SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) Two thousand Utah students are in a school without classrooms and their teachers could be across the country. The first public virtual charter school in Utah welcomed back students online this week.
Utah Virtual Academy offers classes to students K-12. Jeff Herr, Head of School for the academy says it’s accredited, and utilizes only certified teachers. It is tuition free, public education. All materials, including workbooks, text books, and instructional materials are delivered to the student’s home.
Herr says “Our students can move at their own pace, especially kindergarten through the eighth grade. I have kids who are in fourth grade who are on eighth grade literature.”
When students reach high school there are credit requirements like any other high school, but he says the difference is the flexibility and choice available to students. “Our students have literally 160-plus courses available to them, including a full gamete of AP, which in any school here in Utah would be hard to do.” That is because Utah Virtual Academy has affiliates nationwide.
Lori Harmon’s son Tyler is one of the high school students attending the virtual academy. He says not sitting at a desk works for him. “I like it because I am able to get my schoolwork done on my own schedule.”
The Harmon children range in age from elementary to high school, and Lori likes the ability to school them at home with a set curriculum, and standardized testing. “I know where each of them are I know where they are in their education. I know what gaps they have, and where I need to focus.” Lori acts and an education facilitator but all of her children have teachers that she can contact for help. “The school offers field trips that we go to and the teacher has teacher’s outings where they can go and meet with their teacher and a lot of fun things.”
The Harmon children say they like being together at home for school. They say the only downside is they are finished with their school day faster than their peers and have to wait for them to complete homework before they can play. Tyler says he misses hanging out with his friends but finds other things to fill up his day. He’s currently writing a novel in his spare time.
The Utah Virtual Academy may not be for every student. Herr says those who succeed are self motivated and disciplined, but he says those same qualities lead to success in college and the workplace later in life.
