Charter Schools: Does state law explicitly allow virtual charter schools?

January 2018

This resource contains information about the 44 states, plus the District of Columbia, with charter school laws. It does not contain any information for the six states that have not enacted charter school laws.

Please contact Micah Ann Wixom or mwixom@ecs.org with questions or comments about the database.
 

	Does state law explicitly allow virtual charter schools?
Alabama	No
Alaska	No
Arizona	Yes. The state board of education and state-approved charter authorizers are required to develop standards for the approval of online course providers and online schools based on itemized criteria. Citations: Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 15-808
Arkansas	No
California	Yes. State law defines a "virtual or online charter school" as a charter school in which 80% or more of teacher and pupil interaction occurs via the Internet. However, this provision is scheduled to sunset effective January 1, 2018. Citations: Cal. Educ. Code § 51747
Colorado	Yes. State law defines "online pupil" as a child who receives educational services predominantly through a multi-district online school. The state charter school institute may authorize a multi-district online school but is first required to apply to the online division within the department of education for certification of such a school. Citations: Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 22-30.7-101; Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 22-30.7-106; Colo. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 22-30.7-103
Connecticut	No
Delaware	No
District of Columbia	No
Florida	Yes. A virtual charter school may: Contract with the Florida Virtual School. Contract with an approved provider. Enter into an agreement with a school district to allow the participation of the virtual charter school's students in the school district's virtual instruction program. The agreement must indicate a process for reporting of student enrollment and the transfer of funds. The department is required to annually publish online a list of providers approved to offer virtual instruction programs. Citations: Fla. Stat. Ann. § 1002.33; Fla. Stat. Ann. § 1002.45
Georgia	No. However, policy related to state charter school funding includes provisions such as "In the event that a state charter school offers virtual instruction..." suggesting virtual charter schools are tacitly allowed. Citations: Ga. Code Ann. § 20-2-2068.1; Ga. Code Ann. § 20-2-2089
Hawaii	Yes. The definition of a charter school includes virtual instruction as a potential alternative framework for a charter school. Citations: Haw. Rev. Stat. § 302D-1
Idaho	Yes. “Virtual school” means a school that delivers a full-time, sequential program of synchronous and/or asynchronous instruction primarily through the use of technology via the internet in a distributed environment. Schools classified as virtual must have an online component to their school with online lessons and tools for student and data management. A virtual charter may be approved by any authorizing entity (including the state board of education) except a local board.    Citations: Idaho Code Ann. § 33-5202A; Idaho Code Ann. § 33-5203; Idaho Code Ann. § 33-5205; Idaho Code Ann. § 33-5207
Illinois	Yes. “Virtual-schooling” is defined as a cyber school where students engage in online curriculum and instruction via the Internet and electronic communication with their teachers at remote locations and with students participating at different times. Citations: 105 Ill. Comp. Stat. Ann. § 5/27A-5
Indiana	Yes. A charter school is not prohibited from delivering instructional services through the Internet or another online arrangement or in any manner by computer and if hey follow the department of education's procedures governing online and computer instruction. A "'virtual charter school" is defined as any charter school, including a conversion charter school, that provides for the delivery of more than 50% in an interactive learning environment created through technology in which students are separated from their teacher by time or space, or both. Citations: Ind. Code Ann. § 20-24-8-2; Ind. Code Ann. § 20-24-7-13
Iowa	No
Kansas	Yes. However, the virtual schools act does not refer to such schools as charter schools. A virtual school is defined as any school or educational program that: Is offered for credit. Uses distance-learning technologies which predominately use internet-based methods to deliver instruction. Involves instruction that occurs asynchronously with the teacher and student in separate locations. Requires the student to make academic progress toward the next grade level and matriculation from kindergarten through high school graduation. Requires the student to demonstrate competence in subject matter for each class or subject in which the student is enrolled as part of the virtual school. Requires age-appropriate students to complete state assessment tests. Citations: Kan. Stat. Ann. § 72-72-3711
Kentucky	No. State law explicitly states that a public charter school may not be a virtual charter school. Citations: Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 160.1591
Louisiana	Yes. However, specific terminology used is "course providers." “Course provider” is defined as an entity that offers individual courses in person or online, including but not limited to online or virtual education providers, postsecondary education institutions, including any postsecondary institution under the management of the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges, and corporations that offer vocational or technical course work in their field, and have been authorized to provide such courses by the state board.   Citations: La. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 17:4002.1 to La. Rev. Stat. Ann.§ 4002.6
Maine	Yes Citations: Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. 20-A § 2401
Maryland	No
Massachusetts	No
Michigan	Yes. Cyber charter schools are classified as "schools of excellence." Cyber charter schools are issued a contract to be organized and operated as a cyber school that provides full-time instruction to pupils through online learning or otherwise on a computer or other technology, which instruction and learning may be remote from a school facility.    Citations: Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 380.551
Minnesota	Yes Citations: Minn. Stat. Ann. § 124D.095
Mississippi	No. However, a charter school may contract with an accredited online course provider to deliver online courses, subject to approval from the authorizer.  Citations: Miss. Code Ann. § 37-28-43
Missouri	No
Nevada	Yes. Charter schools may provide a program of distance education under that state's distance education program. Charter school applications must indicate if the school provide a program of distance education. Students enrolled in a charter school may enroll in a full-time distance education program only if the charter school in which the student is enrolled provides a program of distance education.  Citations: Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 388A.366; Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. §388.383; Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 388.358; Nev. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 388A.246
New Hampshire	Yes Citations: N.H. Rev. Stat. § 194-B:11
New Jersey	No
New Mexico	No. However, regulations for distance learning, including online schools, encompass charter schools and charter schools offering distance learning programs must be located in the state.  Citations: N.M. Admin. Code 6.30.8, N.M. Admin. Code 6.80.4.18
New York	No
North Carolina	No
Ohio	Yes. There is a limit of 5 new virtual charter schools each year, and applications require the approval of the superintendent of public instruction. Citations: Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3314.013, Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3314.02, Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3314.03
Oklahoma	Yes Citations: Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 3-145.1; Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 3-145.3
Oregon	Yes Citations: Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 338.005; Or. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 338.120
Pennsylvania	Yes Citations: 24 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 17-1703-A; 24 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 17-1741-A through 24 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 17-1751-A
Rhode Island	No. The Statewide Virtual Education Act does not include any provisions specific to charter schools. Citations: R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-22.1-1 et al.
South Carolina	No. Charter schools may offer virtual instruction but may not provide more than 75% of core academic instruction in K-12 grades via online or virtual instruction. The remaining 25% of core academic instruction may be met through regular instructional opportunities in real time directly related to the school's curricular objectives, such as meetings with teachers and educational outings. Charter school students may enroll in the department of education's virtual education program. Citations: S.C. Code Ann. § 59-40-40; S.C. Code Ann. § 59-40-65
Tennessee	No. State law specifically prohibits virtual charter schools. Citations: Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-13-106
Texas	No
Utah	Yes. A charter school created exclusively for the purpose of serving students online may offer online courses to eligible students through the statewide online education program. Citations: Utah Code Ann. § 53A-15-1205
Virginia	No
Washington	No
Wisconsin	Yes Citations: Wis. Stat. Ann. § 118.40; Wis. Stat. Ann. § 115.001
Wyoming	No

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