Jacqueline Koch
ETE 370
Dr. Chrosniak
What is a virtual school?
 Employs online learning as a means of educating
students
 Can overlap with distance learning, including
correspondence courses and video learning
 Has a student population from across the country and
world
 Does not require a physical location or building
How is the concept of a virtual
school applied in the real world?
 States often take the lead in providing state-run




virtual schools.
States offer learning initiatives and provide tools and
resources to school districts.
Virtual schools are sometimes affiliated with national
educational management organizations.
Some districts run their own online programs and
combine online courses with face-to-face meetings.
Students can take all courses online or select only a
few.
How is a virtual school different
from a typical high school?
 Students are not physically present in a school
building.
 Students do their learning through a computer and
submit assignments online and via e-mail.
 Students communicate with other students and
teachers online through discussion boards, e-mail,
chat rooms and video conferencing.
 Students may have no face-to-face interaction.
Virtual school statistics
 State virtual schools exist in 27 states.
 State virtual schools provided 320,000 course
enrollments in 2008-09.
 The Florida Virtual School is the largest, with more
than 150,000 course enrollments in 2008-09.
 More than one million K-12 students took an online
course during the 2007-08 school year.
Pros for virtual schools
 Students can learn anywhere at any time.
 Virtual schools can alleviate overcrowding in populated




school districts.
Students who miss months of school due to extended
illnesses can take classes online.
Students can take courses not offered by their school from
virtual schools anywhere in the country.
Students and instructors improve their technology
literacy.
Schools allow for self- and time-management, as well as
help build responsibility.
Pros for virtual schools
 Schools and districts can collaborate to best serve all
their students.
 Schools offer options for extremely talented students
who are busy with sports or other performances that
require constant training (ex. elite gymnasts).
 Students have more time to read and digest material
presented by the teacher and
other students.
Cons for virtual schools
 Less face-to-face interaction
 Hinders social development
 Unrealistic that future jobs will allow for distance




working
May take funds from traditional public schools
May not follow an educational standards or be
regulated
Eliminates campus life
Lack of supervision
Cons for virtual schools
 Only available to those with ongoing access to
computers and the Internet
 May be unaffordable for some students and families
 Not helpful for those who can’t navigate the Internet
or technology
 Not helpful for those attempting to learn English
because the language is not spoken
aloud
My Informed Opinion*
 Virtual schools are a good way to supplement a
traditional education, but should not replace it.
 Students benefit from face-to-face interaction with
peers and teachers.
 Virtual courses should be used when a student’s high
school does not offer a course or in extreme situations
when a student can’t attend school due to illness.
 Students should attend a traditional high school to
become accustomed to a structured environment like
they will find in the workplace.
* - based on the research I’ve conducted
The Illinois Virtual School
 Provides students in grades 5-12 with online courses
taught by federally designated, highly-qualified
teachers
 Is a division of the Peoria County Regional Office of
Education and is financially supported by the Illinois
State Board of Education
 Serves students from many districts, including the
Chicago Public School District and the Tremont
School District
 Students enroll through their elementary or high
school
IVS Statistics
 Employs 70 teachers
 Offers 131 different courses
 Includes a partnership of 10 Regional Offices of
Education, including Peoria, Knox and Tazewell
Counties
 Fall and spring courses cost $250 each; summer
courses cost $225.
 Uses the IVS Web site to instruct students
and submit assignments
Clark County School District Virtual
High School
 Located in Las Vegas
 Began granting diplomas in 2004-05
 Uses Blackboard and Centra to submit assignments
and communicate
 Provides teacher, facilitators, counselors and support
staff
 Credits transfer to a high school transcript, if needed
 Is run independently of the state of Nevada, which
does not have a state-run initiative
Resources
Gemin, Butch, Ryan, Jennifer, Watson, John, and Wicks, Matthew. “Keeping Pace with K-12 Online
Learning: A Annual Review of State-Level Policy and Practice.” Evergreen Education Group.
(2009): 6-12. Web. 9 June 2010.
Illinois Virtual School. Illinois Virtual School. Web. 9 June 2010.
U.S. Department of Education. “Evaluation of Evidence-Based Practices in Online Learning: A MetaAnalysis and Revier of Online Learning Studies.” U.S. Department of Education. (2009): xixiii. Web. 9 June 2010.
Virtual High School Volts. Clark County School District Virtual High School. Web. 9 June 2010.
Links
Illinois Virtual School
Keeping Pace Report
U.S. Department of Education Report
Clark County School District Virtual School