Chapter 7: Virtual Schools: The American Experience with International Implications

Over the last decade, the number of virtual schools in the United States has increased dramatically. Additionally, access to full-time, online, and K–12 (kindergarten through 12th grade) learning opportunities has expanded, especially for students at the elementary and middle-school level. Watson (2008) found that 44 of the 50 states reported online learning opportunities for K–12 students. Of these 44 states, more than half reported K–8 (kindergarten through 8th grade) online learning options. It is interesting to consider that just 5 years ago, supplemental high school courses were the primary types of K–12 online learning opportunities (in terms of course enrollments). By comparison, in 2008, a total of 21 states reported full-time, public virtual schools, usually charter schools. (In the U.S. primary and secondary education system, a charter school is a publically funded school that is privately managed. Charter schools have specific accountability requirements, which are agreed upon when the school is established. Charter schools are not allowed to charge tuition. However, they are permitted to establish admission requirements.) Enrollments have grown rapidly as well; Picciano and Seaman (2009) estimated over one million enrollments in K–12 online courses in 2008, while Watson (2008) estimated 450,000 course enrollments in K–8 virtual schools alone (based on full-time enrollment numbers).