{"id":1288,"date":"2015-11-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2015-11-05T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aurora-institute.org\/blog\/improving-access-and-equity-in-blended-and-online-learning\/"},"modified":"2022-11-04T17:47:21","modified_gmt":"2022-11-04T21:47:21","slug":"improving-access-and-equity-in-blended-and-online-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aurora-institute.org\/blog\/improving-access-and-equity-in-blended-and-online-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"Improving Access and Equity in Blended and Online Learning"},"content":{"rendered":"

Blended and online learning can leverage the talent of today\u2019s best educators with technologies that extend their reach and can personalize instruction at any time or place. Across the education system, licensed, effective teachers are developing skills in using digital content and platforms to provide highly differentiated instruction. <\/span><\/p>\n

Students in rural, urban, and underserved communities who do not have access to courses could take them from a licensed teacher online. <\/span>Blended learning<\/span><\/a>\u00a0incorporates high-quality digital content and tools with the best of both worlds\u2014traditional school locations and the flexibility of anywhere, anytime digital learning opportunities. <\/span><\/p>\n

Whether taking an individual course, enrolling in a full-time online school, or benefiting from blended learning in a brick-and-mortar school, students should have access to a continuum of high-quality educational opportunities. These experiences can be tailored to students\u2019 unique learning needs\u2014from credit recovery, to college-level and career\/technical education, to community-based learning opportunities. <\/span><\/p>\n

Providing fair, equitable, and adequate funding ensures students have the opportunities and support systems they need to be successful. A <\/span>recent iNACOL study found<\/span><\/a> that the amount of per-pupil funding needed to enable high-quality teaching and learning in an online learning environment is between ninety-three and ninety-eight percent of the cost of providing the same excellence in traditional education on a <\/span>fully adequate<\/span><\/i> base cost. <\/span><\/p>\n

Personnel costs in online learning are comparable to those in traditional environments; both administrative leadership and teacher leadership are required to run high-quality educational programs using blended and online learning. Equitable funding does not necessarily mean equal funding, but the amount must be adequate to ensure that students of all abilities, needs, and backgrounds have the requisite support and resources to achieve success.<\/span><\/p>\n

Following are five policy recommendations that states can adopt to increase access and equity for students with blended and online learning: <\/span><\/p>\n

State Policy Recommendations<\/b><\/p>\n