Homeschool Curriculum with a Virtual School
Online K-12 Schools Provide Structure and Support for Homeschooling
Jul 20, 2009
Homeschooling is rewarding but it is also challenging. One problem parents face is designing a homeschool curriculum without feeling overwhelmed, lost, or without structure. Virtual schools are one solution for parents that eases this burden.
What are Virtual Schools?
Virtual high schools and college-level distance learning programs have been around for a while, but it is becoming increasingly common to see virtual K-12 schools (also known as virtual academies, cyberschools, or online schools.) These schools are Internet-based, may or may not receive government money, and may or may not charge tuition. Many can award high school diplomas.
Enrolling in a virtual academy gives homeschool parents access to a full curriculum for the year, and they are sent all of the necessary teaching materials. Students can also get Internet support and, depending on the school, in-person interaction and regular evaluations with a teacher.
Homeschooling and Virtual Schools
Enrolling children in a virtual school lends structure to a homeschool curriculum. According the the National Center for Education Statistics, the two most common reasons parents cite for their decision to homeschool were:
- Concerns about violence, drugs, and negative peer pressure in a public school environment
- Desire to provide religious or moral instruction in addition to academic instruction
Using a virtual school curriculum when homeschooling a child satisfies both of these parental reasons for homeschooling, while giving parents not only the structure of a tested curriculum but the support of a live teacher if necessary.
Popularity of Elementary and Secondary Cyberschools
Somewhere between 40,000 and 50,000 students across the country are enrolled in virtual schools [U.S. Department of Education.] However, that number does not distinguish between those who are full-time virtual schoolers and those who taking only a supplemental course or two.
Types of Virtual K-12 Schools
There are many different kinds of online schools, each of which is slightly different from the others.
- State-sanctioned, state-level virtual schools are often marked as the official virtual school of a given state. They are usually free for in-state students but charge tuition for out-of-state students.
- Regional virtual schools serve a multistate region or even the entire country. They are usually comprised of a network of schools offering online classes.
- Local public schools and district virtual programs supplement public school and are designed to reach out to homeschoolers in the district.
- Virtual charter schools and virtual private schools are simply online equivalents of charter schools and private schools, respectively.
- For-profit virtual schools are run by independent corporations.
- College- and university-based virtual schools offer mostly introductory college instruction, AP classes, and high school courses.
Parents need to evaluate any virtual or distance learning program carefully before enrolling their child. It is their responsibility to find out about the school's accreditation and certification.
Virtual School Tuition and Funding
While some virtual schools have free enrollment, others require tuition. According to a survey commissioned by the Distance Learning Resource Network in 2001, the average tuition cost was about $300 per semester for virtual schools.
Most virtual K-12 schools received a combination of funding from the state governments and from private tuition. Some were able to fund programs through federal grants. In the case of public schools that operate virtual courses, they were allotted government money based on online enrollment.
Government Regulation of Virtual Schools
Certification and accreditation are two major ways the government seeks to regulate virtual schools. Teachers can be certified by the state. Regional accreditation agencies set minimum criteria for schools and review them to see if they meet these standards. Without regional accreditation and state certification, virtual schools find it very hard to attract students.
For the homeschooling parent struggling to design an effective curriculum, virtual schools may provide a fairly inexpensive alternative. Parents can continue to teach at home, follow a set curriculum, and have access to a live teacher. This provides direction and structure for parents educating their children at home.
For more homeschool curriculum ideas, see "Five in a Row by Jane C. Lambert."
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