Futurologists predicted this day was coming—when children would no longer spend their days in school learning … but work instead in the comfort of their own homes using the latest innovations. But Virginia is still laying the groundwork to make that a reality, and the Senate Finance Committee is examining the cost-effectiveness of virtual schools and how they can provide high-quality education to students.
While several states have adopted Virtual Schools, none has totally submerged its students in a world with no school walls or daily interactions with teachers and others. Allison Powell, the Vice-President for the International Association for K-12 Learning, admits that each state and local jurisdiction will have different needs. States would need universal rules for full implementation and some regions may still have funding challenges based on the variety of schools and courses they offer.
“You do still have the administrative piece of running a school, the instruction is a little bit different, they’re not necessarily using textbooks. Some of these companies do ship out boxes of books and videos, and science kits, and all that kind of stuff as well, so the kid isn’t in these full time programs sitting in front of a computer for eight hours a day,” she says.
Powell says many costs are similar to brick and mortar schools ….but without transportation or building expenses. She says another benefit is providing students with alternative teaching methods designed to keep their attention and use individual learning styles.
–Tommie McNeil
Virginia Public Radio 