Published: August 07, 2009 01:30 pm      

Hoosier Academies will run Indiana’s first virtual school

INDIANAPOLIS — Hoosier Academies has been chosen to operate Indiana’s first virtual charter school, which was authorized by the General Assembly during the recent special session, the Indiana Department of Education announced Thursday.

Virtual charter schools have teachers and lessons like traditional public schools but offer their instruction online to students at home.

A pilot program will allow 200 students to take lessons via the virtual school next year and 500 students the following year. Supporters say virtual schools are a great option for parents who want or need their children to learn at home, but opponents worry they will amount to tax-supported home schooling.

Hoosier Academies, based in Muncie and Indianapolis, will run a pilot program for up to 200 students in first through fifth grade during the upcoming school year. It may expand to other grades for the 2010-11 school year. The Department of Education can choose an additional virtual charter school operator in 2010-2011, when the number of students allowed to enroll increases to 500.

Hoosier Academies already runs two charter schools in Indiana that offer traditional and virtual classes. Students come to a school at least two days a week and take classes over the Internet on the other days.

Under a new state law, students at those schools will be allowed to take all their classes online.

“Parents are looking for options that best meet their students’ individual needs,” said Tony Bennett, superintendent of public instruction. “While options are critical, so are results.”

The department will hold virtual schools accountable for results and academic achievement just as it does all public schools, he said.

Details of the application process are still being worked out, but Hoosier Academies must track the reasons students enroll. One of the following reasons must be cited:

— The student’s medical disability or other circumstances prevent the student from attending school.

— The virtual school is a better alternative than a traditional school.

At least 75 percent of students enrolled must have attended a public school in the previous year.

Department of Education spokesman Cam Savage said that provision was meant to appease opponents concerned that taxpayers would just be paying to educate students who are already home schooled.

Charter schools are generally free of many of the curriculum, budget and other regulations imposed on traditional public schools.

The pilot program must ensure teachers are available to students by telephone, e-mail or in person and provide students with a quick response.

The pilot program will accommodate up to 40 students in each grade. If there are more than 40 applicants per grade, Hoosier Academies will conduct a lottery to determine who gets in.

Hoosier Academies plans to hold information sessions in the coming days for families interested in the pilot program. Details are expected to be posted online soon at www.k12.com/ha.