Classes are held by computer, teachers and staff work from a central office, and students sign in from their home desktop or laptop computers. It's not all reading, writing and arithmetic. In gym class over the Web, pupils keep daily logs of their exercises. They learn music theory online, then go to a designated campus for piano or guitar lessons. They can fax, e-mail or bring in art projects completed at home.
Parents even dial in for an online PTA meeting.
He completes the lessons, working with online teachers, who include a special education expert, to keep him focused. Not only was his social life falling apart, but his academics were, too. Douglas, who stays home with his father in Pittsburgh, socializes with other children at after-school sessions, sporting events and church groups, she said. The going has been bumpy for some online schools. Teachers have to keep up student interest with interactive lessons, guard against student cheating and do without body language or verbal cues to tell them whether students understand lectures.