K 12 Online Learning and School Choice: Growth and Expansion in the Absence of Evidence
The use of online learning at the K 12 level has seen exponential growth for much of the past two decades. Based on the limited research to date some students can experience success in the supplemental K 12 online learning environment, but other types of K 12 online learning are largely failing to adequately serve students. While proponents will argue that all types of K 12 online learning are forms of school choice, it is primarily cyber charter schools and course choice policies that are reflective of the policies and regulations proponents of school choice promote as cyber charter schools and course choice policies are designed to open up markets to K 12 online learning providers. Yet, proponents continue to advocate for decreasing the amount of oversight for K 12 online providers. The combination of dramatic, unchecked growth and an almost complete inability to assure any measure of quality has resulted in abysmal student performance in many K 12 online learning environments.