Times, they are a-changing. Some school districts are alarmed by a continuing loss of annual revenue, so they are looking at creating their own online academies.
The idea is that a district would partner with a private company to provide the cyber-charter framework and instructors. To keep the educational plan and credits accurate, district educators will write the curriculum to their specifications.
Creating a virtual learning network is a viable option for many schools. First, it allows a student to attend an online school based within the district and be able to work his or her way to graduating with a diploma from their home district. Second, district taxpayers save money.
Some say that with stiff competition from private and charter schools, cyber-school and distance learning programs are better suited to meeting the needs of students and their families. Cheryl Griffith, superintendent of the Allegheny Valley School District took time to find out why upward of 60 to 80 students were leaving the district for online charter schools.
She interviewed parents and students. The reasons ranged from learning disabilities and long commutes to students having disagreements with peers or adults in the schools. "Public schools are working really hard to make technology a part of learning, and in that regard are becoming part of what is called the blended system (classroom and cyber)," she said.
It seems like public schools have been slow to adopt online learning. It leaves us to wonder, why? We know, from our own experience that many struggling readers do really well in an online environment. Mostly because they can work at their own pace and during the time of day when they are ready to sit in front of the computer and learn.
What do you think about the shift to online schools? Will it work? Do you feel like your job as a teacher is threatened with this online push?