Benton County Daily Record (AR) -Area family says virtual school provides attractive options
Benton County Daily Record (AR)
Area family says virtual school provides attractive options
By Ben McVay
November 26, 2006
BENTON COUNTY — A new option in Arkansas public education is posting benchmark exams scores higher than the state average, with students never leaving the comfort of their home.
The Arkansas Virtual School, sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Education, allows students access to the newest and most innovative curriculum, while integrating technology usefully.
The ARVS students in every grade scored above the state average in literacy, and third, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth grades scored above the state average in math.
The ARVS is a kindergarten through eighth-grade program.
Teachers work from home, monitoring students’ school work online, talking to the students on the phone roughly twice a month and visiting the students several times a year.
Ginger Weaver, an ARVS teacher, entered the program with five years of teaching experience.
“I love the innovation, the ability to work from my home and the close partnerships I’ve developed with parents,” she said. “ And the difference I’ve made in my students lives.”
Weaver, located in Bryant, a community southwest of Little Rock, teaches 53 students across the state.
The ARVS program keeps her children busy, though. “It’s a pretty rigid schedule,” she said. “ With this curriculum it’s hard to take any time off. ”
Parental involvement is key to ARVS success, Pruett said.
“I think it’s a great program,” she said. “ It’s important that the parents are involved, though. ”
Weaver agrees that parental involvement, among other factors, is a reason benchmark exams are higher than state averages.
“There are many influencing factors. To name a few: high parental involvement, highly qualified teachers, challenging curriculum” Weaver said.
Personally, she said that the ARVS is a good match for her because it is a school model that allows her to focus on each student’s individual learning and less on classroom management.
“Many parents and students need different options within public education other than a brick and mortar school” she said.
Pruett is satisfied with the ARVS, but would like one change. “I do wish it was closer, distance-wise, to administration and teachers” she said.
Next year, since the ARVS program ends at eighth grade, the Pruetts are unsure whether their eighth-grade son will enroll in Siloam Springs public schools, or remain at home, with a different curriculum.
When asked about the power shutting off: “Yeah, that is a problem,” Pruett said.
Students interested in ARVS apply for the program. If more applications are received then slots available, a random lottery is conducted. Students selected in the lottery enroll, are trained, then receive the curriculum, supplies and a school computer and printer.
“I feel we are a positive option for students, and online learning will be an important part of the future of education,” Weaver said.
“My students this year are located mainly in Northwest Arkansas and central Arkansas, but I do have some from all over the state,” she said.
The Pruett family of Cincinnati are students of Weaver’s. The Pruetts have participated in ARVS for four years of its five-year existence. Their three boys are in fourth, sixth and eighth grades.
“She is a great teacher,” said Kerry Pruett, the boys’ mother. “She’s good with the kids.”
The Pruetts decided to pursue ARVS after they attended a meeting in Fayetteville to learn more about the curriculum.
“The curriculum was very attractive to me,” Pruett said. “It was very much like a private school.”
“There’s just a lot more at your disposal,” she said. The children were homeschooled before joining ARVS.
Because ARVS is a program of the Arkansas Department of Education, it is considered under public school jurisdiction.
Pruett said her sons could play football at Siloam Springs, be in the band and be involved in other extracurricular activities if they choose.
