By Debbie Austin

For The Reporter

The real impact of the budget cuts handed down to school districts around our state still remains to be seen, but parents and teachers alike are watching closely to see what’s ahead.

Those concerned with the quality of education may feel the need to get more involved in local schools, and at home with their children’s educations. Some may feel drawn to look into homeschooling.

Another attractive alternative worth checking out is online schooling.

In an online school, children do their schoolwork at home, as homeschooled children would, but they have full one-on-one access to teachers in every subject, as in a traditional school setting.

Some might call it the best of both worlds.

The flexibility of doing their work on their own time and anywhere there is a computer with internet access is appealing to many for many reasons. Sometimes it’s because a child is “falling through the cracks” at school or perhaps there are medical and/or learning challenges that can’t be effectively met in a traditional setting.

Still others facing difficult life circumstances might just need a second chance in a slightly different environment in order to succeed.

Tami Rice is the registrar for Marysville Online Virtual Education, or MOVE UP, an online school program available statewide for ninth through twelfth graders up to the age of 21.

Rice said MOVE UP provides an alternative for those students who cannot attend traditional high schools, whatever the reasons, and she has seen first hand the successes of the program.

One student had had a rough road, dropped out, and is back at MOVE UP making up for lost time.

“She gets it now,” Rice said. “If the student is self-motivated, it works for them.”

MOVE UP teachers are available to the students Monday through Friday, between 4 a.m. and 10 p.m. via online chat, email, or phone.

Many students would not graduate at all if not for the MOVE UP program.

Washington Virtual Academy or WAVA is another option for Washington residents.

They offer a K-8 program through Steilacoom Historical School District and a high school program through Monroe School District.

Susan Stewart, Head of School for WAVA High School, spoke about the unique benefits and challenges of online schooling.

She said being able to work individually with students where they currently are, whether with students who are struggling or who are bored in a traditional classroom, is one of the best features of online schooling.

One of the challenges is that the program requires a high level of accountability, and that’s not for everyone.

“This is not a program where you can come and hide,” Stewart said.

While most work is done individually, teachers hold office hours, review sessions, and homeroom times with students in a virtual classroom environment provided through a program called Elluminate.

WAVA also offers extracurricular activities for students such as online clubs and discussion threads as well as field trips and other social events where kids from all over the state can interact.

Currently, WAVA High School serves 670 students.

Insight School of Washington is an online high school program available through Quillayute Valley School District.

It is similar to WAVA in that it offers many ways for teens to interact through clubs, social events, and Elluminate sessions.

Insight School will be beginning their 4th year fall 2009 and 2200 students are currently enrolled.

Head of Insight School Frank Walter shared how he saw online schooling would evolve from here.

He said that currently they have the technology for live classroom sessions and lots of student/teacher interaction along with the ability to manipulate school schedule and courses to match students’ needs, but he feels they haven’t yet achieved the full potential.

Walter envisions future courses being self adapting to the individual, presenting the information at the student’s current level of understanding and in a way that’s suited to that student’s learning style.

These three programs are free to Washington residents as alternative public school options, falling under the jurisdiction of specific school districts in our state.

Therefore any budget cuts to their school districts affect the online schools as well.

The online schools have the same credit requirements for graduation observed by brick and mortar schools in their districts.

Each full-time student must also take the WASL.

Susan Stewart of WAVA welcomed the latest legislation affecting online schools, SR5410, which “creates a process for quality and standards.”

She said one of the biggest challenges facing online schools is consistency across programs.

Stewart said that this piece of legislation was a step in the right direction.

A nice option for some is the ability to enroll part-time with an online school and part-time with the local school.

This allows those who are involved in sports, music, or drama, for example, to continue with those activities while taking advantage of the online school for academics.

Insight sophmore Kyle Smith was a part of the wrestling program at Eastlake High School this year.

Online schools also hold their own social events and dances.

A good place to start researching what’s available is at www.bestonlinehighschools.com.