Tomorrow Compass Charter Schools (CCS) is celebrating Digital Learning Day! Virtual learning is still a new concept in education, especially for families with children in kindergarten through high school. As a result, many parents are leery about choosing online education for their children despite its many benefits.
It’s important to recognize that educational options in the U.S. are changing in order to meet children’s needs and to create a more personalized learning experience. Virtual public schools, like CCS, provide scholars throughout California access to a quality education while offering the flexibility to design a personalized learning schedule. Why do families choose virtual education? Maybe their child wants to pursue an acting or sports career while in school. Maybe their child was being bullied at a brick and mortar school. Or maybe their child needs more challenging courses and curriculum options. The reasons why families choose online education are endless!
So, how exactly can parents tell if virtual learning is right for them and their children? There are a few simple questions they can ask and steps they can take to determine if it’s right for their family. Here are four clear signs that virtual learning may be the best choice for you and your children:
My Family Needs Flexibility
There is one simple question that parents can ask themselves to determine if virtual education is the right choice for their family. Does the family have a very busy schedule with a variety of commitments like sports, music lessons, and volunteering? Does their family enjoy traveling? Do they have older children that need to work while in school? If so, virtual learning may be a good fit. Virtual learning allows parents and scholars to work together to create a personalized learning schedule. A family with several commitments or preferences may need to schedule learning time early in the morning or later in the evening, instead of during the traditional school hours at brick-and-mortar schools.
Teachers in a virtual school understand the unique needs of their scholars and their families. They are willing to offer guidance and support to help families use the flexibility wisely and create successful, personalized learning schedules. Virtual learning is a great option for families that need more flexibility in their daily schedules.
My Scholars Have Specific Needs
It’s important to remember that every scholar is unique and has specific needs. We encourage parents to think about their child’s needs and preferences to ensure they have a successful learning experience. Some parents may have noticed that their gifted child is bored in a traditional classroom due to lack of a challenge. Or some parents may have noticed that their child needs more time to understand their course lessons and, as a result, is often lost and confused in a traditional classroom. Virtual education is a great option for families in both of the situations because it allows parents and scholars to work with their teachers to create personalized learning plans. These custom plans allow teachers to offer scholars more support in the areas where they may need more help. CCS even has a special education department to support scholars who may have a learning disability. By creating custom learning plans, teachers are also about to challenge scholars who are excelling at a faster pace. Virtual learning programs guide and support scholars to ensure that they succeed!
I Enjoy Being Involved
Parents take different approaches when it comes to their child’s education. Some parents prefer to take a hands-off approach by allowing teachers to take the lead on their child’s education. They may prefer to let their child take responsibility for their education and receive updates through their child’s progress report or bi-annual parent/teacher conferences. Other parents enjoy being involved in their child’s education by volunteering as a member of the governing parent group, much like CCS’ Parent Advisory Council. They may also value having consistent communication with their child’s teachers and school administration and enjoy supporting their child’s learning through homework and projects on a daily basis.
While both parenting approaches have their pros and cons, it is likely that a parent who takes a more hands-on approach will enjoy serving as a learning coach to their child in a virtual learning program. Online learning does require a commitment from parents. In a virtual learning program, scholars are led by their teachers, but they require additional support from parents on a daily basis to help them stay on track, stay focused and help answer any questions they may have during the day!
My Scholar Wants to Try Virtual Learning
Last, but certainly not least, it’s important for parents to gauge their child’s interest in virtual learning. We encourage parents who are considering virtual learning to have an open and honest discussion with their child to see if it’s something that interests them. It’s important to know how children feel about making a possible change to their style of learning. When talking with their child, we encourage parents to discuss the benefits of choosing virtual learning, like having more personalized attention from teachers, more field trips, and more time to enjoy activities outside of school. We also encourage parents to discuss some of the challenges that first-time virtual learners may face, like learning how to stay focused and on track while learning from home. Thankfully, virtual schools like CCS offer first-time online learners plenty of support to ensure they have a successful learning experience!
Those four simple signs are sure to help any parent who is considering virtual learning for their child make the right choice. Of course, there are countless reasons why families choose virtual schools like CCS. Connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and follow the hashtag #ChooseCompass to learn why families throughout California choose CCS for their children.
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Compass Charter Schools (CCS) is a WASC-accredited virtual charter school that serves families throughout California. Interested in learning more about CCS’ flexible academic programs? Visit our website, or contact our enrollment team at enrollment@compasscharters.org or (877) 506-8631.