The rising number of students utilizing online education has just added fuel to the fiery debate between school choice proponents and traditional school advocates regarding the purpose of this educational option.  Teachers unions and other brick and mortar proponents believe that schools electing to utilize virtual education are only thinking about their bottom line, while school choice advocates and virtual school families know that it is more about providing students with the opportunity to receive and education the traditional school cannot provide.

As Rebekah Richards, chief academic officer for the American Academy says in a piece featured on nodropouts.org, why can't it be about both?

Online learning provides public school students, especially those living in poor or rural areas, with the ability to take courses not offered by their home school for free.  Courses such as Advanced Placement and foreign language are costly for school districts to operate.  By offering the courses online, schools are able to nix the need to provide facilities and increased staff, while still being able to offer students with the opportunity to take the courses.

Virtual education can also be a tremendous asset for students struggling to make up courses in time to graduate.  Schools in places with high dropout rates such as New York City, Chicago, and Memphis have all be utilizing virtual education to help students complete high school. 

According to the New York Times, Sheffield High School in Memphis, which once had a graduation rate below 60 percent, is set to award 86 percent of the class of 2011 with diplomas.  Elvin Bell, the school's graduation coach, said the increase in graduation rate is thanks in part to the online credit recovery option.

So whether looking to expand course offerings to students looking for a challenge, or help students graduate without increasing costs, virtual education is an option school districts should consider pursuing.