K-12 Virtual Public Schools: A Study of Parent Choice Reasons

The researchers explored Tennessee parent reasons for choosing a K-12 public school district virtual school for their children. Tennessee virtual public school principals were asked to forward a survey link to parents. Results indicated that parents believe that the virtual school option provides learning opportunities that better meet student needs and a structure that supports family flexibility. Additionally, some parents experienced the traditional school environment negatively and the virtual school provided an alternative. This study adds to the existing and emerging knowledge on parent reasons for choosing a public school virtual option and provides direction for additional research.