For generations there were only two approaches for educating children. The two choices were traditional classroom or homeschooling. While there were multiple traditional school environments to choose from such as private, public, magnet, etc., the idea was that the student would go to a brick and mortar building and sit behind a desk to learn. With the evolution of electronics and the Internet came a new way to gain an education through online K-12 schools.

The idea of online learning is not new. For years college students have had the opportunity to take some or all of their classes off of the Internet. Now that idea has been adapted for younger generations. An online K-12 school is an organization that offers elementary through high school diplomas on the Internet via Internet classes. Most of the schools offer math, English, science, history, and SAT/ACT preparation.

Washington's first online K-12 school is the Internet Academy. The Internet Academy, whose headquarters are in Federal Way, has been around for more than a decade. Students who are above or below the average, or have trouble learning in a conventional classroom, or those with social challenges, physical handicaps, and health issues can learn in a safe environment and can benefit from online K-12 schools. For many of these students there are multiple reasons that would otherwise take them out of the classroom. Now, they can take the classroom with them or learn at their own pace.

Melissa Anderson, wife of Joint Base Lewis-McChord Staff Sgt. Damon Anderson, uses an online education program to homeschool their 11-year-old daughter, Monaiy. When asked about the program, Anderson said, "I highly recommend it to any family.  Staying at home and being that sole person teaching your child can be very challenging.  Our children are being taught by us from the time they are born. Online education allows us as parents to continue that one-on-one instruction in the home environment.  This program not only provides us with the freedom of learning but the freedom to be able to cope with the ever increasing demands of military life.  Being a military family and having a husband who is on active duty and gets deployed often can take a heavy toll on a child's learning as it did our child.  Her father is currently deployed.  Online education has allowed her to spend quality personal time with her father before his deployment, something she would not have been able to do attending school.  She was able to cope with the separation and still be able to continue her work and stay on track at her own pace."

Every program has its cons, however. While the cost of public school is often cheap, if not free, there are costs associated with online schools. Students attending online schools must find social and extracurricular activities in the community instead of at school. The person to person instruction from the teacher is limited and the ability to ask immediate questions often delayed.

Even with the cons, there are multiple pros that go along with online education. Programs such as the one offered at the Internet Academy encompass a variety of different learning techniques. The content is delivered in online lessons along with traditional materials, including textbooks, CDs, videos, and hands-on components that complement online learning. Many online institutions offer individual learning plans customized to each student. Unlike the traditional classroom, online learning has a coach aspect to it. Parents take a larger role in their child's learning; they are instrumental in the child's online education by facilitating the progress of the student - especially in grades K-8. Parents provide motivation and accountability to the child, making sure the student gets his or her work done. Online education offers the highest in cutting-edge technology. School is not set for a strict time and place. Students can learn anytime and anywhere as long as they have access to the Internet. This frees parent's schedules and opens opportunity for children to travel. High school students can get jobs during the day and take their classes at night or on the weekend.

While online education may not be right for every student, the idea of learning at home behind a computer screen is catching speed with many in the education community.