PreK-12 Online Course Market Forecast 2013
This report examines the market of online learning—also called cyberlearning, e-learning, or virtual learning—and how it has evolved over time. As defined for this report, the K-12 online course market consists of complete, comprehensive, for-credit courses delivered online. They can be used for full-time study in an online virtual school or one or two at a time to supplement traditional K-12 courses.
With that understanding as a guide, Simba analyzes how widely online courses are being offered in PreK-12 schools, the challenges faced with wider adoption, and the forces driving the movement toward online learning. The market for K-12 online learning has been growing at a double-digit rate annually for the last several years. Simba projects the same strong growth rate will continue into the foreseeable future as more districts launch virtual schools, and online learning programs expand the number of courses offered and the number of students reached.
The information in PreK-12 Online Course Market Forecast 2013 comes primarily from in-depth interviews with administrators from state departments of education and directors of online learning for K-12 districts, as well as executives from leading online learning vendors. Moreover, this report profiles 11 key suppliers of K-12 online courses, platforms and/or solutions to states, districts, schools and/or individuals.
With that understanding as a guide, Simba analyzes how widely online courses are being offered in PreK-12 schools, the challenges faced with wider adoption, and the forces driving the movement toward online learning. The market for K-12 online learning has been growing at a double-digit rate annually for the last several years. Simba projects the same strong growth rate will continue into the foreseeable future as more districts launch virtual schools, and online learning programs expand the number of courses offered and the number of students reached.
The information in PreK-12 Online Course Market Forecast 2013 comes primarily from in-depth interviews with administrators from state departments of education and directors of online learning for K-12 districts, as well as executives from leading online learning vendors. Moreover, this report profiles 11 key suppliers of K-12 online courses, platforms and/or solutions to states, districts, schools and/or individuals.
METHODOLOGY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Distance Learning Dates Back to Correspondence Courses
Online Learning Defined
CHAPTER 2: MARKET SIZE AND ENROLLMENT
A Changing Market
Cost Considerations and Funding Models
Table 2.1: Online Learning Market, 2011/2012 to 2012/2013
Table 2.2: Growth Rates for Selected State and District Virtual
Learning Programs
Table 2.3: Selected Funding Mechanisms for Online Learning
CHAPTER 3: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES
Forces Driving the Adoption and Growth of Online Learning
Personalized Learning
Budget Factors
Common Core Standards
Challenges to Online Learning Growth
Regulatory Landscape
Technology Barriers to Online Learning
Credibility and Communication
Growth Areas
Blended Learning
Subject Areas
Specific Populations
Table 3.1: Examples of State and District Regulations Governing Online Learning
Table 3.2: The Many Forms of Blended Learning
CHAPTER 4: STATE ONLINE COURSE ACTIVITIES
Overview of State Virtual Learning Initiatives
Regulations and Legislation
Evolution of Online Learning
State Case Studies
Arkansas
Florida
Iowa
Kentucky
Mississippi
Montana
Oregon
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Table 4.1: Statewide Learning Scenarios
Table 4.2: Online Learning Providers Endorsed by the Minnesota Dept. of Education
CHAPTER 5: DISTRICT ONLINE COURSE ACTIVITIES
Reasons for Growth
The Landscape
Consortium-Led and Individual-School Programs
District Case Studies
Albuquerque (NM) Public Schools
Capistrano (CA) Unified School District
Fairfax County (VA) Public Schools
Kenosha (WI) Unified School District
Putnam County (TN) School System
Riverside (CA) Unified School District
CHAPTER 6: COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Commercial Vendors
Universities, States and Districts, Collaboratives and Consortia
Free, Non-Profit and Open Source
Self-Produced
Table 6.1: Summary of Selected Providers and Online Courses
CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSIONS AND OUTLOOK
Market Forces Drive Growth
Market Trends Will Continue and Intensify
Best Practices Develop
Table 7.1: Online Learning Market Forecast, 2012/2013 to 2015/2016
Table 7.2: Online Learning Market Share Forecast, 2012/2013 to 2015/2016
CHAPTER 8: CONCLUSIONS AND OUTLOOK
Apex Learning
CompassLearning
Connections Education
Edgenuity
EdisonLearning
Edmentum
Florida Virtual Schools
K12 Inc.
Odysseyware
Penn Foster
VHS Collaborative
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Distance Learning Dates Back to Correspondence Courses
Online Learning Defined
CHAPTER 2: MARKET SIZE AND ENROLLMENT
A Changing Market
Cost Considerations and Funding Models
Table 2.1: Online Learning Market, 2011/2012 to 2012/2013
Table 2.2: Growth Rates for Selected State and District Virtual
Learning Programs
Table 2.3: Selected Funding Mechanisms for Online Learning
CHAPTER 3: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES
Forces Driving the Adoption and Growth of Online Learning
Personalized Learning
Budget Factors
Common Core Standards
Challenges to Online Learning Growth
Regulatory Landscape
Technology Barriers to Online Learning
Credibility and Communication
Growth Areas
Blended Learning
Subject Areas
Specific Populations
Table 3.1: Examples of State and District Regulations Governing Online Learning
Table 3.2: The Many Forms of Blended Learning
CHAPTER 4: STATE ONLINE COURSE ACTIVITIES
Overview of State Virtual Learning Initiatives
Regulations and Legislation
Evolution of Online Learning
State Case Studies
Arkansas
Florida
Iowa
Kentucky
Mississippi
Montana
Oregon
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming
Table 4.1: Statewide Learning Scenarios
Table 4.2: Online Learning Providers Endorsed by the Minnesota Dept. of Education
CHAPTER 5: DISTRICT ONLINE COURSE ACTIVITIES
Reasons for Growth
The Landscape
Consortium-Led and Individual-School Programs
District Case Studies
Albuquerque (NM) Public Schools
Capistrano (CA) Unified School District
Fairfax County (VA) Public Schools
Kenosha (WI) Unified School District
Putnam County (TN) School System
Riverside (CA) Unified School District
CHAPTER 6: COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
Commercial Vendors
Universities, States and Districts, Collaboratives and Consortia
Free, Non-Profit and Open Source
Self-Produced
Table 6.1: Summary of Selected Providers and Online Courses
CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSIONS AND OUTLOOK
Market Forces Drive Growth
Market Trends Will Continue and Intensify
Best Practices Develop
Table 7.1: Online Learning Market Forecast, 2012/2013 to 2015/2016
Table 7.2: Online Learning Market Share Forecast, 2012/2013 to 2015/2016
CHAPTER 8: CONCLUSIONS AND OUTLOOK
Apex Learning
CompassLearning
Connections Education
Edgenuity
EdisonLearning
Edmentum
Florida Virtual Schools
K12 Inc.
Odysseyware
Penn Foster
VHS Collaborative
