NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Some call it the future of education: virtual schools. For the first time, Metro Schools is now offering the option on a full-time basis.
For Brianna and Brooke Frensley, there is no school dress code. They can dress how they like, because school is wherever a computer is.
Last week while their friends sat in class, these laptop equipped sophomores went on an RV trip to Dollywood, mixing vacation and learning.
Brianna and Brooke are part of the first batch of full-time, virtual high school students in Metro. There is flexibility in online classes.
"I can do it at home, I can work at my own pace, I have a job, so I can go and do my job and then come back," Brooke said.
Virtual High School Principal Barbra Thoeming oversees a program that started last month, with a team of around 20 educators.
It's a multi-media, interactive curriculum, with full-time students taking final exams in front of human beings. But along the way, online coursework is also graded.
A phone call, or webcam chat between an educator and student can take care of the question of whether the student actually did the work.
"It's an oral exam, and there are no questions to prep for, you have done the material, let's talk about it," said Thoeming.
Alton Knight had his doubts about virtual schooling. He was concerned about the lack of face to face contact between teacher and pupil.
But the 36-year teaching veteran actually learned something himself.
"We're interacting more on a personal level with each other so its really been great," Knight said.
Educators said in many ways, the curriculum Brianna and Brooke work with, is more rigorous than traditional school, but it is not for everyone.
Students have to have a 2.5 GPA, and be motivated to learn, and deal with almost daily deadlines.
Right now, there are just 15, full-time students, and a 134 part-time students in Metro's virtual school program.
The principal expects those numbers to dramatically increase when enrollment starts again in December.
This is open to high school students only, but the district hopes to expand the program over the next three to four years.
It cost close to $800,000 to launch this program. The money comes partly from Metro and Federal funding.
Students outside the district can also enroll; go to Metro Schools website for more information.
