Online Charter Schools: Are They Right for Your Family?

Online charter schools, also known as cyber or virtual charter schools, are public schools in which students learn at home, using textbooks and online lessons. They're increasingly popular, since as public schools they provide a curriculum and textbooks at no cost to the family, and students end the year with transcripts valid at any other institution. Because they are charters, these schools are free to offer a more customized learning experience than regular public schools, and because kids learn at home, parents needn't worry about safety and civility breakdowns on campuses.

Most states now have at least one online charter school, and two large online education providers, k12 and Connections Academy, offer programs in over 27 states. The quality of the curriculum tends to be high, and most kids like the online component of the lessons. Online charters are helpful for students who are ahead in one or more subjects, or who need additional time on a subject. They are also good choices for students who are deeply involved in athletics or arts. Some students qualify for loaned computer equipment and Internet subscription subsidies on the basis of financial need.

Despite their attractions, online schools are not for every family. As most of the online schools hasten to point out, these programs are schools-at-home, not homeschooling. The school assigns a teacher or team of teachers to each student, but the "learning coach" (usually the parent) carries out the day to day instruction with the help of textbook and Internet lessons. Families accustomed to homeschooling will likely chafe at the requirements to observe school attendance policies; comply with state testing and the teach-the-test programs these have spawned; leave grading and promotion in the hands of teachers assigned to each student; and follow a highly scripted curriculum.

Families used to on-campus education may be surprised by the amount of time these programs require from the learning coach. The assigned teacher usually has occasional phone contact with the student, and sometimes conducts lessons online, while the learning coach is the person who implements the curriculum. This means the coach administers spelling tests, corrects homework, listens to youngsters read, sets up science projects, etc. Younger students need more time than middle-schoolers and high school students, who are able to direct more of their learning themselves.

If there are multiple children studying online, the learning coach will need to devote at least five hours daily for most of these programs. Many parents who expected to be able to care for preschoolers or work at home while administering an online charter program found they didn't have the time they needed. Others who envisioned plenty of field trips and experiential learning report that meeting basic course requirements was so demanding that extracurriculars fell by the wayside.

Deciding if an Online Charter is Right for You:

Your family may benefit from online learning if most of the following fits your situation:

• You have at least one adult at home with time to spend administering the lessons;

• You're accustomed to the attendance, curriculum, and testing regulations of public schools;

• You can get high-speed Internet at your home, and you're comfortable online;

• Individualized education is important to you;

• You're not too mobile. These charters are based in specific states and districts, and if you're traveling among states or countries, it will be difficult to comply with required testing and teacher contacts.

It's always free to investigate online schooling if there's one available in your area, but take an honest look at your ability to commit time as a learning coach and at your willingness to accept the requirements of charter school enrollment. If you can do both, charters can provide a free, high-quality at-home education package.