Virtual school loses half its students

Joanna Thomsen compares her experience with Missouri's virtual school to childbirth: something she is glad she did but would never want to repeat.

"We went through a lot of work; the kids did a lot of growing. But by the time the year was over we were all totally exhausted and never wanted to go through it again," she said.

Her thoughts echo complaints raised statewide. In Missouri's Virtual Instruction Program's inaugural year, 3,200 students attempted the program, but only 1,800 completed it. Both the families the Southeast Missourian followed in November, the Thomsens and the Nanneys, finished the online courses but will not be re-enrolling.

"I attribute that mainly to people not knowing what they were getting themselves into," said Curt Fuchs, director of the program known as MoVIP. "It is a new program, and I think there were some mental ideas that it would be easier than it actually was. Online classes are not a fit for everyone."

Fuchs and his staff are adjusting for next year, with a focus on communication.

To educate participants of the realities of online schooling, students will be required to take an online quiz to see if the program is a good fit.

Administration, currently spread throughout the state, will be centralized. At the secondary level, teachers will have more contact with students and a "homeroom" teacher will be assigned.

"We want to make them more in tune to what kids are doing and watching. What we found is that students that did not log in on a daily basis were not very successful. We had more losses at the secondary level," Fuchs said.

Course offerings are being expanded to include grades six through eight, making the program a comprehensive K-to-12 system. Gifted education at the elementary level is new, as are more than 20 courses at the secondary level, including ACT prep, Mandarin Chinese, AP chemistry and psychology. Staff members are reviewing current curriculum.

Thomsen said she would like to see more subjects combined into unit studies and less repetition of material.

"It's really not that virtual. The parent really does have to be there to explain. You are going to have to do exactly what a teacher would do in the public arena," said Thomsen, who said she was expecting more virtual tutorials or streaming video. Her twin third-graders and fifth-grade daughter would log on to the computer to see their assignment for the day, but would mostly rely on her to teach and guide their lessons, she said.

Certified teachers monitor students by phone, instant message or e-mail, and students submit certain assignments through the mail for grading.

Fuchs expects a report from an outside consultant evaluating the program to be ready by August or September. State test scores, Advanced Placement test scores and reading assessments will all be considered.

Besides Missouri, about two dozen states offer state-run virtual high school programs, Tucker reported. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the State Board of Education oversee the MoVIP program. Courses, up to a limit, are offered free to Missouri residents. Students can participate full or part time.

If no state-funded seats are available or if a student is already enrolled full time in a public school, then courses cost between $350 to $375. The program, approved by lawmakers in 2006, is designed for students wanting to take a class their school does not offer, for students who have been expelled or are homebound for medical reasons, or for parents who want to homeschool but need direction.

Both Rose Nanney and Thomsen spoke highly of the program but said they need a break. Both families will send their children to Woodland schools next year.

"I would recommend it to anyone that has a child that is very highly self-motivated," Nanney said.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

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