Going the Distance

By Lauren Barack -- School Library Journal, 5/1/2005

Sixty years ago, distance education probably involved a pen, paper, and secretarial classes conducted via snail mail.

Today, students in ever-increasing numbers are more likely to link to the Internet to learn how to conjugate French verbs or dissect frogs in Advanced Placement courses, according to a new landmark study from the U. S. Department of Education (www.ed.gov).

Nearly three-quarters of all public school districts plan to expand their distance-learning classes, says the study, titled "Distance Education Courses for Public Elementary and Secondary Students."

With 36 percent of all school districts already offering some courses over the Web or through video conferencing, the DOE is very encouraged by the adoption of this style of teaching.

"If this helps gifted students who want to move at their own pace and also children with behavioral issues, imagine how distance learning can also help home-bound students," says Susan Patrick, director of the Office of Educational Technology, which sponsored the study based on 2002–2003 data.

Patrick says state-run virtual schools are already up and running in 15 states, with more showing interest.

However, not all schools and districts are as open to distance learning. In some cases, parents have had to pay for the classes when the schools can't or won't support them, says Patrick.

But acceptance is growing. According to earlier research, approximately 40,000 to 45,000 schools were offering some form of these classes in the late 1990s. That number has ballooned to 328,000, attributable in part to more schools being wired to the Net. "Clearly there's massive growth," says Patrick.

High schools offered the most distance-learning courses—with 76 percent of these classes taught there. But seven percent were also taught at middle schools, and two percent at elementary schools. Still more distance-learning courses are offered in dual enrollment programs, in which high schools students take classes offered by colleges and universities.