Virtual schools meet the needs of students, families

By Steve Hoff

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The movie “Won't back down” makes for compelling Hollywood drama, and is touching off an important discussion about the future of public education. As this important conversation continues, we should keep in mind that this movie glosses over educational options and solutions that aren't nearly as extreme as taking over a school.

One of those solutions is online education. For a growing number of parents in Iowa and elsewhere, virtual schools are providing a better educational fit for their children than brick-and-mortar schools.

As the head of school for the Iowa Virtual Academy, one of the state's first online public schools, I see how online schools are meeting the needs of students and families. We use technology to help students, teachers and parents work collaboratively in powerful new ways.

As it turns out, families considering online education want the same things that the crusading parents in “Won't back down” work so hard to achieve. Parents want choices and to work with teachers and administrators to ensure a good education for their kids.

Offering choices is important. Online education isn't for everyone. It's not a choice that's easy to make. But virtual schools offer a valuable alternative for many families. Some students don't thrive in traditional schools for any number of reasons - health, frequent travel, learning disabilities and bullying are just a few of the myriad issues that lead families to consider online education.

For these families, one appeal of virtual education is the unique partnership between students, teachers and parents that online education enables. Our teachers work with parents to craft learning programs that best fit the needs of every student. We don't use technology as a short cut or crutch. Instead, our technology lets teachers and parents quickly analyze a student's progress, identify issues and make adjustments to improve the learning experience.

Parents whose children attend virtual schools are involved and engaged every step of the way. I've been an educator long enough to know that committed parents - those who take an active role in their child's education - are a key driver of academic success. The technology behind online education bridges the gap that so often exists between educators and parents, their best ally.

In “Won't back down,” we root for parents who fight for a simple goal: A decent education for their kids. In the real world outside the movie theater, many families looking for a school that works best for them are achieving that goal through online education.

Steve Hoff is Head of School at Iowa Virtual Academy, a tuition-free online public school of Clayton Ridge Community School District. Comments: shoff@k12.com