Virtual schools bill gets boost

A school without walls that uses technology to bring a K-12 curriculum from private providers online to students across Virginia is the focus of legislation Gov. Robert F. McDonnell signed into law on Wednesday.

The online learning program is part of the McDonnell education reform package the governor touted during last year’s gubernatorial campaign.

The virtual schools law will allow Virginia’s superintendent of public instruction to develop policies for implementation.

The law offers a July 2011 timetable for Virginia school districts to contract with a private vendor if they choose to do so, and post the online courses on their Web site.

Proponents of virtual schools such as House District 20 Del. Dickie Bell, who sponsored the House version of the legislation, say it offers students who don’t do well in conventional classrooms the chance to learn better.

“We have to break out of the status quo,’’ said Bell, R-Staunton. “One of the problems we face in education is that we are too content with the status quo. I like to see anything innovative that educates the children and gives them a shot.”

Bell, a special education teacher in Augusta County, said special needs students he works with would benefit from a virtual schools program.

Waynesboro Schools Superintendent Robin Crowder anticipates one of the benefits could be offering classes a regular K-12 school could not offer.

“Through a virtual school you could offer advanced physics or German or Japanese,’’ Crowder said.

McDonnell, speaking during Wednesday’s signing, said the legislation broadens learning opportunities.

“A child’s educational opportunities should be determined by her intellect and work ethic, not by her zip code,’’ he said.

Charles Pyle, a spokesman for the Virginia Department of Education, said the law signed Wednesday offers a process for the development of Virginia virtual schools.

Programs offered by private companies will be vetted by the Virginia Department of Education, and an approved list of providers will be listed.

Pyle said it will be the fall of 2011 before students enrolled in state-approved programs participate across Virginia.

The programs will have to meet Virginia content standards and students will have to pass Virginia’s Standards of Learning testing program.

One of the country’s leading virtual schools providers is K12 Inc., a Northern Virginia company.

K12 serves 25 states and the District of Columbia with virtual schools programs.

Jeff Kwitowski, a vice president of public relations for K12, said the company hires certified teachers and provides them online.

An individualized plan is tailored to each student.

“We bring the school to the student,’’ said Kwitowski, who said students spend a similar amount of time learning as they would attending school.

Students communicate with their teachers by phone, e-mail and through interactive Web-based instruction.

Funding such a program in tight budget times might prove more of a challenge.

Kwitowski said the average amount of money spent per student is less than in a traditional school.

But he noted that there are significant costs for technology and curriculum.

Pyle said students enrolled in virtual schools will be counted as part of a school district’s membership, and the school district will receive basic state aid for the students like those enrolled in traditional schools.

Pyle said much work lies ahead for the Virginia Department of Education on the virtual schools program.

“At the core this is about instruction,’’ Pyle said. “Technology is the delivery.”