A new poll shows that some parents are choosing to enroll their children in online schools to avoid bullying they've experienced.

K12 Inc., an online learning provider for students K-12, repeated a survey focusing on suitability of online schools as an alternative for students experiencing bullying, said a press release.

Over 2,000 parents with children currently enrolled in online schools using the K12 program completed the survey, and what they found was “21 percent of all responding parents and 31 percent of parents with high school students who responded cited bullying as one of the reasons they chose online learning,” said the release.

The study also found that “97 percent of the parents who enrolled children for this reason would recommend a K12-powered program to a family with a student who is being bullied,” according to the release.

"One out of 10 students drops out or changes schools because of repeated bullying," said Laurel Barrette, Director, School Counseling Services at K12 in the release. "Bullying has been shown to negatively affect academic performance, school attendance, and linked to mental health, substance use, as well as suicide. Online schools offer a safe haven from bullying and allow students to thrive."

The release also included statistics and other effects of bullying. For example, students who experience bullying at school “are at increased risk for depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, and poor school adjustment [Center for Disease Control, 2012].”

“Parents whose children attend a K12 partner school due to a bullying issue also give high marks to academic and security related benefits of choosing online learning,” the press release said, and included these statistics:

• 91% said that attending a K12 partner school has been "very helpful" in dealing with the bullying issue their child experienced previously
•  95% think the student would be safe and secure
•  90% believe their child is benefiting academically

Article by Kassondra Granata, EducationWorld Contributor