Students with Special Health Care Needs in K-12 Virtual Schools

• Published in: Educational Technology ＆ Society Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 67 - 75
• Main Authors: Fernandez, Heidi, Ferdig, Richard E, Thompson, Lindsay A, Schottke, Katherine, Black, Erik W
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Palmerston North International Forum of Educational Technology ＆ Society 01.01.2016; International Forum of Educational Technology & Society
• Subjects: Academic Achievement; At Risk Students; Children; Conventional Instruction; Demography; Disabilities; Disabled students; Distance education; Electronic Learning; Elementary Secondary Education; Epidemiology; Ethnicity; Health; Health care; Health Needs; Health Services; Incidence; Individualized Education Programs; Individualized Instruction; Individualized Programs; Intermode Differences; Mail Surveys; Mathematics education; Methods; Multivariate Analysis; Online Courses; Online education; Online instruction; Online learning; Parent Surveys; Parents; Regression (Statistics); School age children; Socioeconomic Background; Special education; Special Issue Articles; Special Needs Students; Student Characteristics; Students; Studies; Teachers; Teaching Methods; Technology application; Traditional schools; Virtual Classrooms; Students with special health care needs; Online education; Child with special health care needs screener; K-12 learning; Virtual schools
• ISSN: 1176-3647; 1436-4522; 1436-4522

This study sought to establish a baseline for understanding the epidemiology of online K-12 students with special health care needs, determine the prevalence in K-12 online schooling of students from certain racial/ethnic backgrounds, those with socioeconomic disadvantages, and determine how these students perform in online classes compared to their prior experiences in traditional, face-to-face programs. Data from two different studies was used to address these questions with the goal to support virtual K-12 schools, blended programs, and teachers as they continue to implement best practices for all students. Students with special health care needs attending virtual school are underrepresented in the literature. A possible explanation is that these students are not identified. However, current research suggests that high-risk students, with or without a disability, are choosing virtual school as a viable option (Cavanaugh, Repetto, ＆ Wayer, 2011). The Children with Special Health Care Needs screener can be used to identify these students in order to provide support beyond their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Students who need extra support, self-pacing, or cannot attend school physically can potentially benefit from virtual schooling.