Policy Issues 11: Virtual Schools and E-Learning in K-12 Environments

About This Issue

Since 1996, enormous progress has been made toward achieving the U.S. Department of Education's goal to build a national technology infrastructure to support its vision for effective technology use in the nation's elementary and secondary schools. Significant increases in federal, state, local, and private investment in the national technology infrastructure have helped many teachers and students in elementary and secondary schools obtain access to and begin using a variety of powerful new online learning tools. These tools enable distance learning and technology based instructional delivery systems.

Recent growth in national attention directed toward online courses and virtual schools underscores the importance of e-learning policy and online learning practices. In response to these needs, this edition of Policy Issues aims to:

Summarize the critical e-learning issues related to education policy.
Provide an overview of what works, based on recent research and program assessment.
Offer policy recommendations to support decision makers and policy leaders charged with the investigation and deployment of online courses and Internet-based learning environments in K-12 schools and school districts.

The full complexity and impact of e-learning and online courses on policy and practice in K-12 schools and school districts is emerging only now as a subject for consideration and discussion by leadership in public education. It is imperative that state-level education policymakers become active participants in the ongoing conversations about K-12 online learning. Such participation will help ensure the systematic implementation of effective e-learning strategies in the nation's elementary and secondary schools.