MADISON, Wis. -- Hundreds of students and their parents rallied at the state Capitol on Wednesday in an effort to keep virtual schools open in Wisconsin.

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They want state lawmakers to respond to a court ruling that threatens to close Wisconsin's largest virtual school and others like it.

The schools allow students to learn from home under the guidance of their parents and instructors who teach over the Internet. They are popular with some families but opposed by teacher's unions, WISC-TV reported.

An appeals court has ordered the state to stop funding the Wisconsin Virtual Academy because it is violating current teacher licensing, charter school and open enrollment laws.

The decision has sparked two bills in the state Legislature, and virtual school families are speaking out to save what they say is unique and necessary education.

"For many families, it's truly a desperate situation. There is no other option like this," said Rose Hernandez, president of the Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families.

Following the rally, there was a hearing on one of the bills circulating. Lawmakers heard from families who use virtual schools for a variety of reasons. One Middleton teen said that she uses virtual schools so she can pursue a dream, while parents across the state said they are hoping legislators will step in and save virtual schools in Wisconsin.

Middleton seventh-grader Shaylyn Sabol found that a love for barrel racing started consuming her time and keeping her out of school.

"I went last year to public school and I was gone; I missed every other Friday and some Thursdays for traveling," Sabol said.

"She'd been begging me to home school her, and I just couldn't figure out how to do that with two small children at home," said Mindy Sabol, Shaylyn's mother.

That's when the Sabols discovered a virtual school, where Shaylyn can be enrolled in a school district but do all the work at her own pace.

"I go and feed the horses in the morning at 5:30, then get back about 6:30 and eat breakfast, and I start about 8 o'clock and then go on my computer and click my class that I want to go to," Shaylyn Sabol said.

The Sabols, though, said they are concerned about their school because of the recent appeals court decision.

Two bills in the Legislature aim to help keep virtual schools in business. An Assembly bill changes statutes to fit how virtual schools operate right now, and a Senate bill changes virtual school funding, residency and teaching requirements.

"This bill is about protecting an educational option for parents and for the 3,000 students that made the choice that this was the best educational option for them," said Brett Davis, R-Oregon, co-author of the Assembly bill.

"We're not going to have 3,000 students standing on the street with no school to go to. That is not what our intention is, and I haven't met a legislator that thinks that virtual schools are not appropriate and necessary in Wisconsin," said Sondy Pope-Roberts, D-Middleton, co-author of the Senate bill.

Shaylyn Sabol said she hopes to stay in the school for another year, and her mom hopes she can have that chance.

"It would be really sad because it does fill a need for, not a large number of students, but enough students that need the flexibility or a different learning style, and this offers that for them," Mindy Sabol said.

Right now, the virtual school parents are supporting the Assembly bill discussed at the hearing Wednesday, saying that it's the only way to keep them open.

The state teacher's union and state superintendent support the Senate bill, which would make larger changes to the schools. That bill will get a hearing at 10 a.m. Thursday.