School & District Management Report Roundup

Online Learning Evolves

By Andrew Trotter — October 28, 2008 1 min read
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Online-learning programs that are supplemental to K-12 students’ enrollment in regular schools are continuing to grow rapidly—with nearly one in three programs increasing enrollment by more than 50 percent last year, according to a survey of 114 providers, reported this week by the North American Council for Online Learning.

But among online programs that are full-time, the largest number of them reported having “full-time equivalent” enrollments within 5 percent of the level of the previous year.

Still, of the 21 full-time online schools that did change in size, 17 grew, 10 of them by 25 percent or more.

The fifth annual “Keeping Pace” report features more findings from a Web-based survey of online providers, which range from district-run programs with 500 or fewer course enrollments per year, to state-led programs with more than 5,000 course enrollments.

The report also offers a national policy snapshot, legislative updates, articles from industry experts, and updated state profiles of online learning.

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A version of this article appeared in the October 29, 2008 edition of Education Week

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