Don't Pull Plug On Virtual Schools

By ROB SPANGLER

Published: Apr 17, 2008

Technology has transformed every aspect of our lives - from commerce to government to entertainment to learning. Time, distance and location no longer are impediments to progress. This is especially true in public education.

Today, a quality public education can be delivered via the Internet, and Florida has led the way. There are two schools that have shattered the old notion of what it means to get a quality public education: Florida Virtual Academy and Florida Connections Academy.

These two schools offer hundreds of Florida children quality choices in public education. Students have access to great curriculum, great teachers, opportunities for socialization and enrichment, and much more. The schools are accountable to the state's taxpayers, and, most important, are accountable to parents like me who believe full time public virtual schools are indeed the best fit for children who just were not succeeding in a traditional setting. In fact, last year, both K-8 virtual schools received "A" grades from the state of Florida, and did so with less funding per student than traditional public schools.

Florida lawmakers are considering policies that will affect the future public virtual schools and the children who attend them. The Legislature should do so with the following simple principle in mind: treat our children the same as those children enrolled in traditional public schools.

Choice is important to parents like me, and Florida has become a national leader in this area. Parents must be able to choose the public school that is best suited for their individual child, including full time, public virtual schools.

Virtual education has come to mean so much to so many families in Florida, and the Legislature should make sure that this incredible program is available to even more deserving families.

Rob Spangler is President of the Florida Coalition of Virtual School Families and lives in St. Petersburg.