Are homeschool and virtual school the same thing?
Learn the difference between homeschooling and virtual school with help from fellow home educators.
Education has evolved significantly in recent years, with an increasing number of families turning to alternative learning options, such as home education and virtual school. While both involve learning outside of a traditional brick-and-mortar school setting, there are distinct differences between homeschooling and virtual schooling. However, as our Homeschool+ Advisors share, elements of virtual learning can play a positive role in homeschooling.
What is Virtual School?
Virtual school, also known as online school or remote learning, is a form of education that provides all instruction online. Virtual school offers a wide range of courses and subjects, from core academics to specialized electives, that are all delivered through digital platforms.
Students typically access lessons, assignments, and resources online, communicate with teachers and classmates through virtual classrooms, and submit their school work electronically. Students learn from the comforts of their own home and can fine tune their learning environment to best suit their needs.
Virtual school does not require parent involvement, as all learning, planning, grading, and assessments are directed by a teacher. Many consider virtual school to follow the same parameters as public school, with instructional hours and schedules often mimicking traditional school hours.
Key Differences Between Virtual School and Homeschool
While homeschooling families often learn at home and may use online curriculum materials, homeschooling and virtual school are quite different, with the biggest contrast found in who is leading the child’s education. Virtual school is led by a teacher with little parent involvement. Homeschool is directed by a parent or guardian with little involvement from professional teachers.
Home educators are solely responsible for lesson planning, instruction, progress tracking, and all other elements of their child’s education. They may choose to hire tutors to teach certain subjects, use purchased curriculum materials to help facilitate instruction, or even sign a child up for virtual instruction in specific courses.
Home educators can change their approach to teaching anytime to suit their child’s needs. Virtual school students must adhere to the educational practices of their school. Homeschool families also have flexibility in their school schedule and incorporate learning into the day wherever it fits, while virtual students must follow the schedule outlined by their school.
Homeschool families also have to comply with their state’s legal requirements for home education, which vary from state to state. Families using virtual school don’t have to worry about meeting certain educational criteria, as that responsibility falls on the virtual school.
Homeschool and virtual school each offer unique educational experiences. Homeschooling provides a greater level of flexibility and customization but requires parents to be heavily involved in all aspects of instruction. Virtual school offers the convenience of certified teachers handling instruction and requires little parental involvement but students need to follow the schedules and curriculum chosen by the school.
Ultimately, the decision between homeschooling and virtual school depends on your family’s specific needs, resources, and lifestyle. It’s important to consider factors like your availability as an educator and your child’s level of independence when considering homeschool and virtual school. Regardless of the choice you make, the most crucial aspect is creating an environment where your child feels supported, motivated, and engaged in their educational journey.
Homeschooling Vs. Virtual School
Homeschooling | Virtual School | |
Curriculum and Instruction | Allows for complete flexibility in curriculum choices. Parents or guardians select materials and resources that align with their child’s interests and educational goals and tailor instruction to meet individual needs and pace. | Typically offers pre-designed curricula that adhere to academic standards. Students engage in online lessons and activities guided by certified teachers via online platforms, including video lectures, interactive assignments, and virtual classrooms. |
Schedule | Offers the freedom to create a personalized schedule and allows for individualized attention and exploration. Families can determine the best daily routine, incorporating breaks, field trips, and extracurricular activities as desired. | Often follows a structured schedule that mimics traditional school hours. Students have set times for attending live classes, completing assignments, and participating in virtual discussions. |
Learning Environment | Occurs within the home or any chosen learning environment. Families control the space and can create a personalized learning environment that’s designed to meet specific needs, such as minimizing distractions or maximizing hands-on experiences. | Learn from the comfort of home or any location with internet access. Utilize computers or other devices to access learning materials and interact with teachers and peers online. |
Teacher Support | Parents or guardians are often the primary educators. They select and deliver the curriculum, provide instruction, and assess their child’s progress. Typically fosters strong family relationships and allows support and instruction to be tailored to each child. | Provides students with access to certified teachers who deliver instruction and support academic progress. Teachers offer guidance, answer questions, provide feedback and grades, and facilitate virtual discussions. |
Social Interaction | Homeschooled students often have siblings and parents to interact with while learning and typically join local sports teams, clubs, and homeschool organizations to engage with other students. | While virtual schooling offers opportunities for online collaboration and interaction, it lacks in-person, face-to-face socialization. Some virtual schools provide virtual clubs and social events to help students connect with their peers. Virtual students can join local clubs and organizations for in-person activities. |
Home Educators Compare Homeschool & Virtual School
One Main Difference
To those without experience in homeschooling or virtual schooling, the two can easily get lumped into the same category. A simple way to identify the difference between homeschool and virtual school is this: virtual school is a traditional education minus the building, whereas homeschool provides families with the freedom to create a much more child-centered, individualized, and hands-on learning plan.
Virtual schooling can be a great option for students that may not thrive inside a school environment and who require a flexible schedule and individual pacing while being taught in a traditional manner. For many homeschooling families, the choice is based not only on having the authority to decide what and how their children learn but also on the relationships and experiences they can provide that would not be possible in a traditional school setting.
Add Digital Learning to Home Education
While virtual school and home school are different, some home educators choose to incorporate digital lessons into their curriculum. For example, my oldest son has done higher-level math classes online because I wasn’t comfortable teaching them. And he’s also taken advantage of online opportunities such as the NASA High School Aerospace Scholars program to learn about space exploration, Earth science, technology, and aeronautics.
Homeschool or School From Home
Homeschooling is about the home educator being in the driver’s seat of the child’s education. You may hire tutors, go to co-ops, or do tons of online classes. But if you are making the decisions about the what, when, where, how, and why of your child’s educational journey, then you are homeschooling.
If, on the other hand, your child is enrolled in an online school that makes the lion’s share of decisions about what is taught, scheduled, etc …, then that is technically not homeschooling. Your child is attending school from home.
Create a Blended Option
Homeschool involves an adult, often a parent or guardian, who leads, plans, and conducts learning in the home environment. They are responsible for grading lessons and reporting student progress according to their state laws.
Virtual school does not require special legal status if the program being used is an accredited online school. With virtual school, parents and guardians don’t participate in planning, grading, offering additional support, or reporting student progress.
In our current digital age, homeschool families are fortunate to have somewhat of a blended option. This includes control of the environment, resources, lesson planning, and grade reporting while adding rich online resources to help meet academic goals and enhance your child’s learning experiences. Being an established homeschool while integrating online resources for student learning is a wonderful way for your child to meet their academic potential.
Key Differences Between Homeschool & Virtual School
- Homeschool allows for complete flexibility in curriculum choices. Virtual school typically offers pre-designed curricula that adhere to academic standards.
- In homeschooling, home educators–typically a parent or guardian–make the majority of the decisions about education. In virtual school, the school and certified teacher make the majority of decisions.
- Homeschooling offers the freedom to create a personalized schedule and allows for individualized attention and exploration. Virtual school often follows a structured schedule that mimics traditional school hours.
- Parents or guardians are often the primary educators with homeschooling. Certified teachers deliver the bulk of instruction and support academic progress in a virtual school.
How Homeschool+ Can Help Your Homeschool
Our customizable curriculum is designed to support homeschoolers with online and offline learning. Robust home educators tools allow you to easily adjust lesson plans, track progress, and switch between students. Learn more about Homeschool+ can enrich your homeschool.
