VIRTUAL CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE LIKE NOT GOING TO SCHOOL
Virtual charter schools: the perfect solution for parents who want their kids to learn absolutely nothing while still technically attending school.
These online schools, run by for-profit companies that care more about their bottom line than actual education, have been growing in popularity in recent years. And why not? They offer students self-paced and asynchronous instruction, which is just a fancy way of saying "no instruction at all."
But it's not all sunshine and rainbows in the virtual charter school world. These schools have been plagued by scandals, controversies, and poor outcomes. And let's be honest, if you're going to go to a school where you learn nothing, you might as well do it in person.
Let's take a deep dive into the world of virtual charter schools.
## The Scandals
Virtual charter schools have been accused of everything from inflating enrollment numbers to misusing public funds for personal or corporate gain. And let's not forget about the unethical and illegal practices, like grade inflation, cheating, and plagiarism.
Some states have had more scandals than others. For example, California saw a network of 19 virtual charter schools agree to pay $215 million for inflating enrollment numbers, falsifying records, and spending public funds on non-educational purposes. Meanwhile, Ohio had its largest virtual charter school, ECOT, close abruptly in 2018 after owing $80 million to the state for overreporting student attendance. The school's founder was even indicted on federal charges of racketeering, conspiracy, and fraud.
## The Ineffectiveness
Not only are virtual charter schools scandal-ridden, but they also consistently show lower academic performance than other types of public schools. According to multiple studies and reports, virtual charter schools have lower test scores and proficiency rates in math and reading, lower graduation rates and college readiness, and higher student turnover and dropout rates.
So basically, if you want your child to learn absolutely nothing while also having a lower chance of graduating and being college-ready, virtual charter schools are the perfect choice.
## The Pros and Cons
Despite their scandals and ineffectiveness, virtual charter schools do offer some benefits and advantages to certain students and families. For example, they provide flexibility and convenience for students who have special needs or family responsibilities. They also provide more options and opportunities for students who live in rural areas.
But let's not forget about the cons. Virtual charter schools limit social interaction, emotional support, and academic feedback for students, which can affect their motivation and well-being. They also lack sufficient regulation, monitoring, and evaluation by state authorities, charter authorizers, and parents, which can enable fraud, waste, and abuse of public funds and trust. And let's not forget about how they drain resources, enrollment, and funding from traditional public schools, which can worsen the conditions and outcomes of the public education system.
## Conclusion
In conclusion, virtual charter schools are a great option if you want your child to learn absolutely nothing while also having a lower chance of graduating and being college-ready. But if you actually care about your child's education (and we hope you do), it might be best to steer clear of these scandal-ridden and ineffective online schools.
And if you're still not convinced, just remember: if you want your child to learn nothing at all, you can always just keep them at home. It's cheaper and you won't have to deal with any scandals or controversies. Plus, you can teach them all sorts of important life skills like how to binge-watch Netflix and how to make the perfect cup of ramen noodles. Who needs education when you have that?
Peter Greene: Virtual Charters Are a Waste of Time and Money https://dianeravitch.net/2023/06/09/peter-greene-virtual-chaerers-are-a-waste-of-time-and-money/ via @dianeravitch
Many Online Charter Schools Fail to Graduate Even Half of Their Students on Time https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/many-online-charter-schools-fail-to-graduate-even-half-of-their-students-on-time/2019/04
How for-profit virtual charter schools are selling families on staying remote https://hechingerreport.org/despite-mediocre-records-for-profit-online-charter-schools-are-selling-parents-on-staying-virtual/
Stanford study shows that online charter school students are lagging - The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/stanford-study-shows-that-online-charter-school-students-are-lagging/2015/10/27/c42dc502-7cce-11e5-afce-2afd1d3eb896_story.html
The problem with online charter schools https://youtu.be/tfNzMKvoVOU via @YouTube
Say “No” to Religious Charter Schools | Cato at Liberty Blog https://www.cato.org/blog/say-no-religious-charter-schools