A Brief Snapshot of K-12 Online Learning Matthew Wicks Chief Operating Officer International Association for K-12 Online Learning

International Association for K-12 Online Learning ( i NACOL) i NACOL is the premier K-12 nonprofit in online learning Provides leadership, advocacy, research, training, and networking with experts in K-12 online learning. – members in K-12 virtual schools and online learning representing over 50 countries – Annual conference – Virtual School Symposium (VSS): New Orleans in October 2012 “Ensure every student has access to the best education available regardless of geography, income or background.” Next Generation Learning Challenges – Gates Foundation Our strategic areas of focus in online and blended learning: 1.Policy 2.Quality 3.New Learning Models

U.S. Online Learning Facts There were an estimated 1,816,400 enrollments in distance- education courses in K-12 school districts in , almost all of which were online courses. 74% of these enrollments were in high schools. This estimate does not include students enrolled in most full-time online schools which were approximately 200,000 students in and 250,000 students in These figures represent phenomenal growth as a decade ago, it was estimated there were 40,000-50,000 enrollments in K-12 online education The top reasons why school districts make online learning opportunities available to their students is to provide courses not otherwise available at their school, and to providing opportunities for students to recover course credits from classes missed or failed.

Increasing Statewide Opportunities

How Students Learn