Pocket Guide to Online Learning

Families today have more pathways than ever before for their child to access an education right from their home. From online schools with more than a decade of experience to homeschooling through a virtual curriculum to emergency remote learning, it can be hard to identify which education option best fits your family. Consider this pocket guide your quick reference for understanding these options and finding the one that best fits your family.

Has the school year already started for your family? You may still be able to switch to an online school. While some schools have fixed application deadlines, others offer enrollment throughout the year. It never hurts to ask!

Frequently Asked Questions

Online or virtual learning is when students receive instruction through technology at a location of their choosing, often at home. There are many different ways students can access remote learning:

Full-time online schools deliver instruction via educators who are specifically trained to teach virtually. Curriculum and lessons align to state standards and often combine flexible scheduling so students get screen breaks.

Full-time, online public schools must meet all state education laws and align their curriculum and lessons with state standards. They must also develop and implement Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for children with exceptional learning needs.

Remote learning refers to students learning from home, via computer, using curricula and coursework developed by their child’s brick-and-mortar school. Schools and districts undertaking remote learning often deliver the instruction via platforms like zoom.

Homeschooling families can choose to access curriculum materials online or utilize virtual classes to supplement instruction. What makes homeschooling different from online schooling is that a parent or guardian takes full responsibility for educating the children instead of a school.

Online school students usually work from home and follow a set curriculum, submitting assignments through an online portal. The instruction students receive can be synchronous (delivered to multiple students at the same time) or asynchronous (students access the instruction at their own pace).

Moreover, students receive feedback and grades from accredited teachers who may communicate through email, web conference, or phone calls.

While parents aren’t asked to be teachers, online school programs usually ask parents to be involved in their child’s education. Parents act as learning coaches, helping their student stay on track.

While some virtual schools are fully online, others are “blended schools.” So, what are blended schools? Blended schools are online schools that offer on-site locations that students attend from time to time. GOAL Academy in Colorado, for instance, has “drop-in centers” where students can receive tutoring, participate in activities, or simply spend time with peers.

Besides blended learning, more and more variations of online schooling are developing; in some states, students can even create a “playlist” of classes between their neighborhood school and an online school.

Each school or program will have their own process, so best practice is to reach out to the school you are enrolling in directly. There are a few general steps you can expect to take when switching to an online school:

Review state guidelines – Find your state guidelines for online schools.
Connect – Reach out to the school that interests you to find out enrollment deadlines and seat availability. When you reach out, you can also ask about the school’s expectations and what resources you’ll need at home.
Officially withdraw (if applicable) – In some cases, if you’re currently enrolled in a public or private school and are switching to a full-time online school that isn’t district-run, you’ll need to send a withdrawal letter to your school district.
Enroll and get started – Partner with your child to determine what your new learning routine will look like.

If online school is something you and your student decide to try, even just temporarily, it is important to realize that there’ll be a learning curve.

While there are some private online schools that charge tuition, the majority of online schools are public schools and 100% tuition-free. Some of these free online schools are public charter schools, while some are public district schools. In many cases, online schools even provide loaner computers and internet reimbursements to students.

In the U.S., approximately 375,000 K-12 students attended a free, statewide online school full-time in 2019-2020, a number that jumped to over 921,000 for the 2022-2023 school year.

To find out what’s available near you visit your state roadmap!

Before enrolling your child into an online school, it’s important to consider if this type of learning environment will fit their needs and learning preferences. Connections Academy has a quiz, for example, that walks you through some important considerations for online learning.

Once you have taken a look at your family’s schedule and routine, find out what’s available to you! Your state roadmap has information on the online schools available in your area.

Connection is key – after you’ve identified the schools that are available to you, reach out! Find out what their expectations are, what a typical day looks like, and what resources are available (for example, does the program provide computers?).