The Madison Metropolitan School District is developing a virtual campus and curriculum. The idea has been in the works for several years, but the district hopes to make it widely available for the 2006-2007 school year. The district is trying to bring back state aid for the more than 400 students currently home-schooled in the district.
While I think virtual schools should be an option, it needs to made clear that IF you choose to enroll your child in a PUBLIC virtual school, you are NO LONGER homeschooling. You will lose much of the freedom you enjoy as a homeschooler and your child will be subject to the same requirements as public school students including NCLB.
My son pushed and pushed for this when he was entering 7th grade. I knew the free computer was the lure, but he could not be dissuaded. After two months, he was miserable. So much busy work, so many restrictions, and daily logging of hours were way too much like Big Brother for me. I made him finish out, on principle, but it was miserable to have to miss the flexibility we had. I am a homeschooler, and could not buy into the system, because it WAS the same system, in pajamas.
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