Virtual Schools: Godsend of Illegal Taxpayer Expense?

Do virtual schools amount to little more than home schooling at taxpayer expense? 

That's the question being debated in Wisconsin where the U.S. Court of Appeals ruled that the Wisconsin Virtual Academy violated laws governing charter schools, open enrollment and teacher licensure. As a result of the ruling, millions of taxpayer dollars were withheld.  It is unclear if the state's Supreme Court will hear the case, but in the meantime, the state's legislative bodies are taking on the matter.  Interesting stuff!