Journal of K-12 Educational Research 15 location of virtual education section within the elementary and secondary education code varied from state to state. Twelve states (39%) of the states’ virtual education code were found under the subsection titled “Online Learning,” “Virtual School,” or “Virtual Education.” Seven states (22%) were found under the subsection titled, “Charter.” The remaining 12 states’ (39%) code fell under varied locations. They were “Curriculum and Instruction,” “Special Programs,” “Technology Education,” “Educational Choice,” “Educational Services,” “School Attendance,” or “State Funding.” The authorizing body of virtual education program also varied from local to different state entities, as seen in Table 1. Academic provider of virtual education program was equally diverse, as seen in Table 2, with the most common provider being the local educational entity. Virtual school implementor, shown in Table 3, and virtual school types, shown in Table 4, both revealed a wide range from different local educational bodies to varying state entities implementing the virtual school. Despite such a multifarious way of implementing and providing virtual education programs, there was consistency in the general theme of all virtual education codes. State laws on publicly funded virtual education programs focused primarily on administrative affairs, covering bureaucratic process and procedures. Authorizing Entity Three Words CO, IA, ME, MN, NM, NV, PA, SD, TX AL, IA, IN, LA, NE, WA, WI AZ, GA, KS, MA, NH, SC AR, ID, TN, UT FL OK KY CA, OR Dept. of Ed. or Subdivision Local Education Agency (LEA) State Board of Education State Legislative Act State Virtual School Board State Virtual Charter School Board Other (virtual recovery program only) Not Available 9 7 6 4 1 1 1 2 # of States Table 1. Virtual Program Authorizer Provider Entity States MI MI ME MA OK FL, ID, NM, SC, SD AL, AR, GA, NM, NV, OR, TX, UT CA, CO, LA, NH Higher Ed. Intermediate District LEA or Local Charter Private Organization State Board State Virtual Charter School Board State Virtual School Statewide – Dept. of Ed. Not Available 1 1 15 1 1 1 5 8 4 # of States Table 2. Academic Provider AL, AR, AZ, IA, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, NE, PA, SC, SD, WA, WI
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODc4ODgx