Dive Brief:

• A new report from the American Institutes for Research shows that when students are allowed to retake courses online, their performance does not necessarily improve.
• Key findings include that students who work online were 10% less likely to pass than students who took classes in person; 69% of students received D's or F's online versus 47% in a traditional class, and students working online felt classes were more difficult with murkier grading expectations.
• Online credit recovery is a growing trend for high schools hoping to keep students on track for graduation by allowing them to re-take failed courses. 

Dive Insight:

Many high schools across the country are increasingly turning to outside for-profit companies to administer courses for students who fail the first time around.

Advertised as a cost-effective way for districts to raise graduation rates, the AIR study found it actually increases costs for districts, since teacher salaries remain flat whether they re-teach students or not. However, the study found when the assigned lab mentor — the person designated to proctor the online courses and troubleshoot any technological difficulties — provided additional instruction or guidance in the course material, students were more successful.