For parents, the past couple of years have been an adventure, to put it mildly. With so many kids learning from home, and then needing to help them get caught up once they went back to school, a lot of parents started taking a much closer look at what their kids were doing in school and whether the current setup was working well for their families. Online schools are a solution many are turning to.
Some parents saw that their kids did much better in a different environment and wanted to continue having them learn from home. Some parents loved the freedom that online school allowed and wanted to continue a setup that allowed them to make their own schedules once sports or other activities resumed. Some parents wanted more control over their kids’ curriculum and some just loved the idea of kids moving at their own pace. Whatever the reason, many kids did not return back to their previous public school when it reopened. Josh is actually one of those kids.
So what are all these kids who didn’t go back doing for school now? Some are going the traditional homeschool route. This differs from state to state, (check your state rules and regulations if you want to do this) which basically means the parent(s) are providing the student’s education. Some create their own curriculum while others purchase one to use, but the parents ultimately take on the choice and the cost of whatever they choose.
Other students are attending online public schools. Just like there are physical public, private and charter schools, these same schools exist online.
What is an online public school?
Online public schools are tuition-free, open to all students and held to state academic and financial standards. There are a number of reasons parents choose an online public school for their student. Many find the fact that it is tuition-free to be a huge plus as the cost of online private schools can be a roadblock for some families. Some parents like the idea of having their student learn at home, but work or other commitments make it impossible for them to homeschool.
Another advantage to online public schools is that most can offer students more one-on-one instruction. This allows students to succeed by receiving more support in areas where they need it and less in subjects where their natural gifts lay.
Because these online schools are public schools, they hold all of the same accreditations and certifications as your local brick and mortar. This may add an extra layer of security to those with a student looking to apply to competitive colleges. Students can even take Advanced Placement classes and earn college credits!
One school that fits all of the criteria I described above is our sponsor, Connections Academy. Connections Academy offers full-time, tuition free online public school in grades K-12. They have schools in many states and are in the process of opening even more. You can check on availability in your state here.
Request more information about Connections Academy
Tara Pittman says
It is good to have options for school. Online school sounds like a great option.
Kathy says
It’s nice to have these kinds of options. I homeschooled my kids last year and they liked it. They did go back to public schools this year though, which they love too.
Fatima T says
I love that it makes it easier for families to connect more during the school year. I feel kids don’t get to have that connection with their family when they’re out for 8 hours+ in the day in physical classes.