Join Ekaterina for a conversation with Dr. Rachel Krenek, an expert in alternative education, to learn about virtual schools in the United States and why parents choose to send their kids to cyber charter schools. If you'd like to learn more about virtual schools in Pennsylvania, check this article: https://blog.pavcsk12.org/what-are-th...Time codes: 1:11 Rachel’s story, what inspired her to dive into the field of education, including her time at The Cyert Center for Early Education at Carnegie Mellon University04:05 Differences between traditional education, homeschooling and virtual education 5:39 The Benefits of Virtual Learning 06:25 Synchronous learning 06:57 Do you have to pay for virtual school? 07:52 How to kids socialize in virtual school? Do they have in person interaction? 09:49 When the virtual school starts (time of the day) and flexible asynchronous options 11:12 Twilight Hours for High School students who are night owls or can’t attend school early in the morning due to work or other commitments 12:34 When you can switch to virtual school from a traditional school 13:46 Reasons why parents send kids to virtual schools, including safety concerns and gun violence, bullying, work in agriculture, kids with disabilities 16:20 Parental involvement in student’s education in virtual school, learning coach, how much support is needed from parents 18:12 Grades 19:11 Why standardized testing is in person at virtual school, travel reimbursement 20:10 Virtual School class sizes and age gaps in each grade, different ability groups 22:42 Honors programs for middle and high school 23:25 How virtual schools accommodate kids with disabilities, including IEPs and 504 Plans 25:48 Myths and misconceptions about virtual schools, including screen fatigue. Do kids pay more attention in a traditional school or virtual school? 28:34 Synchronous and asynchronous learning and its combo (hybrid model) 30:18 What subjects cannot be taught virtually? How is PE (Physical Education) addressed in a virtual school? 31:52 How cheating is addressed 32:59 Students in a wheelchair and PE 33:45 Can deaf and blind students participate in virtual schools? 35:18 Virtual schools in Pennsylvania and other states 37:03 Can non-Pennsylvania residents participate in a Pennsylvania-based virtual school? RV travel, checking IP address38:16 Excused absences 38:57 Summary, pros and cons of virtual schools 40:17 Alternative education conclusion #virtualschool #alternativeeducation #cyberschool #education #k12 #k12virtual #childdevelopment