On average, children in a military family move six to nine times during their school years, necessitating numerous school changes. Continually having to adjust to new teachers, new classmates, and new curriculum can be stressful. For military children, online education provides consistency in their constantly changing world. With online learning, it’s often possible for children to take their schooling with them no matter where they go.

Multiple online education options exist. One that many parents aren’t familiar with is online public schooling. It’s a tuition-free option offered in many states, including Arkansas. With an online public school, students get the flexibility of online learning as well as the benefit of support from school administrators, counselors and state-certified teachers. There are many benefits to a program like this.

Individualized Learning

No two children are alike, and it’s important to provide an education that can be tailored to meet a variety of needs and learning styles. Online schools enable individually paced learning and can help students move ahead or get on track. Students can spend more time on a subject they find difficult or breeze through an easy subject.

And while parental involvement is still needed (especially in the younger grades), having more control helps students of all ages develop independence and build important life skills such as learning how to manage priorities and meet deadlines.

First-Rate Education That Travels

Online schooling often allows military families to take a first-rate American education with them wherever they go. All that’s needed is a computer and an Internet connection. With online schooling, students may not have to deal with interruptions in their education, regardless of where their family is stationed. Some online schools allow students to stay enrolled in the same school no matter how frequently they move — eliminating the need for course content repetition. And when situations arise, such as deployments, that necessitate temporary changes in a child’s living arrangement, school can be one thing that stays the same.

Flexibility

Online schools offer more flexibility than brick-and-mortar schools. Because students in online schools have more control over when and where they do school, they can adapt their schedules to accommodate involvement in extracurricular and community activities.

Online learning also provides more flexibility in choosing the order in which students study different subjects. In lower grades especially, students can usually set their daily schedules according to their preferences. Some students like to tackle their more difficult subjects first and leave their favorite subjects for later in the day; others choose to do the opposite. Online schooling gives them that freedom.

Support

While online public schools enable individualized learning and flexibility, they also come with the structure, administrative support, oversight and accountability associated with brick-and-mortar schools.

Top programs employ teachers specifically trained in online teaching to instruct and monitor students, run web-based classes, hold online office hours and be available to answer student and parent questions. Some programs include live, online class sessions. Good programs provide parents with tools such as teaching guides, suggested schedules, complete lesson plan, and opportunities to network with other parents.

The best programs also offer opportunities for students to explore their interests and develop friendships through virtual clubs and competitions such as science fairs, art contests and more. Many online schools also offer in-person events, such as trips to museums and historical sites, prom and graduation ceremonies.

Quality

Online public schools have to meet the same requirements as brick-and-mortar schools and online students take the same standardized tests as their traditional school counterparts. Students who graduate from online public schools attend great U.S. colleges and universities.

When choosing a program, look for one that’s fully accredited and offers a quality curriculum. Academic support from administrators, counselors and state-certified teachers are important in an active virtual community.

 

Online public schooling can offer students learning, stimulation, growth, fun and social interaction while helping them develop critical and creative thinking skills that will set them on the path to a successful future — academically and in life.

For more information visit the Arkansas Virtual Academy's website or call (866) 339-4951.