Evergreen Education Group releases Keeping Pace with K-12 Digital Learning, 11th edition

Dec. 2, 2014 - PRLog -- Durango, Colorado — Evergreen Education Group has released Keeping Pace with K-12 Digital Learning, the 11th annual research report on K-12 digital learning activity and policy. The report presents market data and analysis in K-12 digital learning researched by Evergreen Education Group, as well as an overview of the latest policies, practices, and trends affecting digital learning programs across all 50 states. Report and graphics are available at www.kpk12.com.

Keeping Pace strives to add to the body of knowledge about online and digital learning policy and practice, and provide insight into this industry segment. It serves as a reference source for both policymakers and practitioners who are new to online education, and for those who have served and are interested in the field.

Snapshot of Keeping Pace 2014 digital learning activity findings

·     Today, more students have access to more digital learning options in an expanding range of forms than ever before, but visible gaps still remain in its availability. There are still vast differences among schools in the availability of technology, data communications capabilities, and digital content and tools. And limitations placed on schools and students vary by local and state policies, and in decisions made by districts.

·       Thirty states have fully online schools operating across the entire state. In school year (SY) 2013-14, Evergreen estimates that approximately 315,000 students were enrolled in courses in these schools, an increase of 6.2% from SY 2012-13.

·       State virtual schools are operating in 26 states, providing supplemental online courses to students across their states. In SY 2013-14 they collectively served just over 740,000 course enrollments, about the same amount as in SY 2012-13.

·       Eleven states have course choice policies or programs that are allowing students to choose online courses from one or more providers. These programs allow students the option to choose online courses from multiple providers, but these programs are still small and new.

·       Digital learning activity across the private school sector ranges from fully online schools, to supplemental online courses, to new schools that are heavily focused on digital learning, to schools integrating digital content and tools into their existing instructional approaches.

·       Policy remains important to improving and expanding the digital learning landscape. Policy plays a dominant role in how or whether students have access to online schools or online courses. Some digital learning-related policies are creating statewide landscapes of innovation that spur activity in districts. Policy can also slow growth and adoption of digital learning. Twenty states prohibit open enrollment in online schools, and the large majority of states do not allow course choice.

About Evergreen Education Group

Evergreen Education Group is a digital learning research and advisory company and has been widely recognized as a leading authority for market and policy intelligence in the K-12 digital learning field. We deliver digital learning-related insight to the industry and are the publishers of the annual report Keeping Pace with K-12 Digital Learning, national reports on the digital learning landscape, and state-level reports. Evergreen is a valuable partner to legislators, state boards of education, state education agencies, non-profit organizations, publishers and many companies serving the K-12 education industry. Evergreen was founded in 2000 and is based in Colorado.

Keeping Pace Sponsors

Keeping Pace with K-12 Digital Learning, the 11^th edition, is proudly sponsored by the following organizations; Apex Learning, the AVI CHAI Foundation, Connections Education, Edgenuity, Edmentum, Fuel Education, International Association for K-12 Online Learning, Michigan Virtual University, National Association of Independent Schools, The NROC Project, Quality Matters, Stanislaus County Office of Education, Texas Education Agency/Texas Virtual School Network and The Virtual High School.

Press Contact: Lauren Vashaw, lauren@evergreenedgroup.com