Online high schools in Ohio

Tuition-free online high schools are not a new development in Ohio. For example, the Ohio Virtual Academy, or OHVA, began operations in 2002 as a publicly funded community school. The Columbus-based Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow went online to public high school students in 2001, and thousands of students have graduated through the ECOT program.

The State of Ohio pays tuition for public schools that offer online training. Several online high schools in Ohio offer an alternative to enrollment in one of more than 800 campus-based schools in the Buckeye State. Online high schools in Ohio can be affiliated with a school district or a charter contract with the Ohio Council of Community Schools, or they can be certified by the Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools.

Curriculum for Ohio online high schools

Many public online high schools in Ohio today are charter schools, which provide the curriculum designed to satisfy graduation requirements set by the state. Students must pass all sections of the State of Ohio Proficiency or Ohio Graduation Tests, earn 20 high school credits, and carry four classes minimum per semester. The curriculum includes three units each of English language, mathematics, social studies and science. Students must also complete six units of electives and a half-unit each of health and physical education. Online elective courses include career planning and computer technology skills.

The ECOT website explains that distance learning suits students who work, change schools in mid-year, seek an extra challenge or don't fit into a traditional school setting. Flexible scheduling is also provided by private online schools, which often offer a customized study plan for individual needs. Ohio students can take virtual courses to supplement regular classes, or enroll in full-time online programs that grant high school diplomas.