As an increasing proportion of online and blended learning activity moves to the district level, we and other researchers are challenged by the fact that little data exists about district-level online and blended learning programs. In other categories of programs, data are generally more available because either 1) the schools are public schools that report [...]

It is hard to believe it is already time, but we are thrilled to have kicked off Keeping Pace 2011 with our first sponsor call. We are able to make so much information publicly available on our website because we have a fabulous group of sponsors each year who support this important work. Many have [...]

One of the greatest challenges for policymakers and state education agencies is how to address quality and how to hold schools accountable for student outcomes. This challenge applies to all schools, and therefore to all types of courses—on-ground, online, and blended—and in fact the challenges are often the same regardless of delivery method. You cannot [...]

While there are a number of states considering online learning laws this year, the law signed by the governor in Utah this month is perhaps the most far-reaching. S.B. 65 creates the Statewide Online Education Program, and will largely take effect on July 1, 2011. It will expand opportunities for a broader group of high [...]

Prior to working in education—and overlapping with my work in education—I’ve also been involved in science and environmental issues for many years, in both paid and volunteer roles. Anyone with a history of looking at the political battles over acid rain, ozone, and more recently climate change can tell you that the leading rallying cry [...]