses of unproductive time during the school day.
A lot of poeple say that “homeschooling” will take away the social aspect of his education. He has never really embraced extracurricular or social activities (he’s given them a shot). He told me that when he wants to hang out with his friends, he arranges for that outside of school anyway. My daughter will be graduating this year from highschool (fifth in her class), and we are all relieved to be done with the brick and mortar schools! Most of the schools here are issuing computers to all of the kids anyway, so I believe that the virtual public school concept is the wave of the future. It may not be right for everyone, especially children with high affiliation needs, but after careful consideration, we’ve deemed it a good fit for our son.
If virtual public schools do take off, teachers will still be needed on the other end. My son will have a teacher for every subject, and webstreaming for an interactive classroom experience.

My daughter has attended the Agora Cyber Charter school for three years and it has made all the difference in her education. She has gone from a scare, unhappy student just barely making it to an honor student. I myself always went to public schools, but they are not for everyone. Some children are just not cut out for it.
There are distractions that make it impossible for them to concentrate and do well. Cyber school teachers, at least at Agora, go above and beyond what is required to insure that your child gets the education they deserve. They are so willing to help in any area that needs help for as long as it takes.

I go to the Washington Virtual Academies and I’m loving every moment of it! I really enjoy learning and I’m able to work at my own pace and take advanced classes that are just right for me. The teachers are friendly, engaging, and helpful, and I would never be so excited about learning in a regular school, which caters to the middle. As for socializing, there are monthly field trips and many other opportunities for kids to meet each other.

First of all, let’s address,,,which is more important, a good education or socialization? Do we actually go to schools to learn to be social or to get a good education? Unless you stay in your home, 24/7, there are plenty of outdoor opportunities for your child to socialize, but socialization will not get them into college or help them score well on their SAT, will it? We have homeschooled for 4 yrs, and did the public school for the first 2 yrs, and honestly, I wouldnt trade the 4 yrs of homeschooling for anything…I actually can see my child on a daily basis, I can know who she is, and help shape the adult that she will become, without the help of peer pressure. She can excel in the subjects she is advanced in, and take her time and actually learn the subjects that come alittle harder to her, without ever feeling rushed or too smart, or too dumb by any teacher or fellow classmate. We love it, and will continue it for as long as she wants to….it is her choice, by the way!!

Virtual schools are fantastic. It isn’t taking anyone’s job away from themselves. Children still get to socialize. It is the future in schooling. Children do some much better on virtual schools. It is a proven fact. If you look on Florida’s website you will see that K12Florida virtual school scored the top in the state on our FCAT testing.
Children thrive in virtual you get one on one with the teacher. You aren’t held back because the rest on the class isn’t at your learning level. You also aren’t allowed to go forward until you actually master what you are learning.
When I lived in Pennsylvania had 4 boys in K12 virtual school. They loved it. My youngest was in Kindergarten at the time. The Phonics program that they have in marvelous. Their math, history & science are the best.
Virtual schools work at all levels from struggling students to advanced learners. I live in the state of Florida, in Pinellas county. We are finally getting K12 here for our elementary students. We just now need for them to put it through to the 12th grade. We have a large drop number in our high schools. The majority of the dropouts are Gifted children. They are bored. Our public school system can’t give them what they need. The virtual school could. They could graduate early from virtual school and start college early. If they actually wanted to.
School systems and people need to realize what a potential there is out there for our children. These programs have the ability to allow our students to thrive, to be all that they can be. Isn’t that what we want for our children. To make sure that they get the best possible education that there is out there. I know I do. I have 5 boys. Three of them will starting in the virutal school next year. If we had it for middle & high school I would also do it for my older two boys.
Until you have actually seen and worked with these programs you don’t begin to realize what a fantastic opportunity it actually is. What can you lose? Everyone needs to check it out. You also have the opportunity to actually get to know your children even better. Try it you will be SURPRISED!!!!!!

Hi, i thing oline school is great!!!

My son is ready to complete Kindergarten with the Agora program in PA. It is wonderful. Before he started he could not read or write any letters. Now he reads very well and is on a 2nd grade level in Math. The teachers are wonderful and the program fantastic. It takes 80% to pass a test with the cyber school that we have. And for the parents who say the child needs to socialize, well the social atmosphere in the Pittsburgh Public Schools he can do without. Gangs, bullying, teachers arrested for child molestation and such. Cyber is the way to go! Cannot say enough good about it.

I definitely believe in the Virtual School! I have had a Grandson and Granddaughter in the California Virtual Academy since 2005 and 2007 respectively. The Curriculum standards are State level and extremely well organized and easy to navigate. The students progress, scores, and attendance are recorded each day. The teachers are very knowledgeable and helpful (via the telephone,in person, or over the school internet “chat” site. There are many study helps for every subject in which the student may go to anytime he wants to. As a Learning Coach it took some getting use to, but after the first semester I was well adjusted to the program. My Grandson had been having so many problems in public school and we weren’t sure what to do or where to turn to find a learning environment where he was always in trouble and because of that falling further and further behind! The online school has changed all of that and he is doing quite well in his academics and gets constant positive reinforcement from his Teacher. Please investigate this type of schooling first before you make up your mind against it. It has been a true blessing for our family for years.

As a homeschooler I believe that this is merely public school brought into the home. I personally like the flexibility I have with choosing my own curriculum and knowing what works best for our family. As parent you know your child better than anyone else. Plus, any virtual academy through the school system is not protected as homeschooling. I would not do it.
As far as socialization….Our son socializes with us, neighbors, neighborhood children, people at church, people in stores, his grandparents, who he can visit and see anytime because we do homeschool. Boy Scouts, piano lessons, co-op, playdates, and the list goes on. He is actually more socialized than the neighborhood children who go to school and can talk to no one but their peers and are awkward around anyone even a year or two older than themselves. Socialization is merely a myth proposed by a society that is threatened by homeschoolers taking their lives back from the mainstream. In our house, when asked about socialization we say, “We avoid it at all costs.” Meaning our son can get along with and carry a conversation with any adult and younger child and peer better. Socialization simply means “to be made fit for companionship.” Don’t see that actually being learned in schools.

We pulled our 7th grader out of a public school due to bullying. It had become so intense that he literally had no motivation to succeed. He was failing every subject in school whereas he previously was a straight A student. Our son also has ADHD which is a social disorder and made things even worse. His teachers and leaders cut him no slack and he just didn’t care anymore. We chose K12 program because it offered us flexibility with assignments that took him extra time as well as he could work on his own time. His meds keep him up till midnight and later so getting up for 7:30 am schooling was like pulling teeth. He can sleep in till 9 and still be done by the time the other kids get home from school. After taking the state mandated CRT’s, our son is working at an above standard. His self esteem has improved 80%. Would I do this again, absolutely!!! I feel that the education system is failing our children. It’s too bad that more parents are having to step in and take control.
Diana

I read some of the posts and have further comments:
Virtual schools HAVE teachers working. There’s no one losing a job here. In fact, so many are enrolling here in TX that they need to hire way more teachers for next year. Work from home, doing what you love teaching kids who *want* to learn and no behvioral problems. Sounds like a dream job to me.
As for all the yadayadayada about social’n: look folks, since when are lude,crude kids mouthing off teaching good social’n to your kids? huh? As an adult, I’ve learned a long time ago, those are the ppl you avoid anyway.
You know where your kids are and who their friends are. No mysteries. It’s a brave new world in education. We need to give it a chance.

Online schooling has been an extraordinary change for my daughter. She has severe allergies and is prone to illness, making attendence at the local school an issue. The online school, TXVA powerd by k12 has allowed her to excell in areas she had struggled with previously by giving us the opportunity to study an area until she really understands the material. What was slow going at first, was then quick paced as she grasped the concepts and was able to soar through the material. Benchmark testing, as well as state standardized testing, made sure she was keeping up with other students while we were NOT being taught the test. Our Virtual Academy organizes field trips and outing for the students, which we found fun and educational. We are still involved with many differnt social activities and sports, with better attendace rates due to her improved health while being at home.

I am glad that I can homeschool my kids. I am homeschooling 3 kids. I am also doing my colloege classes online. In short, I do not have to deal with my kids getting bullied,or situations overlooked. I think that it is a wonderful idea to homeschool. Thank you Governor Perdue…….

I may not be qualified to answer this question as I am a college student and the question is referring to k-12. However, as a non-traditional college student with behavioral problems (bipolar and ADHD), I have found online classes that offer credit for my work to be the perfect solution for me. I take a combination of online courses and courses at the campus, and so far it is going well!
I tried the traditional method, and that didn’t work for me.
But everybody is different, and that’s just my opinion, for what it’s worth.

I have read most of these posting. All i see from the ppl who disagree is that they are concerned about the lack of “socialization”. Come on are you serious? Do you not realize what is out their for kids to be “social” ? YMCA , local softball/baseball teams , CHURCH youth groups , girl scouts , boy scouts etc etc. You can get the “socializing” outside the house. Why do i need my kindergarten coming home telling me that little billy showed his “weewee” to the class when ms.noname teacher was gone. Believe me I have had this done to my little one. I have four children two are homeschooled. I SOOO back this up. I just enrolled them in txva… its awesome ! Plus they still manage to have TONS for friends , this is the most important thing right , friends. psh.

I think it’s a fantastic idea and wish it were currently offered in all of the public school systems, as opposed to just a few states. I agree it is not for every child, but it works great for many. My child is part of an online school and does great… her grades are better than ever and she is really grasping concepts well. As far as exercising and socialization? No a problem at all. In fact, I think it’s better than before. Every parent should have the right to school our children as we deem appropriate for each child.. and that will be different for each child, but if it’s not available, we don’t have the opportunity to do so. The states that currently don’t have the Online option (such as K12) should get on board… quickly.

What is so often missed in this discussion is the cascading dropout problems for all states. In most states the dropout level is 30 per cent or higher. If this is one way of saving a small portion of the dropout students, it will be worth the dollars.
There are other benefits of online learning: environmentally it is a disaster for thousands of parents to chauffeur children back and forth to school every day, and school buses don’t reduce the impact of so much transportation very much.
Online/virtual learning is here to stay. Brick-and-mortar teachers who wish to preserve jobs, not rescue students, must come to grips with this fact. All teachers need to equip themselves to do virtual teaching across the curriculum so that should the need arise, a backup plan for educating students is in place. What would we have done this year, for example, if H1N1 had become a national crisis and meeting in large social groups was the crucible for spreading the virus? It does not make sense to make a fetish out of brick-and-mortar learning environments when alternatives may be needed intermittently for all students.
We are living in a new world: we must adapt, or we may come to learn through bitter experience that great opportunities have been missed. The dropout crisis alone should be reason enough to expand and keep in place virtual education for every person who has not acquired a high school diploma or for every person who wishes to attend college but cannot afford the high cost of dorm residences and transportation back and forth to college campuses.
Much, much more could be said…about this issue. The purpose of education is to empower students to become self-motivated, active learners. Too often the environment of public schools stands in the way of this due to the myriad of problems presented by school environments.

I think online school is a wonderful idea.
My 11 year old started online school after going to school k-2 grade, and we had many problems, not only with other children from bullying and hitting to vulgar language, harrasment, and the teachers are too busy complaining about how much money they dont get and they can’t teach properly with 30-40 students in one small cramped classroom, and even worse things, and nothing could be done because its public school and they have rules and they can’t just kick kids out so i pulled my daughter out and since then her grades have gone up and she is a happier child. No more bad mornings when she was scared to go to school. No more nerves over bullies and She is almost done and is going into junior high also online and she made the honor roll several times every year and she is proud of herself. Her reading is in the high school level.
School is not for socializing. I dont want other people teaching my kid life stuff espcially thru other little kids. My daughter’s social life is great, she sees her friends on weekends or afterschool and as well as her karate class. She has always had non-school friends anyway that she met from activites. She is around people she likes and doesnt have to deal with kids that cant behave.
Homeschooled kids dont come out weird or non social, that is just ignorant to say about kids you dont even know.

public school at home is a good choice for my child & i, because it offers a good environment. she has immune system problems that cause her to not be able to attend a regular public school. students can socialize at the outings & field trips, and you can always take them to the park, or to hang with friends, its not a prison system, they are not cut off from the rest of the world. people have the wrong idea for schooling at home. you can still get out with your child, and have them interact with other children, & even get together with other children & parents to do activities or to have class with more than one student. also since you pay school taxes for the county you live in your child can attend recreational activities in that county baseball, basketball, cheer-leading, football, all of those are options.

I feel that online learning is great. I have participated in several online course myself some great some horrible. It really depends on the school that is offering the course. It can also be used as a great tool for younger kids who have ADHA or asperger’s syndrome or other disabilities that may cause them to have a rough time in a traditional school setting. If you are an involved parent (truly involved) then your child will reap the benefit of a good education whether you pay for it, or it is free; whether it is online, or in a traditional class room. As far as the socializing part of online for young kids that again is up to the parents there are plenty of homeschool social group that meet in almost every city in every state and if there is not one in your city start one. BE PROACTIVE about your child education. Children can be just as isolated going to public school. Look at the change in time most kids today do not socialize face to face anyways they do it via text, facebook, twitter etc… so this the arguement about socialization is just plain crazy we live in the age of technology. It is truely about how you use the technology that we have.

Most of the negative comments seem to be about ‘socialization’…you mean popularity contests right? Who’s got the right shoes and clothes and purse right? For kids who aren’t popular or come from the right neighborhood, socializing in school can be a nightmare. Grow up…kids have plenty of socialization outside of school. I loved school for learning but i hated GOING to school because of the cliques and so called socializing. School is for education – not popular contests or fashion shows.

My 1st grader is starting virtual public schools next week. I am really looking forward to it and so is she. Last school year in kindergarten there were different issues every day. Supplies missing, lunch hardly eaten, stories about other students doing annoying behavior things. We are now free from the non-sense and can focus on all learning. My daughter can interact face to face with her virtual classmates once a month and on field trips. Also a difference between virtuaL public school and home school is that my daughter can take music. art or PE at the public brick and mortar. Home school is on a difference cirruculum and is totally home school–no option to alternate within the public schools.

Well online schools are a great way to educate kids, just look at Eaton Academy.Eaton Academy is an accredited academic institution that customizes education programs to meet the needs of individual students. We focus on the identification of learning styles, the use of state-of-the-art resources and technology, and the implementation of specific strategies. This approach enables students to earn the credits they need to graduate with a college prep diploma.

cheez-its

Why do so many people think that kids who homeschool/virtual school have no social skills? In real life adults spend time with peers of all ages, not just same age peers like those surrounded by in a school setting. My girls attend a virtual school and it’s very little time on the computer, which is another misconception. My girls are in gymnastics, ballet, tae-kwondo, girl scouts, good news club and church. So tell me, how are my girls not getting enough socialization? And there are physical education requirements as well. My 7 year old gets to move ahead and start second grade early. She can’t do that in public school. I think it’s great. Take charge of your child’s education.

I am so sick of PEOPLE talking about Socialization for our children… It is an excuse to pawn the job off to the school system to drive our children away from their family. My child is special needs, the bullying and the name calling are detrimental on a childs feelings. My daughter does distance learning through an academy , was supplied with computer and advisors and on line classrooms… No cusssing , so swearing,no stealing from her lunch money,frown faces on papers and etc…the list gets longer AND the school is in upper end community to ruin a childs week.. “WE” go to events, weddings, hang out with family and friends… WHAT OTHER SOCIALIZING DO YOU REALLY NEED??? We don’t…It is a huge sacrifice on my part but my child gets one chance to grow up no do overs… No its not for everyone but in my case it is…I take my child EVERYWHERE I GO …We meet people, we go out to eat, we bowl, etc…Get with it people and get involved with your children and participate… …I have a life , with my God given child…

Personally i think that this is not a good idea. Children need to socialize and interact with other children around rather than being stuck in your home learning online

Well, personaly I think this is great idea! But I do agree that it helps the problem with obesity — and the fact that some teachers in the 22 states will be out of a job. Other that that I think its a wonderful idea!

Online schooling is a great alternative. Children and adults are different. People learn differently. And those that are distracted by environmental stimulation should have other choices to get their education in while the mind is at its optimum prime. There are many creative ways children can interact socially, like after school programs and recreational activities.

I think online school is a good idea for some children. Yes, there is bullying,drugs, and bad things in school, but that doesn’t have to be why you choose to go to online. If your child wants a more indivitual approach at school,and doesn’t want all the drama then it is a good idea.

I dont think its a good idea… school k-12 prepair’s children for the real world, Waking up early and getting ready and showing up to school, then going to all there classes and being ready to learn. just like if its a normal job.

As a student myself, I say online school is fine. I have not taken all of my school online, but I do take some classes online as well as in school. If I could I would take all my classes online. I think it would also be important to take extra activities as well, like group art classes in the evening or something, so you can still meet new people.