Abstract: This white paper, created for the 2004 No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Leadership Summit, explores how virtual schools can be a powerful innovation for meeting the choice provisions of the NCLB Act. While parents express a strong interest in transferring their children to better-performing schools, many districts use the lack of school capacity to deny families choices of higher performing schools. Virtual schools are an acceptable, legal option for districts and states seeking to increase their capacity. The paper cites research that suggests virtual charter schools are able to provide a solid education to children who have been historically under-served by traditional school environments and programs. The authors examine the challenges for districts and states seeking to use virtual schools to fulfill the federal choice requirements and make a series of recommendations to local and state education agencies, and federal policymakers.
Resource Type: Federal Research & Reports Resource Format: PDF File Target Audience: Authorizers, Founders, Policy Makers, Researchers Resource Topic: Cyber Charter Schools, NCLB
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