Parents of students in Baltimore County?s public virtual school said they are furious County Executive Jim Smith chose not to fund the program in next year?s budget after they were personally recruited for a pilot version.

The county last year solicited about 120 formerly home-schooled students to try a new online curriculum that allows students in kindergarten through high school to learn from home via the Internet. Despite rave reviews from parents ? and a recommendation by the county school board to expand the program ? no funding for the program is included in Smith?s proposed 2009 budget.