Minnesota report finds online students falling behind by Doug Belden

More and more Minnesota students are taking coursework online, but those doing so full time are faring worse academically than their peers in traditional schools, according to a report released Monday by the legislative auditor's office.

The report also faults the state Department of Education for committing too few resources and too little leadership to overseeing online education.

Read the full report here (PDF)

Education Department officials agreed Monday they need more resources to handle the growth in online learning, but they cautioned some of the auditor's recommendations could drive down quality.

The study found about 20,000 K-12 students - about 2 percent of total state enrollment - took at least one online course in 2010-11. About 8,000 took courses offered by their own schools, while 12,000 went through one of 24 state-approved online schools.
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Source: Pioneer Press