| Throughout the school year, parents and caregivers | | | | body. A typical virtual class may include students who |
| everywhere are thinking about and making plans for | | | | are far ahead of their peers in a traditional setting, as |
| their children's education-and there is a lot to think | | | | well as those who are behind or require additional |
| about. Specifically, "what kind of school should my | | | | assistance in certain areas. Or, students who need a |
| child attend?" With so many options available, from | | | | rigorous, yet flexible learning schedule to |
| the traditional brick-and-mortar public schools to | | | | accommodate a sports or acting career. It also brings |
| charter schools to religious schools, students have | | | | together students from different towns. Yet these |
| more educational choices than ever. One option is the | | | | students are learning together, from each other, and |
| increasingly popular and innovative virtual school. | | | | sharing on many levels. |
| Virtual schools started appearing in the late 1990s and | | | | While many parents worry about the social |
| are currently available in several states across the | | | | implications of having their children enrolled in a virtual |
| country - including California. According to A National | | | | school, many of the schools take this into account |
| Primer on K-12 Online Learning from the North | | | | and make it easy for the kids to interact with their |
| American Council for Online Learning (April 2007), at | | | | peers. Some virtual schools provide planned field trips |
| the end of 2006, 25 states offered state-led online | | | | where students can interact with one another in |
| learning programs, and 18 states were home to 147 | | | | person, and online bulletin boards where kids can talk |
| virtual charter schools serving over 65,000 students. | | | | about the latest Harry Potter movie or meet a new |
| Yet, despite the steady growth in interest and | | | | friend with similar interests from another state. |
| enrollment, many people don't understand how virtual | | | | The dedication to your child's education is also |
| schools work or the numerous benefits they provide | | | | paramount to succeeding in a virtual learning |
| - to both students and our education system. | | | | environment. Parents or caregivers directly contribute |
| Virtual learning enables school districts to deliver a | | | | to and participate in the student's day-to-day |
| flexible educational option via the Internet and allows | | | | education process while lessons can be delivered |
| educators to address the specific gifts or challenges | | | | when and where it works best for both. For |
| of the individual student. Virtual students have | | | | example, Carissa Lim is currently enrolled in a virtual |
| notable educational support as they learn from home | | | | school program and is taught by her mother, Nancy |
| with parents or caregivers while working with | | | | Lim. Carissa is also a gymnast who spends a great |
| teachers over the Web. Virtual schools typically | | | | deal of time practicing and competing in her sport - a |
| provide a print-rich curriculum that combines | | | | traditional school schedule and environment was |
| textbooks and hands-on materials along with | | | | challenging and did not support her lifestyle The |
| technology tools. | | | | virtual learning model offers families like the Lims an |
| But what does all that really mean? The benefits of | | | | alternative to public school education with a flexible |
| virtual education come in many forms. For the | | | | schedule while still providing an enriched and |
| student, "wearing your pajamas to class" may be one | | | | challenging curriculum. |
| of them, but it's far from the defining characteristic. | | | | "My daughter needs an outlet for her athletic passion |
| Above all, students are offered high-quality, highly | | | | and personality and she just wasn't happy in a |
| accountable, individualized learning. Teachers, parents | | | | traditional public school," said Nancy Lim, a virtual |
| and students work together to plan the educational | | | | school parent. "Virtual learning allows us to advance in |
| path that is right for the student. Does the student | | | | subjects she is interested in and allows her to pursue |
| require additional work in Algebra? Are they | | | | gymnastics at the same time - I couldn't ask for a |
| interested in learning Chinese? Do they want to focus | | | | better arrangement." |
| on one subject for several days? These are the | | | | Parents of students in virtual schools consistently |
| types of questions and options virtual learning | | | | give high remarks on their children's education. For |
| affords. With virtual learning, the actual school work | | | | families who find that traditional schools are not |
| and education are the main focus, while the time and | | | | providing the individualized attention they want, virtual |
| place it gets done is secondary. | | | | schools continue to provide a highly effective and |
| As a result, virtual schools attract all types of | | | | successful alternative. |
| students, resulting in a diverse and unique student | | | | |