Dunn, Josh. Virtual Legality: Unions and Homeschoolers Attack Internet Education. Retrieved May 25, 2007 from LookSmart Website: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0MJG/is_4_6/ai_n16832465

Summary
This article discussed legal issues arising from 'virtual' public schools. Lawsuits have been brought in several cases, although the courts (at the time of this article) have upheld the rights of students to choose virtual schools. One issue is pupil reimbursement--some argue that virtual schools should not be reimbursed for students at the same rate as traditional schools because the students do not physically attend a school. The courts did not find merit in this argument. Another controversy involves who is doing the teaching--in virtual schools, students learn at home and are supervised by parents, who are not licensed teachers. Although the state of Wisconsin department of education sided with the unions on this issue (even though they were named as defendants), the courts again ruled for the rights of virtual schools.

Some of these issues go deeper than legalities--unions worry that because the student-teacher ratio is so much higher in virtual schools, jobs will be threatened if they grow in popularity. Some homeschool groups also oppose these virtual schools because they feel that their current set-up will also be threatened. However, there are other homeschool groups that support vitual schools as a way to allow their children access to a 'school,' but also maintain control over their children's education.

Although the current enrollment in these virtual school remains relatively small, it is definitely a trend to watch.

Response
I wasn't aware of some of the issues raised in this article--I never thought, for instance, about the possible impact of virtual schools on teacher employment because virtual schools need fewer instructors than traditional schools. I don't know where I stand on the issue as a whole. I can see (especially after our class discussions) the benefit of online schooling for certain students. However, I can also see the unions' concerns in these cases--that these options could start to take resources and staffing away from traditional schools. There has to be a way to fund both without either feeling like one is being funded at the expense of the other.