Parents get help in choosing an online learning program

A new guide offers parents a roadmap in their quest to find the right online-learning program for their child.

"A Parent's Guide to Choosing the Right Online Program," written by John Watson and Butch Gemin of the Evergreen Education Group and Marla Coffey, a distance education consultant at the University of Maryland University College, is part of the Promising Practices in Online Learning series from the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL). According to the authors, online learning options can be public or private, full-time or supplemental, fully online or a blend of online and basic instruction—and these multiple and diverse options can create an intimidating array of options from which to choose. The guide helps parents understand what online learning is and what options are available to them. The authors say it is "primarily for parents contemplating a full-time online school for their children, although many of the issues discussed are appropriate considerations for supplemental online courses as well."