Northside Neighbor (GA) - Georgia Virtual Academy provides online option

Northside Neighbor (GA)
Georgia Virtual Academy provides online option

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Wendy Lamb was very interested in home schooling for her 9-year-old daughter Avery, but found it difficult to find a state-approved curriculum.

"There's a lot of red tape," said Ms. Lamb, a resident of Sandy Springs.

She and other parents interested in alternatives to traditional public schooling now have a new option.

On June 27, the Georgia Board of Education unanimously approved an amendment to offer an online program curriculum for students across the state.

The Georgia Virtual Academy, a tuition-free program, will begin serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade across the state this school year.

"It's a public school and accredited and it's more structured than other home-schooling programs," Ms. Lamb said. "I think it will definitely add an element of working independently."

Georgia Virtual Academy will use the curriculum and school services provided by K12 Inc.—a Herndon, Va.-based provider of individualized, one-to-one learning solutions for students in online schools and traditional classrooms.

Michael Maslayak, K12 national director for children and families, said the program is "self-paced" so families are able to individualize the program.

"It's not a one-size-fits-all curriculum," he said. "It's one of the best online curriculums that integrates the best online components."

Students will be held accountable for academic progress and attendance requirements, and will also be required to participate in Georgia's Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT) and other standardized tests.

Though she doesn't have plans to begin until the 2008 school year, Avery Lamb can already see the benefits of the academy.

"I won't have to wear a uniform," she said.