Key K-12 Online Policy Trends As of 2012, Florida is the first state to offer full and part-time options to all students in grades K-12.1
2012
State Virtual Schools Program Size and Ratio to State Population
Florida, Minnesota, Idaho, and Wisconsin stand out as states with a wide variety of full-time and supplemental options for students across most grade levels.1
Number of Course Enrollments in SY 2011-12
303,329
97,170
44,332
Ratio* to State Population FL NC AL GA MI ID SC NH TX UT LA MT VA WI SD MS WV AR ND NM IL CT HI KY CO MO IA VT
20,876 19,822 17,627 15,831
In April 2006, Michigan became the first state to require online learning for high school graduation. Since that time Alabama, Florida, Idaho, and Virginia have added requirements. Georgia, New Mexico, and West Virginia recommend students experience online learning before graduation, however, it is not required.
15,558 12,419 12,190
WA MT
VT
ND
OR
MN
NV UT
CT PA
IL MO
6,460 5,151 3,822
MD DE
3,382
VA
3,376 3,000
NC
TN
OK
NM
KY
RI
MA
NJ
OH
IN
WV KS
AZ
MI
IA
CO
CA
NY
WI
WY NE
6,797
NH
SD
ID
9,179
ME
3,000
SC
AR MS
AL
2,802
GA
2,795
LA
TX AK
2,049
FL
1,844
Utah, Florida, Idaho, Oklahoma, and Louisiana allow students to choose online courses from multiple content providers. Funding formulas are different in all 50 states. For example, many fund online learning at 30-50% less than traditional education, creating inequity and lack of sufficient support for addressing student characteristics. The current U.S. average per pupil expenditures for a fully- online model are estimated at $6,400 and for blending learning are $8,900.8 Traditional school models have an average per pupil expenditure of $11,282.9 45 states and the District of Columbia have adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) representing a historic shift in this country to emphasize higher-order skills and the application of knowledge so that all students are challenged in meaningful ways and are prepared to be successful in a global, knowledge economy. This state-led work has changed the conversation about the country’s expectations for all students and the education system itself toward attainment of globally-competitive, world-class knowledge and skills in English/reading/language arts and math.
1,700
HI
1,574 1,562 1,431 769
Source for HS population: http://nces.ed.gov/programs/stateprofiles/ 1 The ND state ratio based on the number of in-state 000was 05calculated 1 0000student 01 course enrollments, which was 1,200 00005 *
300,000
150,000
100,000
FL NH NC ID AL MT SD UT SC LA GA WV ND1 MI HI NM VT MS AR WI VA CT IA TX KY CO IL MO
0
50,000
10k 5k 0 15k 2.5k
40,000
0
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40
Keeping Pace, 2012
2012
States with Multi-district Fully Online Schools
states with a multi-district fully online school
states without a multi-district fully online school
WA5 2,515
NH
OR
MN
5,577
4,482
WY
MI
32,322
IA3
NV
IL
UT
3,075
CO1
CA
AZ1
39,000
IN
3,733
VA
MO4
KS
16,221
23,228
2,952
484
PA
4,049
1,138
MA
35,391
WI
5,200
8,735
103
OH
8,146
ID
484
TN OK1
NM3
4,810
1,800
SC
AR
7,985
500
GA
2
10,591
TX
6,209
AK
LA
2,000
FL
9,666
HI
1,500
Number of student enrollments 20,000 - 35,000 over 35,000
10,000 - 19,999 5,000 - 9,999 less than 5,000
Enrollment numbers and/or estimates are shown when available. 1 AZ, CO, and OK are unique student counts of both full-time and supplemental students. 2 2 virtual charters; plus FT enrollments from Gwinnett and Forsyth County Public Schools 3 IA and NM are new in 2012 4 Removed from FT table because the majority of full-time enrollments are private pay. 5 Enrollment numbers from SY 2010-11.
Keeping Pace, 2012 Rising costs of books and cash-strapped budgets have schools rethinking the use of textbooks. Because of this, there is a rise in the use of or planning for open educational resources (OER), which ‘create a pathway to deliver engaging, customized, and up-to-date content to students much faster and more cost effectively than today.’10 For example, as of 2013, Utah has introduced their Utah Open Textbook (UTOT) initiative.11
By establishing proficiency-based diplomas, advanced competency education policy, credit flexibility or seat-time waivers, 36 states are moving towards competency education.12
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