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I definitely don't think brick and mortar schools should be eliminated!  Online schooling is not the best choice for every student.  It should most certainly be an option, however, because in many cases it truly is the best choice for some.  Students who have difficulty sitting still for six hours, students who need to learn at their own pace, students who need greater flexibility, etc all should have the option available to them to learn in the way that fits them best.

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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Online schools are not the right choice for every student, and they never will be.  I don't agree that supporting the option for students to enroll in an online school is giving up on brick and mortar schools.  I do agree that vocational education is critical for many students.  Online schools actually make it easier for students to access this due to their flexibility.  For example, I have one student who volunteers as an EMT during the daytime, and does her online schoolwork in the evenings.  Additionally, I think trade schools are a fantastic option for many students, both for those who struggle academically and those who don't.

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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Online schools support thousands of students, not just one.  Additionally, they cost quite a bit less than brick and mortar schools, so the money is actually going farther to support more students, rather than less.

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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And two more:

There are often a great deal more elective choices for students in virtual schools than students in brick and mortar schools.  For instance, students in Connections Academy have the option to choose Cantonese, French, Spanish, Sign Language, Driver’s Ed, Digital Photography, several types of technology, music, and art classes, along with many others, while many brick and mortar schools only offer the basics, if anything at all.

Students in virtual schools are given much more in-depth and complete curriculum than students in brick and mortar schools.  Instead of students being forced to progress at the average rate of the class, they are able to go at their own rate and given much more flexibility in the remedial help and/or enrichment opportunities they need.  Students are educated based on their individual needs, rather than the average needs of the group.

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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I am a teacher at Oregon Connections Academy and am consistently impressed with the leaps of acheivement that students make once they enroll here.  I will put my points in favor of online schools below, and my reasons against restricting this vital option for students:

• Gifted students have the option to progress at their own pace in virtual schools, sometimes several grade levels at a time with many enrichment opportunities, where-as they don’t in regular schools.
• Struggling students have the same access to a solid curriculum with high expectations, but can go at their own rate.
• Many students do not function in the regular environment (e.g. students with ADHD, emotional problems such as anxiety or emotional disturbance, health problems such as diabetes, seizures, cancer, or food allergies, etc) and need a virtual environment in order to work on their own time and obtain the same, or better education as their peers
• Students who live in rural areas either don’t have transportation to their local school, or if they do the environmental consequence of getting them there is extreme.  The environmental toll of paper copies necessary at a brick and mortar school is also a factor.
• It costs less for students to obtain their education in a virtual setting.  Costs of paper, books, building maintence, bussing, etc is not necessary in a virtual environment.  Also, school districts receive money for students going to virtual schools.
• Many parents are not pleased with the education their children receive at their resident school, for whatever reason.  Virtual schools offer a very rigorous, complete curriculum that is much more in-depth and advanced than the majority of brick and mortar schools.
• Freedom of choice is an American virtue.  If we decline parents the right of choosing what type of public school to send their child to, we are defying a long fought for American value/tradition. 

posted 3 years, 2 months ago
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