About 3,500 students in Texas are enrolled in online public schools

From The Dallas Morning News: About 3,500 Texas kids are enrolled in online public schools, a free alternative to brick-and-mortar education. These schools must meet the same state-mandated curriculum requirements as any other public school in Texas. But the students enrolled in the state's three virtual public schools do much of their work – including readings, exams and live class participation – using the laptop computers supplied by the schools. Parents say the virtual schools offer their children opportunities – and safety – that they could not find in traditional public schools.