Evolution controversy poses issue for Lawrence Virtual School / LJWorld.com

Brandy Hurrelbrink's children aren't at the age where they would begin to learn in school about the origins of life.

But Hurrelbrink, a mother of children attending the Lawrence Virtual School, said she knew how she would handle those lessons when the time came.

"I definitely would skip over evolution and teach my own theory," the home-schooling mother said. "I feel with the virtual school we have that flexibility, and I don't agree with evolution."

Among all the debates over science standards, the theory of evolution could already be de-emphasized in some cases of public education. The Lawrence Virtual School, which is funded by state dollars, educates children through home-school programs. While parents opt to home-school for a variety of reasons, one of them is because of religious beliefs.

Jana Lloyd, education specialist in middle school science for the Lawrence Virtual School, said parents teaching their children through the program had been willing to teach evolution so far.

"It hasn't been an issue," she said. "The children are progressing through their lessons."

Children are required to complete 85 percent of the course work in order to pass into the next grade level.

"If parents wanted, I guess they could not teach (evolution)," she said. "But it would be difficult."

In the Lawrence Virtual School, students begin to learn the concept of evolution in the life sciences course work for seventh-graders. That's when K12, the company Lawrence Public Schools contracts with for curriculum for the Lawrence Virtual School, introduces the theory.

Phrases such as "scientists think" and words like "might" are used throughout the K12 lesson on the origin of life on earth.

"We deal with the theory of evolution as a theory -- not a fact," K12 spokesman Jeff Kwitowski said. "We believe that the theory of evolution is accepted scientific theory. So, we believe it's important for kids to have the opportunity to learn and understand evolution as a theory. We're very clear with the parents about it."

Parents have the opportunity to view this curriculum even before working with their child, Kwitowski said.

Lloyd said even when parents discuss evolution, they could use it as a base to discuss other theories, such as intelligent design, or their own personal beliefs.

Parents are going to have their own discussions in the home with their children regarding origins of life, Lawrence Virtual School Principal Gary Lewis said.

"They're just like any other student in the brick-and-mortar schools," he said. "Parents with children going to those schools have the right to teach and discuss these matters at home. But we deliver based on the state standards."

Lewis said he and district officials would work with K12 to make sure curricula align with state standards if they change. The district already has to supplement K12 curriculum for some areas, such as Kansas history. K12 doesn't have course work for Kansas history since it provides curriculum for home-schooled students nationwide, Lewis said.