Report: Online learning growing

A comprehensive new report released last month found that online learning for students in grades K-12 grew steadily last year, with many states expanding their online opportunities for supplemental and full-time online class work.

The report, titled Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning 2008, found that 44 states offered some type of online learning program. In several states, including Florida, Alabama, Wisconsin, and South Carolina, legislatures passed laws creating new programs or boosting existing ones.

In addition, the majority of online schools reported growth in registration, with one-third reporting enrollments growing by more than 50 percent.

These are encouraging signs, because online learning can offer significant benefits to students, particularly those in rural and lower socio-economic regions.

But there are still steps that can be taken to ensure continued growth of these opportunities and their availability to all students. As the report noted,

"However, in many states today -- despite the rapid growth so far -- a real or potential barrier exists for students who seek an online course. These barriers are sometimes on the student side (related to access to online courses or the willingness of their school to grant credit for online courses they do take), or on the school side (related to funding or other limiting policies)."

The report recommends a number of policies to overcome these barriers, including better funding, more teacher training in online instruction, and more consistent standards.

But another barrier not mentioned in the report is students' access high speed Internet, which is required to take part in many of these online courses. Many of these students are from rural and lower-income areas -- the exact group who stand to benefit most from online learning. Without high speed access, they are missing out on these important opportunities.

For the sake of our children's education and their future, it's essential that federal and state governments enact policies to encourage online learning and expanded access to high speed Internet.

Report assesses K-12 online learning (eSchoolNews)

Keeping Pace with K-12 Online Learning 2008 (Evergreen Consulting Associates)

Report: High speed Internet opens educational opportunities (Speed Matters)