The new home school: Part-time and full-time students are signing up at a rapidly growing pace.

Byline: Melodee Hall Blobaum and Jim Sullinger

Feb. 12--Kayla Fleming of Leavenworth goes to school only when she has to take a test. The rest of the time, like a growing number of students throughout Kansas and the U.S., Fleming takes classes at home over the Internet. Online enrollment nationally is growing by 30 percent each year -- and even faster in some parts of the nation, said Susan Patrick, president and CEO of the North American Council for Online Learning. A million students in kindergarten through 12th grade are expected to enroll in online courses this year. In Kansas, where Basehor-Linwood pioneered the virtual school idea nine years ago, school districts opened three new virtual programs this year, bringing the state total to 20, with more on the way. The majority of the nation's virtual students take just a course or two online -- perhaps to pick up an advanced class not available at their school, or to make up a course they failed -- but some…