When I was finishing elementary school, my small town decided to begin Уopen enrollmentФ meaning students could attend whichever public school they preferred. Since my big brother went to the local one, I hiked a mile for three years to the one other junior high. In Colorado, students can attend any school in the state Ц including virtual schools. ThatТs turned Branson, Colorado, a tiny place with just 56 student of its own, into an education magnet (free registration required).

The town hosts an online school, Branson Online, for some 1000 additional students. All the locals who want jobs with the school have them, including the mayor, who teaches via e-mail. The money is good as the state contributes $5,600 per pupil, which covers a computer and high speed Internet access for the distance learners. Some students are pursuing arts, music or sports and like the flexible schedule. Others are disabled, and still others have been in trouble with the law. Unfortunately, at this point, scores are low, and one in four drops out. I suppose these are growing pains for the new methodology, but they are also challenges for one of the key parts of school: socialization. That I fear, requires being in the same place at the same time.