| This policy analysis was created to address the need for more oversight of kindergarten through 12th grade online education at the state level. Currently, many states do not have policy specifically related to education in the virtual environment. The report is an overview of a policy analysis focusing on 15 states that have addressed kindergarten through 12th grade online education within the policies of their departments of education. These state policies were reviewed by matching research-based criteria in the areas of overall vision, governance, funding, student outcome and evaluation, and quality of instruction. The purpose of the analysis was to address the problem of lack of development of effective state policy regarding online education.;The report summarizes the results of each state's policy compared to the criteria by rating each state as effective, emerging or not evident. A scoring guide was created to show each state's compatibility to the criteria. The report outlines the project phases of problem identification, foundational knowledge, criteria identification, state selection, policy analysis of states, overall analysis, and recommendations and outcomes of the project. Fifteen states are identified as having policies regarding online education published by their state department of education. Each of these state policies are examined and described in the report.;The last phase includes a document developed as a product for analyzing online educational policy. Recommendations for state policy makers and program providers are given regarding mission, equal access, teacher quality, professional development, socialization, teacher evaluation and professional development, funding and accountability. |
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