Reporter: Johnny Archer

Home schooling is moving into the future. Parents now have a whole new way to teaching their children from home.

The Bonneville Joint School District  is integrating a progressive curriculum on a digital platform for students who are taught from their home.

The Bonneville District Virtual Academy offers home-schooled students in grades K through 8 a customized learning plan for each student.

"I absolutely love the virtual academy," says Julie Zuck, who has three kids participating in the Bonneville District Virtual Academy. "I think the curriculum is just phenomenal and the standards are very high."

The district provides computers and materials free of cost to each student, incorporating online lessons and hands-on activities for students to learn at their own pace under the supervision of the parent and a teacher who checks up on the student once a week.

"I think it is a phenomenal program," says Virtual School Administrator Veronica Godinez. "If I could have the opportunity to home-school my own children I'd do it."

There are currently 71 students involved in  the program. The district not only provides courses from math to music to foreign language, but social activities for the students as well.

"We have a swim team that meets Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the aquatic center from 1 - 3:30," says Godinez. "We also have different events. We do bowling the 2nd and 4th Friday of the month. We have gym days at the Apple the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month. And we have different social activities as well."

The academy is open to any student in grades K-8 that lives anywhere in Eastern Idaho.

If parents would like to find out more about the academy, there will be informational meetings for parents the first and last Wednesday of February at 7:00 p.m. at Rocky Mountain Middle School.

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