Online Schools: What Parents Need To Know

Remote and online learning was a new concept to many families during COVID-19 school closures, but did you know online schools have served students for over two decades in the United States? According to the Digital Learning Collaborative's Snapshot Report, 32 states offer full-time online schools to students, and 325,000 students attended those schools in the 2018-2019 school year. Due to COVID-19, parent and student interest in full-time online learning opportunities have increased. As more families become comfortable with online learning, we expect the demand and enrollment in these schools to grow as well.

But how do parents make the distinction between the remote learning they experienced during school closures and what their students might encounter in the full-time online school setting? We have created a list of questions that parents should ask as they research online schools. These questions will help guide the decision-making progress and allow parents to get detailed answers from potential online education providers. This list is by no means one-size-fits-all, but these questions can direct your research and provide a starting point. Parents are encouraged to think about their students' individual educational needs and create a personalized list of questions for potential school partners. 

And if you are still in need of advice or recommendations, join us in the Parent Support for Online Learning Facebook group to connect with other parents who can provide feedback and guidance on their online school experiences.