The Virtual Option

By Layne Nyman

You may have heard of the advantages of enlisting your child in an online school. You may also have considered enrolling your child in this kind of education. Today there are millions of people enrolled in some kind of online school and this option may be right for you too.

There are actually different kinds of online and virtual high schools. The online public schools are publicly-funded and are cheaper to residential clients. The best kind of online school is that which is affiliated with a university. Because they offer higher quality courses due to the support they receive from established colleges.

An online school has a lot of advantages. It offers a lot of flexibility, especially to students whose schedules are erratic and inconsistent because of their work (i.e. actors, singers and athletes). The students are allowed to learn at their own pace so they can either take more time to absorb their lessons, or they can go on a faster pace so they can finish sooner.

Studying online allows these students flexibility. Parents of these students are also more involved with their child's progress, since they are also the 'teachers' of their children. This requires parents to take on a more active role in their child's education.

Studying in an online school requires a significant amount of discipline from both the student and the caretaker. The student must discipline himself to complete his work and attend class online, and the care taker must make sure that he does not fail to check on the student's advancement.

But an online school has its flaws too, and does not benefit everyone. Almost all of the students who are enrolled in an online school tend to miss out on the peer interaction provided at a traditional high school. For some students this can have a great impact on their learning. The students of a virtual high school are also not given the opportunity to participate in athletic teams or join in clubs.

Now, if you believe that a virtual high school is the best option regarding your child's education, take the time to study all the online schools available to you. You'll want to choose a properly accredit virtual high school so that you will not face any problem gaining credit for classes in the future.

Choose an online school in your area that is accredited. You can browse the state-by-state list of virtual high schools available that will allow you to save more of your money. Be sure to select the online school that will best meet your family's needs. - 29940

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