Nearly 70% of Parents Say Online School Fosters “Active Learning”

Stride, Inc. Offers Blueprint for Successful Online Schooling, Report Shows

HERNDON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--What’s the secret to a successful online learning experience? According to a report released by EdChoice there are a few, including: 1) access to a technology-rich online platform, 2) experienced online teachers who have access to professional development training, 3) an interactive, standards-aligned curriculum, and 4) rich offline content.

These are the ingredients that worked together to help students at online schools supported by Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN) “significantly outperform” traditional brick-and-mortar students during the first four months of the pandemic, data shows.

For the report, Dr. Ian Kingsbury, an education fellow at the Empire Center for Public Policy, surveyed more than 10,000 parents of children who enrolled in Stride K12-powered schools. The data concludes that Stride K12-powered students “significantly outperformed [traditional] brick-and-mortar school” students in the areas of communication, classroom management, and active learning.

“What the coronavirus pandemic has laid bare is our nation’s dire need for more effective online learning options,” said Jeanna Pignatiello, Stride’s Senior Vice President and Chief Academic Officer. “Thousands of students, families, teachers, and school districts across the country have turned to Stride K12-powered schools to find high-quality, personalized learning solutions that meet their needs during this unprecedented time. And the evidence is clear—these are programs that work.”

Additional report findings include:

• Online students enrolled in a Stride K12-powered school participated in active learning more frequently than their peers. For example, 68% of parents with a student enrolled in a Stride K12-powered school reported their student(s) participated in group projects or team-based tasks at least two times per month. Sixty-nine percent of parents with a student not enrolled in a full-time Stride K12-powered school reported their student(s) never had this experience.
• Ninety-two percent of parents with a student enrolled in a Stride K12-powered school reported that instructors were skilled in preventing and managing disruptions, compared to 27% of parents with a student enrolled in remote learning through a traditional brick-and-mortar school.
• Respondents were almost three times (94% compared to 33%) as likely to report that instructional materials “worked well for learning” when enrolled at a Stride K12-powered school.
• Respondents were 6.5 times more likely to say their students learned more through an online school.

Fully prepared and equipped to deliver high-quality instruction during the pandemic, most schools powered by Stride K12-powered programs continued uninterrupted through Spring 2020. With strong initial onboarding programs, among many other initiatives, Stride K12-powered schools had consistent student engagement rates between 2019 and 2020. These tools provided students with much-needed stability in an otherwise unpredictable time.

Many online schools are already designed with tried-and-true virtual learning methodologies in mind. However, because of the pandemic, many brick-and-mortar school districts across the country were compelled to create, develop, and introduce an online option with very little preparation, time, or proper resources.

Given the state of education during the 2020-21 school year, Stride K12-powered schools have the resources to help brick-and-mortar districts and educators with what they need to be successful. For example, with Stride’s support, brick-and-mortar teachers can be paired with experienced online teachers and learn how to deliver online instruction, tailor lesson plans, and employ a standards-aligned curriculum. They can also learn how to implement the best strategies for personalizing the student learning experience.

The EdChoice research study was conducted between July 30, 2020 and August 14, 2020. It includes a national sample of parents of students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

For more information about Stride, Inc., please visit www.stridelearning.com.

About Stride, Inc.

At Stride, Inc. (NYSE: LRN) – formerly K12 Inc. – we are reimagining learning – where learning is lifelong, deeply personal, and prepares learners for tomorrow. The company has transformed the teaching and learning experience for millions of people by providing innovative, high-quality, tech-enabled education solutions, curriculum, and programs directly to students, schools, the military, and enterprises in primary, secondary, and post-secondary settings. Stride is a premier provider of K-12 education for students, schools, and districts, including career learning services through middle and high school curriculum. For adult learners, Stride delivers professional skills training in healthcare and technology, as well as staffing and talent development for Fortune 500 companies. Stride has delivered millions of courses over the past decade and serves learners in all 50 states and more than 100 countries. The company is a proud sponsor of the Future of School, a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gap between the pace of technology and the pace of change in education. More information can be found at stridelearning.com, K12.com, destinationsacademy.com, galvanize.com, techelevator.com, and medcerts.com.