Home plus school

Yet, the perception remains even today that these are children in isolation, learning God knows what. But that’s hardly the case; they have every opportunity as their peers in public school. If mom or dad isn’t comfortable with a subject, then some other mom or dad in their homeschool alliance probably is. Homeschool World, a magazine dedicated to home education, on its website lists 85 homeschool alliances throughout Florida; there are at least two in Marion — Christian Home Educators Association and Home Education After Righteous Teaching, or HEART.

Or, there’s the free Marion Virtual School, an online “campus” with dozens of academic courses taught by local certified teachers; it’s a franchise of the Florida Virtual School, its statewide counterpart. But Marion Virtual offers a diploma, Archibald says.

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Virtual school gaining popularity in Marion County

Imagine a school where every student has a front-row seat, shows up at his or her convenience and works at an individual pace.

Some are shaking their heads: “No, could never happen here.” But Marion Virtual School is happening here. Students log on, learn and interact electronically – all from home. Parents, teachers and students give it high marks.

“We have 2,500 students,” said Carolyn Ayres, franchise manager for Marion Virtual School, a program of Marion County Public Schools. “We offer everything, the same as a brick-and-mortar school. We are a franchise with Florida Virtual School with 32 teachers. Eleven are full time, and all are employees of the Marion County school system. We are a well-kept secret. We’ve been a school in Marion County for five years.”

Twenty-nine of Florida’s 67 counties have a virtual school program.

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