New report from Future of School highlights why students choose online learning

Researchers for a new study on online learning, Pioneers in Education: A Closer Look at How Technology Is Catalyzing Schools Across America, reviewed the reasons that students chose online or blended learning, and how their school responded to their needs and interests.

The students highlighted in this report were scholarship recipients from Future of School. This report is a compilation of why these individual students chose online/blended learning and how or why their schools made these opportunities available.

• The report examines data gathered from scholarships recipients on the 12 most significant reasons these students chose online learning as an alternative to traditional school or as a supplement to their school experience.
• Flexibility was the leading reason for choosing online options. Other needs met through online learning included access to courses above grade level, more individual attention, support for physical and mental health issues, access to advanced learning opportunities and to meet the challenge of rural living.
• Schools responded to the needs of students in a variety of ways, from creating online and blended learning programs internally, to developing partnerships with area school districts or higher education institutions. Some students chose to enroll with online charter schools.

The companion report, Student Perspectives on Blended and Online Learning, explains these student choices in detail.

Through this report, Future of School seeks to increase recognition of the way many schools, including traditional public schools as well as charter schools, are meeting student’s needs in innovative ways. Both reports can be found online at www.futureof.school/impact-reports-lp.

About Future of School

As the first-ever public charity focused on access to quality education, Future of School is dedicated to mobilizing change in American K–12 education from a one-size-fits-all system to one that ensures all students reach their unbounded potential.

Our Student Scholarship Program rewards students for their courage to forge new learning pathways, giving them greater financial means to continue their education in whatever post-secondary school they choose.

Through the Innovative Educator Prize, we empower pioneering educators with grant funding that enables them to bring programs and tools into the classroom to transform the learning experience.

By amplifying technology’s impact on students and educators, we inform, inspire and spearhead much needed change.

Future of School is an organization of the people, by the people and for the people that calls on students, parents, educators, and employers to band together to embrace and inspire the future of our society and prepare the workforce of tomorrow. Join the movement at futureof.school.

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 for states such as Missouri and Maryland. 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. See more at https://www.evergreenedgroup.com.