Today, as districts get back to in-person classes after a pandemic that saw online learning thrust upon teachers and students, K–12 schools are again taking up the virtual mantle, establishing full-time programs designed as a permanent alternative to in-person learning. They are also outfitting dedicated physical spaces with technology to facilitate high-quality and engaging online education.
One-fourth of districts surveyed by RAND in 2021 planned to run a virtual school in the most recent academic year, up ninefold from before the pandemic. Another quarter were exploring a virtual school…