As an educator who has worked in brick-and-mortar schools for several years, I was eager to begin working with my first online public school, Oregon Connections Academy, last year. Throughout this first year, I’ve encountered many misconceptions about online schools and have found myself describing how this type of schooling works to both parents and guardians. As families explore options for their children for the next school year, I thought it would be helpful to share these thoughts and explain what people may not know about online school.

Oregon Connections Academy is a tuition-free, full-time online public school that serves students in grades K-12 across the state of Oregon. At Oregon Connections Academy, our mission is to help students maximize their potential and meet their highest performance standards through a uniquely individualized learning program. One statement I often hear when discussing online school is that it’s only for students who are struggling to learn in a traditional school setting. The truth is, while we do have some students looking to catch up to their current grade level standards, there are many reasons why our students enroll in online school. They may need flexible schooling to pursue a career in sports, music, or acting, find a solution that better fits their individual learning style, or seek an opportunity to work at an accelerated pace. We also have students looking for other schooling alternatives if their needs are not being met academically, socially, or emotionally in their current school setting. I’ve seen many students thrive at our school because they feel safe and secure in their learning environment.

Oregon Connections Academy utilizes a curriculum that has been built intentionally for the virtual environment while meeting state standards. Additionally, families may not realize that teachers at online schools are required to be state-certified, just like at any other public school in Oregon. Not only do our teachers have the same training and qualifications as their brick-and-mortar peers, but they are also specially trained in the nuances of working effectively in a virtual classroom and pay close attention to tailoring instruction to match students’ needs and learning styles.

In my experience, I’ve noticed online schools create an environment where students can work more independently with a schedule that works best for their families. Outside of regular live classes, students can easily ask questions or schedule time with teachers for any additional help needed on their schoolwork. Our teachers have the ability to connect one-on-one with both students and parents and often times, our teachers say they get to know their families better in the virtual environment than in a traditional brick-and-mortar school. Knowing each student has a personalized learning plan, our teachers are also flexible in how students demonstrate their knowledge. Education needs to be tailored to individuals, and understanding how differently students learn helps them to thrive.

For many years, students and families have been searching for schooling that fits their students’ needs. Education isn’t a “one size fits all” solution, and I hope to continue demystifying the misconceptions around online learning until all people recognize the value and parents are able to choose the best education setting for their student.