By Kristin Rover
Sun staff

For Kane Hacker, 14, of Williamsburg, learning at school was difficult.

“He was struggling,” Kane’s mother Rachel Hacker, said. “He is sensitive to environmental things. He was struggling with so many kids.”

Rachel Hacker said they had been thinking about making a change and finally decided to enroll Kane in Ohio Virtual Academy, a full-time online public school option for students K-12 in Ohio.

Hacker said the academy is like a virtual classroom and enables Kane to learn in a different environment.

“It’s a virtual classroom,” she said. “The curriculum is all planned out. The parent’s responsibility is to go through the lessons he has to do on his own.”

According to Kelsey Ruane, public relations account executive for Ohio Virtual Academy, the online academy enables students to receive support from teachers and have an individualized learning plan online. The academy also offers enrichment programs as well as extracurricular activities and online clubs.

Hacker said she likes that teachers can help the students with what they are struggling with, and she said the teachers can also help the parents too.

“They can change his class schedule, add in tutoring or small groups,” Hacker said. “They even have parent sessions.”

Kane Hacker said he feels like the virtual academy is better for him.

“I like that it’s just me and my mom,” Kane said. “If I have questions I can ask, and I don’t have to compete with other kids for her attention. I am more relaxed about my classes, I know I can go at my own pace.”

Hacker said she has seen a change in her son since he began with virtual academy.

“There have been huge changes,” she said. “He is much more relaxed and doesn’t stress out about school as much as he did. He doesn’t feel rushed. If he is struggling with one thing he can take more time with that.”

Kane said he likes online classes because he can concentrate better and doesn’t have to worry about if he is fidgeting or disrupting anyone else in class.

Rachel Hacker said she does have to work to find social interaction for Kane now that he is not at school. She said virtual academy does have events where students can interact.

“The last one they had at COSI,” Hacker said.

She said she would encourage Ohio Virtual Academy for students who need a more focused environment, though she said parents also have to have a level of commitment.

“You do have to have a level of commitment yourself,” Hacker said. “I still have to get on there and see what he has to do and make sure he is on task.”

For more information about Ohio Virtual Academy visit http://www.k12.com/ohva.