Online school should be an option for all

By John Valentine

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It is back-to-school time in Iowa. One can almost hear the school bell, welcoming students back to classrooms unchanged since the 1950s.

From iPads to smartphones, today's students live in a world marked by technology and innovation. Why isn't our approach to education keeping pace with these modernizations? For some children, online public schools are an effective choice that shouldn't be limited.

My family and I moved to Iowa from Wisconsin, where three of my children attended an online public school and flourished. Thankfully, Iowa will be opening two statewide online schools this year, so I again can enroll my children in a school that will fit their needs. Unfortunately, due to an enrollment cap of about 850, many of my children's peers will be unable to take advantage of this option.

While online schools may not be the silver bullet to address the needs of every student unhappy in a brick-and-mortar school, they are a necessary option for thousands of kids.

In the 10 years since online schools were founded, more than 25 states have introduced this option. A quarter-million students in grades K-12 currently attend online public schools, and thousands more have graduated from online programs and have gone on to top colleges and/or fulfilling careers.

Public online schools meet the same state requirements, oversight and accountability standards as traditional public schools. All teachers are state-certified and highly qualified.

Many families are geographically bound to a certain school. If this school is not fulfilling the needs of the child, these families may be forced to watch their child struggle and not achieve full potential. Iowa does offer open enrollment, but for many families, transporting their students to another district may be logistically impossible. With public online schools, geography is no longer a hindrance.

If a child is an advanced learner, it is unfair to stifle that child's progress because the local school does not provide the advanced courses the student desires. If a child is struggling, having every tool, including online, can provide an equal shot at a fruitful future.

Gov. Terry Branstad, the Iowa Department of Education, Iowa House Speaker Paulsen, and Iowa Senate Republicans have supported online learning and should be lauded for their openness to to educational improvements.

Now it is time to do more. All students should be given the opportunity of the online school option. We must urge the governor and legislators to support options for Iowa families.

John Valentine of Iowa City is a father of three and a pastor. Comments: info@publicschooloptions.org