Is Your Child’s Education in Covid-Limbo?

Confused … Frustrated … Disappointed

This is what we hear most often from parents who are exasperated with their local school options due to Covid-19. “Finally, we thought this year we would have some sense of normalcy, and our children could get back to learning,” one parent explained. This on again – off again approach to school has left students emotionally drained, and sadly, brain drained.

According to the Burbio School Disruption Tracker, the first week of January 2022 saw the largest surge in schools moving away from in-person learning this school year. If you are a parent of a high school student, there are additional concerns about this disruption. Will my child graduate? Will my child get into college?

What if your school is not meeting your child’s educational needs?

If your child has fallen behind in more than just a few high school courses or is just not receiving the individual attention they need to succeed, enrolling in a full-time, proven, accredited virtual school could be your best option.

Here is why:

Virtual learning is not new. There are hundreds of accredited public and private schools that specialize in virtual learning.

Public Virtual Charter Schools

As the name implies, these schools are public schools, which means they are tuition-free. There are six states that do not have charter school laws: Kentucky, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Vermont. However, if you live in any other state, chances are you will find several options. K12 is one option that offers grades K -12, making it an easy choice for families with children in elementary, middle and high schools because all the children can be enrolled in the same school system. Another option is Connections Academy, also serving students in grades K – 12. Most have open enrollment, and they are likely to have space available for full-time students. (Note -Virtual public charter schools may not offer individual courses or summer school. All students must be enrolled as full-time students.)

Private Virtual Schools

Private virtual schools, such as Whitmore School and Laurel Springs School, charge tuition. The tuition is typically between $1,600 to $15,000 per year. Many private virtual schools are grade-specific: grades K – 8, or grades 9 – 12. However, there are also many schools offering grades K – 12.

Private virtual schools have open enrollment and may have the most flexible schedules. This means that students are not required to log in at specified times to attend “live” lessons. These schools are a great choice if your child has other time commitments. The advantage is that school can be completed around a busy schedule, medical appointments, family travel, or work.

Most private virtual schools offer part-time enrollment for individual courses OR full-time enrollment.

Read more here about choosing the right virtual school: 9 TIPs If Your Virtual / Blended Learning Options Are Not Working For Your Child

Go ahead  – take the leap after you consider your best options.

Click here to read more about Whitmore School’s flexible mastery-based learning environment. It might just be the right choice for you. Whitmore School is accredited by Cognia (formerly AdvancED).

Written by:

Ellen Ray, Principal and parent of Alina, 2009 Graduate

January 11, 2022 in How to Choose the Right Online School, The Impact of Covid-19 on Education

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