Bill Tucker writes in a new report, Labratories of Reform: Virtual High Schools and Innovation in Public Education published by the Education Sector, that virtual schools serve as educational innovators for traditional schools, which seemingly cannot change despite constant calls. Online schools personalize learning and eliminate the usual school day and class periods for the outstanding success of many students. Their rapid growth through voluntary enrollment testifies to the need for alternatives to conventional schooling. It’s not generally known but many conventional high schools now offer the opportunity for students to take courses online. Virtual high schools represent a quiet revolution in the delivery of education. While not for everyone, virtual schools satisfy the needs of about 1,000,000 students and growing. Tucker describes various models of virtual schooling and suggests how public policy can take advantage of this exciting learning alternative.
An excellent 11 minute video segment from Edutopia provides a look at how it works in various settings.