Is a Virtual Education Right for Your Child?

Many students going back to school this fall will not return to traditional classrooms. State budget cuts, which threaten to decrease the quality of a public school education, have prompted some parents to seek alternative or supplementary ways to keep their children learning. With private school beyond most people’s financial reach, parents nationwide are now enrolling their children in K-12 public school courses—online.

At least 20 states now have tuition-free, accredited virtual middle and high school programs that offer residents the opportunity get a high school diploma without ever entering an actual classroom. And the trend is growing fast, according to Allison Powell, vice president of the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL). These virtual schools are funded by the states through public school funds, and have the full array of 6th-12th grade requirements for graduation, from English to Science to Math, all taught through the computer. Because of the low-operating costs, many schools are looking to add more online courses as an alternative to traditional classroom instruction.

Over a million students will be attending virtual classrooms this school year. Most will be taking only individual courses to enhance learning in a specific subject, or to obtain additional credits for graduation. Most states have some online, tuition-free, accredited K-12 courses, and all states have private learning providers offering fully accredited programs to choose from. Tuition for private online schools run anywhere from $10,000 to $35,000 for a high school diploma. Many even provide physical graduation ceremonies at local hotels or other public venues.