In the world of blended learning, few schools or management organizations have received more attention than Rocketship Education and Carpe Diem, both of which have been approved to open new schools in the Midwest. Both Rocketship and Carpe Diem rely on a mix of highly qualified teachers and technology-driven instruction to individualize the student learning [...]

Through the annual Keeping Pace survey, we learn more about what online and blended learning options are available to students around the country. (The survey will be released in a few short weeks for those of you anxious to fill it out in 2012!) Occasionally, however, we appreciate the opportunity to dig into a particular [...]

Keeping Pace has focused largely on state-level policy issues, occasionally touching on district policies such as online learning graduation requirements. This focus has reflected the fact that most online learning policies are state laws or regulations. But we’re also increasingly realizing that federal policy and action plays an important role as well, from ESEA to [...]

A few weeks ago, we blogged about the two new virtual academies planning to open in fall 2012. While they were recruiting students and making plans for their first school year, opponents asked the Iowa Attorney General to review state law to ensure the legality of the virtual academies. The Attorney General issued his opinion [...]

2012 is shaping up to be another active year for online and blended learning policy changes. Iowa has a state virtual school and other supplemental options, but for the first time it appears K-12 students are likely to have access to full-time online learning beginning in fall 2012: -          Clayton Ridge School District plans to [...]