Dive Brief:

• Online credit recovery programs are cheaper and, some say, more efficient than any other option to help schools and districts boost graduation rates, and thus their popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, Dallas Morning News reports.
• Despite their surging popularity, critics still say these programs are "subpar substitutes for traditional classroom instruction," and little data is available about the quality of instruction students are receiving.
• According to the National Center for Education Statistics in a 2011 report, nearly 90% of districts use credit recovery programs, both online and otherwise, and according to International Association for K-12 Online Learning, 75% of districts nationwide or more are using blended and online learning to expand their course offerings. 

Dive Insight:

The current political climate is focused around the idea of less regulation and from-the-top mandating about what constitutes a good education. But it may be in the best interest of not only students, but also districts and the online credentialing programs for there to be a national governing body — much like accreditors in higher education, which establishes a set of standards to maintain the quality of education provided in online recovery courses and other online programs.

While accrediting bodies certainly have their fair share of criticism around effectiveness of standards and the limitations on innovation, allowing students to take courses of low quality will only artificially inflate graduation numbers while continuing to churn out students who are unprepared for college and beyond.

Still, there are tremendous benefits to online education in K-12 education. For one, it affords students the opportunity to take courses not offered at their local schools. And as higher ed looks more and more to blended and hybrid learning, having the early exposure to online classes and the self-discipline and pacing they require to be successful is beneficial to students. For districts, the cost savings aspect can't be denied, and as states continue to cut back on funding and districts continue to look for ways to overcome historic funding inequities and advanced course desserts, having the ability to offer more classes at a lower cost is paramount. But as with any shift in the education paradigm, careful emphasis must be placed on strategy and proper planning must occur on the front end to ensure a successful roll-out. If the planning step is overlooked, districts could end up doubling their work and cost in the long run.