Dive Brief:

• According to a new report from the International Association for K-12 Online Learning, online credit recovery options are growing in importance as a tool for states to use to get students back on track.
• According to iNACOL, more than 75% of school districts use blended and online learning for credit recovery purposes.
• But the report also says many of those online options help students graduate by lowering the bar and by not asking students to rigorously demonstrate proficiency.

Dive Insight:

Online schools and credit recovery programs have a troubled history. As an alternative, iNACOL’s report suggests that states and districts should utilize competency-based programs that focus more on ensuring students are developing the skills they need and demonstrating they’ve mastered them. It can also speed up the process for students, as they may just need to demonstrate competency in a few areas they’re lacking in rather than repeat whole courses.

“Competency-based learning gives students the opportunity to complete lessons that demonstrate their mastery of content as well as the support they need if they are having difficulty with specific content,” the report reads.