What is a virtual school and how does it differ from a brick-and-mortar school?

Same qualified teachers, curriculum, and accredited diploma. No brick-and-mortar physical presence for learners, who just log in from home – or anywhere with a stable internet connection – attend classes, submit work, get feedback. The outcomes are the same as a physical school. What changes is where the child sits when learning happens.

How does a typical day in virtual learning work?

Depends on the model. Live timetabled classes: teacher runs the session, students ask questions, discussion happens in real time. That's synchronous. Self-paced: no set times, students work through coursework independently, teachers grade and respond. Most quality programs combine both – structured live instruction plus independent work between sessions. Progress dashboards let parents check in without waiting for a parent evening.

Who teaches in full-time virtual schools?

Qualified teachers. Not a playlist of pre-recorded videos, not an automated grading system. In an accredited program, a teacher plans the lesson, reads the actual assignment, gives written feedback specific to that student's work. When something isn't landing, they reach out. How quickly and how consistently that happens is the real differentiator between programs – and the one thing school websites all claim to do well. Third-party reviews tell a more accurate story.

What role do parents play?

Younger students, particularly in self-paced plans, need an adult nearby to help manage the school day. That's the learning coach role – organizing the schedule, keeping things on track, communicating with the teacher when something's off. In live timetabled classes the school handles more of the daily structure, so parental involvement looks closer to what you'd expect at a traditional school. Either way: parents aren't the teacher. That's what makes this different from homeschooling.

Are virtual schools suitable for all students?

No. Students who need constant in-person social contact to stay motivated, younger children without consistent adult support at home, learners who've never had to manage their own schedule – these students often struggle. Virtual school works well for a specific set of circumstances: expat families in transition, competitive athletes, children with health conditions, students who found large classrooms difficult. Note that it isn't a universal improvement on physical school.

How do students develop social skills and take part in extracurriculars?

Live classes involve real interaction – discussion, group work, direct teacher contact. Virtual clubs extend that beyond class time. Some programs run optional in-person events: field trips, sports days, community meetups. Legacy includes virtual clubs in every plan. What online school doesn't reproduce is the informal side of school – the hallways, the lunch tables, the unplanned conversations. For some students that gap matters a lot. For others, their social life exists mostly outside school anyway.

What courses are available in virtual school?

Full K-12 curriculum: core subjects, world languages, arts, STEM, AP and honors options at secondary level. The depth varies between schools. Legacy offers 19 AP courses through direct College Board affiliation. Some programs offer fewer. The number of courses in the catalog matters less than whether the specific ones your child needs are actually there. Check the actual course list – not the marketing page.

How are virtual schools funded and authorized?

Public online programs – district or charter – are funded similarly to physical schools based on enrollment. Private accredited schools charge tuition. Some regions involve a county council or oversight body. Before enrolling: confirm whether the program is public, charter, or private; identify the accrediting body; and check which services – devices, textbooks, special education support – are included or charged separately.

What technology is required?

Laptop or tablet, reliable internet connection. Public and charter programs often supply devices and digital materials. Private programs vary. Confirm the device policy, what's provided versus what families pay for, and whether external exam fees apply – particularly for British curriculum students sitting Cambridge or Edexcel exams at external centers.

How is progress measured?

Ongoing assessments, project work, periodic proctored exams. Progress dashboards track pacing and assignment completion – visible to both students and parents in real time. Teachers use this data to catch problems early rather than waiting for a grade report. Standards follow the same national or state benchmarks as traditional schools. The delivery is different. The accountability structure isn't.

What should families consider before enrolling?

Accreditation first. Which body, and is it recognized where your child will apply to university? Then: teacher contact model, class size, what the school actually does when a student falls behind. After those – schedule flexibility, course catalog, device policy. The mistake most families make is picking a school because the timetable or the price works, then discovering at graduation that the diploma doesn't open the doors they expected. That conversation is much easier to have before you enroll.