Virtual Learning Makes Education for All a Reality
Tennessee is leading the way in shaping the classroom of the future. With more virtual schools and better broadband access than ever, students across the state are learning in new and exciting ways. From personalized lessons to real-time online support, school is becoming more flexible, connected and built around what students need. With connectivity in Tennessee at an all-time high, more students than ever are taking advantage of what broadband makes possible.
Some facts about digital education in Tennessee by the numbers, according to the Tennessee Department of Education’s 2023-24 Virtual Education Annual Report:
- 58—Virtual schools overseen by public school districts
- 12,630—Students enrolled in a public virtual school
- 1/3—Tennessee public high schools offering online courses in addition to traditional in-person courses
Virtual schooling offers greater opportunities, equalization and accessibility to students, especially those in rural areas. Most prominently, virtual lessons can be tailored to fit each student’s unique needs. Whether it’s customizing lesson plans for students with disabilities, reaching students in areas where in-person school is inaccessible or fitting classes around the schedules of students who have to support themselves or their families, virtual school is resonating with thousands.
In a story from WKRN, the mother of an Individual Education Program student points out that after enrolling in Tennessee Connections Academy, her son’s reading level rose from kindergarten to ninth grade in just two years. Many of these tuition-free virtual schools offer field trips, dances and other opportunities to meet in person and socialize.
Of course, online learning poses some challenges. The Department of Education report points out that more students enrolled in traditional school finish the school year than their virtual counterparts. But with the plethora of opportunities this model provides, schools must find solutions. The Department has implemented a framework to guide and analyze virtual school operations to help these schools and their students improve and succeed.
The unsung hero of virtual schools and the opportunities they afford is, of course, broadband, especially in rural areas. Broadband makes it possible for students to connect with their teachers and each other in real time or asynchronously and for teachers to properly evaluate, guide and plan for educational opportunities, like GED training and testing, to reach people no matter where they are located.