The article in Sunday’s newspaper wrongly focuses on the for-profit status and lobbying ties of the virtual school educational service providers while failing to address the need for school choice for all of Maine’s students.

For-profit companies are not new to education; neither are lobbyists. The teachers have lobbyists, as do the superintendents. The relevant group in the educational system without lobbyists is the students.

I volunteer as president of the governing board of the prospective Maine Virtual Academy charter school. I have two children whose educational needs were not met in high-ranking public schools.

Age-based education meets the needs of many students but by no means all. I have one child who attends a private online high school run by a leading research university. I have another who, effective this fall, will take middle-school classes from two universities, as well as K12.

Online education is not new. Thirty states allow for full-time virtual education. It is not for everyone, but it clearly works for many families across the country. Typically, in states with long-standing open enrollment, virtual schools account for 1 percent of the school population.

Our board is committed to bringing quality, mastery-based virtual education to Maine. If authorized as a charter school, we will be party to a contract with the Charter School Commission. This contract will include measurable goals for academic growth and proficiency that we have established for our school community.

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Our governing board will be accountable to the commission. K12 and the head of school will be accountable to our board.

Virtual education will open a vast, well-researched curriculum to all students of Maine. Let us not lose sight of the best interest of our students.

Amy Carlisle

Falmouth


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