Illinois' First Virtual Elementary School

Today's Chicago Tribune is reporting that Illinois will open its first virtual grade school for 600 Chicago elementary students. Called the Chicago Virtual Charter School, it will serve a range of students from gifted to those with learning disabilities. Students will receive computers and high-speed Internet access, along with, yes, you guessed it...paper-based workbooks.

Sharon Hayes, the principal, estimates that students will spend 20-40 percent of their time in front of their computers. Lessons will be created by k12 Inc. The school will offer opportunities for socialization such as field trips-they'll even have virtual "gym" classes-which should be interesting... no kick ball for these kids.

I can't imagine not sending a kindergarten age student to kindergarten, but I guess that this is the world we live in.

As expected, the Chicago Teachers Union is fighting the virtual school. The Home School Legal Defense Association is also suggesting that virtual schools are not the same as home school environments, as home schools provide more latitude in exactly what kids learn. Roadblocks seem to be everywhere...there are vested interests in keeping education the same, aren't there..?

Read about it here (requires that silly free registration)