Tomorrow is today.
Now is the time for online learning.

The latest news and information
about online education and schools

The following information is provided by the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL), which serves as a professional association for K–12 online learning.

iNACOL is an advocacy group established to provide expertise on research, professional development, and leadership in the K–12 online learning environment. iNACOL presents the article "Virtual Schools and 21^st Century Skills" (2006) which indicates the following: Online learning through virtual schools is one of the most important advancements in attempting to rethink the effectiveness of education in the United States. The virtual school provides access to online, collaborative, and self-paced learning environments – settings that can facilitate 21^st century skills.

The world of education is changing. Where once the classroom was the only way to attain an education, now there are alternatives, and leading the way is the virtual education environment.

Online learning:

• Facilitates 21^st century skills
• Provides students increased opportunity, flexibility, and convenience
• Can be as effective as classroom-based courses for grades K–12 academic achievements

Students find increased opportunity, flexibility,
and convenience through online learning

Education conducted online across most states and grade levels, finds students experiencing increased opportunity, flexibility, and convenience. Teachers are discovering new ways to reach students, many of whom were not successful in traditional schools and courses. Online learning is reaching out because technology in education is an appropriate, and perhaps necessary, way to educate the many students of this digital generation. For these students, technology is an integral part of their lives and is essential to how they find information, communicate, and entertain themselves. They expect their education to be in line with their technology-rich experiences.

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Online courses can be as effective as classroom-based courses

Online learning is growing at record pace. There are currently one million students in the United States who attend virtual schools. Research has shown that online and other distance courses can be as effective as classroom-based courses for K–12 academic achievement when they are well planned, well taught, and matched to student needs.