Report addresses student learning in online schools

Online learning is growing rapidly in Michigan and across the nation. A report released at the recent International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) virtual school symposium in New Orleans asked as "online learning is becoming more common, is it the better way for students to learn than traditional schools?" Earlier this year, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded iNACOL to tackle the issue of quality from an outcomes perspective. In creating their report, iNACOL held a series of multi-day focus groups with experts from around the country. Michigan Virtual's Jamey Fitzpatrick, President & CEO, and Dr. Joe Freidhoff, Director of the Center for Online Research and Innovation, were heavily involved with participating in these groups and providing feedback on drafts of the report. The final report identifies multiple outcomes-based measures that need to be looked at more closely as schools strive to measure quality. These measures include:

• Proficiency
• Individual Student Growth Rate
• Graduation Rate
• College and Career Readiness
• Closing the Achievement Gap

The report is another step toward improving the quality of education students receive.

About Michigan Virtual

Michigan Virtual is a private, nonprofit Michigan corporation established by the State of Michigan in 1998 to serve as a champion for online learning. It is the parent organization of the Michigan Virtual for Students and Michigan Virtual Learning Research Institute.