Alabama parents know their children’s needs better than any school administrator, district program manager, or state-level bureaucrat ever could. That is not a political statement. It is a sentiment that many families across this state are expressing more vocally.
For decades, parents and children who needed alternative education options were let down or ignored by Alabama’s education establishment. Thankfully, we now have online educational options that are helping change that paradigm.
I’ve read a lot recently about how certain district-based virtual schools are reimagining how we educate our students. During my research, I realized that many virtual students live with special needs and anxiety disorders. Others simply require learning environments that do not fit inside a brick-and-mortar classroom. These programs – a true personalized option – represent a lifeline.
Loviessa Butler is an educator and a mother of three. Her twins, Hosea and Nala, have significant learning needs. Diagnosed with autism at age three, Hosea was nonverbal, while Nala experienced speech delays and intellectual disabilities. Butler recognized that a traditional classroom setting would create barriers for her children rather than open doors.
After enrolling her twins in Alabama Destinations Career Academy, Hosea began recognizing letters and speaking words. Nala, meanwhile, is reading aloud with confidence, revisiting lessons at her own pace. Butler’s youngest, Samya, attends Alabama Virtual Academy, where a flexible gifted program lets her learn on her own terms.
Three children, three different paths, one family with the freedom to choose what works.
Nick Limberakis tells a similar story. A retired combat veteran who served this country for 16 years, Limberakis watched his son John struggle for years with social separation anxiety, making traditional schooling nearly impossible. In 2019, he enrolled John in Alabama Virtual Academy. The transformation was not overnight, but it was real. A young man who was once paralyzed by fear is now a ninth-grader preparing to begin dual enrollment courses and has more of a vision for the future.
Limberakis says that without an alternative option, his son might have become another statistic. Instead, he found a way forward.
The growth of virtual schools in Alabama confirms this option is no radical experiment. The examples above are not fringe cases. They are evidence that the one-size-fits-all model does not work.
Alabama conservatives recognize that competition and choice improve outcomes, that centralized systems are resistant to change, and that parents are not obstacles to their children’s education. When a parent evaluates all options and chooses the one that fits his or her child’s needs, we see parental rights in action.
Critics of school choice are always quick to point out the “dismantling” of public education that comes with newer educational models. Often lost in this outcry is the fact that thousands of Alabama students feel trapped in a system that may not serve them best.
Butler’s twins were not a budget line item, and Limberakis’ son was not another statistic. Instead, they are children who needed something different. Thankfully, Alabama policymakers gave them personalized learning options.
Highlighting the benefits of virtual schools is something that I look forward to doing more of in the coming years. The technology exists. The programs are working. Most importantly, students and families are grateful that we are listening.
Emily Jones is a candidate for Alabama State School Board District 8, and she writes regularly on education issues and parental rights in Alabama.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to [email protected].
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