A fast-growing number of Minnesota K-12 students are migrating from the classroom to a home computer, in what some experts say is the vanguard of an online education revolution that’s altering how and where many students learn.

Enrollment in full- and part-time public online programs has nearly doubled in a two-year period — going from 4,500 to 8,000 students last year, about 1 percent of the state’s student body.

Advocates say online courses reach students for whom classrooms can be social or logistical minefields: teen moms, elite athletes, bully victims. Many previously home-schooled students now take courses online.

But while some Minnesota online schools tout impressive test scores, many fall short of statewide performance levels in reading, science and especially math. Many educators say that’s because struggling students often turn to online options. Others question the rigor of some online programs.

“We’ve seen several cases where students … earn a whole bunch of credits so fast that it’s inconceivable,” said Charlie Kyte, head of the Minnesota Association of School Administrators. He said virtual learning can be valuable, but the quality varies widely.

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From StarTribune.com

By EMILY JOHNS and SARAH LEMAGIE