

KEY ISSUES

Now, more students are learning virtually than ever before with an expectation that this trend will continue. Even in pre-pandemic circumstances, virtual learning was an increasingly common option for students of all ages. For instance, public full-time K-12 virtual schools enrolled nearly 300,000 students across 35 states in 2017-18. This is also true for higher education students: In the fall of 2018, there were almost 7 million students enrolled in distance learning courses at the higher education level.
Virtual learning can present new challenges for states, from ensuring internet connectivity for students to supporting educators in new instructional deliveries. This page includes resources that explore those issues, with policy implications in mind.
REPORT

Policy Reports
Relevant context and state policy examples concerning virtual learning.

Blog Posts
Legislative trends and other news with implications for virtual learning.
COUNSEL

State Information Requests
Brief issue scans, typically provided within 48 hours, that provide top-level information on virtual learning.

Searching for something different?
View all available virtual learning resources:
Explore our State Education Policy Tracking resource:
Browse pending legislation on our State Education Policy Watchlist: