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 Virtual school works

Thank you for the Jan. 15 article, "Students download an education," and the opportunity to continue discussing virtual public charter schools.

Our daughter is a fourth-grader in the Idaho Virtual Academy (IDVA) and we continue to be pleased with the rigorous Western civilization-based curriculum, the mastery teaching method (meaning she doesn't start a new concept until she thoroughly understands the present one), and the Internet delivery. For third grade she transferred from IDVA to Mountain View Elementary, one of the two Boise schools that adopted the same curriculum IDVA uses. We switched back because of personal preference, but it's telling that the shrinking Boise School District is copying a public charter school, presumably with the goals of attracting new students and improving the performance of present ones.

Competition from charters, including virtual public charter schools, improves education for all students. Hence all public school patrons have an interest in growing, thriving public charter schools.

Our virtual public charter school is a good fit for our family, and we are counting on the Legislature to continue its good work and ensure IDVA receives the funding to which it is entitled so our child can continue to thrive.

Briana LeClaire, Meridian