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Can Virtual Schools Thrive In The Real World?, Yinying Wang, Janet R. Decker
Can Virtual Schools Thrive In The Real World?, Yinying Wang, Janet R. Decker
Educational Policy Studies Faculty Publications
Despite the relatively large number of students enrolled in Ohio’s virtual schools, it is unclear how virtual schools compare to their traditional school counterparts on measures of student achievement. To provide some insight, we compared the school performance from 2007-2011 at Ohio’s virtual and traditional schools. The results suggest that Ohio’s virtual schools have grown rapidly, but have also experienced much lower levels of school performance than traditional schools. In light of these findings, we discuss factors that may be contributing to the large number of low-performing virtual schools in Ohio. Considering the lack of sufficient evidence that Ohio’s virtual …
Examining Digital Inequities In Ohio’S K-12 Virtual Schools: Implications For Educational Leaders And Policymakers, Yinying Wang, Janet R. Decker
Examining Digital Inequities In Ohio’S K-12 Virtual Schools: Implications For Educational Leaders And Policymakers, Yinying Wang, Janet R. Decker
Educational Policy Studies Faculty Publications
One touted purpose of virtual schools is to expand learning opportunities for students, but in reality, virtual schooling may not be readily available to all students. This study analyzes inequitable access to Ohio’s virtual schooling by examining disaggregated student enrollment data. Similar to past research, we found racial minorities and students with limited English proficiency were under-represented in Ohio’s virtual schools in comparison to traditional schools. However, unlike past studies, we found economically-disadvantaged students and students with disabilities were over-represented in Ohio’s virtual schools. The findings are explained through policy and legal lenses, and potential legal issues are discussed.