When Detroit mom Erika Kitchen saw a billboard for PrepNet Virtual Academy (PVA), she was searching for a quality online school for her two children. Now, more than two years later, Atlas and Tiana, who are in eighth and 10th grade, are thriving in a Michigan online public school that provides structure, strong academics and teacher support.
As a statewide, tuition-free online public K-12 school, PVA offers live instruction, individualized support and real-time engagement — unlike the emergency remote learning many families experienced in 2020.
A parent’s perspective: Why virtual school works for my family
Kitchen shares why her family chose PVA and how the school provides the education, structure and social opportunities her children need.
Q: What made you decide to send your kids to PrepNet Virtual Academy?
Kitchen: At that point, it was after the pandemic, and virtual learning was no longer an option for the next school year. I was searching for another school and it was a coincidence that I saw it. I looked into PVA and was impressed, so I signed them up.
Q: What stood out to you about PVA?
Kitchen: Mostly the reviews, their college prep, their curriculum. That was the most important thing. I wanted my kids to get the best education.
Q: What do you think about the teachers at PVA?
Kitchen: The teachers communicate very well. They let us know what’s going on, what students should be working on and what we should be checking in on. I also pay close attention to how dedicated they are to a child’s education. That’s the most important thing, and PVA does a great job with it.
Q: What kind of support do you get from PVA?
Kitchen: I would have to say that PVA is very involved, whether it’s technology or supplies — I mean, nothing really had to come out of our pockets except maybe some supplies that they needed. PVA has provided most of their books, even notebooks and science supplies.
Q: What are your kids’ social experiences at PVA?
Kitchen: Even though they go to virtual school, my kids make friends through school. In classes, they have group time where they get to interact with other students. They exchange phone numbers and they make new friends — friends that we have seen in person and met up with, and they’ve been friends since.
Note: Up to 32% of PVA’s 1,200 students live in metro Detroit.
Q: What made you decide to continue with virtual school?
Kitchen: My husband and I decided to stay with a virtual school because of all the school shootings and how schools are handling those. That was one reason.
And then just the overall education. If one student is disruptive, do my kids have to suffer and not get a good education? With PVA, if somebody’s being disruptive, all they have to do is mute them.
Q: What would you tell parents considering a Michigan online public school?
Kitchen: I would say the curriculum would be one (thing to look at) because that’s one of the main things I looked at when I looked at virtual schools. The curriculum and how it prepares them for outside of school, college and the future.
Also, how (virtual school) helps with being more focused — because some kids can’t handle being around other kids. They get easily distracted.”
Honestly, you don’t have to deal with bullying either. So I feel like those are the top three things that I asked when I was looking at the school.
An educator’s take: How PVA supports student success
While Kitchen sees firsthand how her children thrive at PVA, Principal Melissa Brandon explains why this approach to virtual learning is different from the emergency remote learning of the past.
Many parents considering an online public school in Michigan worry that virtual education will be a repeat of the frustrating experiences of 2020. But PVA has worked to redesign virtual learning from the ground up, using research-backed methods.
“We took what we learned during the pandemic and built a structured, high-quality program designed for long-term success,” says Brandon.
What makes PVA different:
- Live, interactive instruction — no self-paced, independent study unless students choose it.
- Engagement-focused teaching strategies — real-time discussions, group projects and personalized feedback.
- Full-time Michigan-certified teachers — instructors trained specifically for virtual instruction.
- Small group support and individual check-ins — students who need extra help can get it in real time.
“We built on the foundation of the scientific backing of what good instruction looks like, what engagement looks like and what the high-leverage strategies are,” explains Brandon.
Through continuous action research, educators at PVA test, refine and improve teaching methods in real time, ensuring students receive the most effective online instruction available in Michigan today.
Is virtual school right for your child?
For families considering a Michigan online public school, options like PrepNet Virtual Academy provide live instruction, structured support and real social opportunities.
Understanding your child’s learning style and support needs can help determine if a virtual model works for your family.
This content is sponsored by Grand Valley State University Charter Schools Office. Learn more about PrepNet Virtual Academy and GVSU CSO at gvsu.edu/cso.
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