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May 7, 2020READ IN BROWSER
Hello, Great Lakes Center subscriber:

A new report published by the Mercatus Center argues that in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, education budgets should be reallocated toward investments in virtual schools. It claims the pandemic presents Americans with the opportunity to experience the benefits of virtual schools.

However, a new Think Twice Review by the National Education Policy Center found the report does not address clear evidence of the long-term limitations and problems associated with virtual schools. Read on to learn more.

Dr. Gretchen Dziadosz
Executive Director
Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice

REPORT REVIEWED

Think Twice Reviewer Kevin Welner, a University of Colorado Boulder professor and director of the National Education Policy Center, reviewed Public-Private Virtual School Partnerships and Federal Flexibility for Schools During COVID-19. Welner found that while immediate crisis response to COVID-19 might involve schools partnering with private vendors, a long-term shift to virtual schools is not supported by the report.

WHAT THE REVIEWERS FOUND

Welner found the report does not address clear evidence of the limitations and problems associated with virtual schools. The report claims if Americans see the benefits of virtual schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it “could change education content delivery forever, making instruction more flexible and suited to the needs of each individual student.”

Virtual schools are primarily run by two private vendors, so the “public-private partnerships” involve districts contracting with one of the two vendors.
The report claims there is significant demand for virtual schools beyond the current health crisis, but that is not supported by its findings.

The report fails to recognize the numerous shortcomings of virtual schools, including low student achievement, less opportunity for students with the fewest advantages, limited ability to serve students with special needs, lack of needed infrastructure, an inability to provide group or team activities, and a lack of wraparound services. Another problem is the virtual school industry has been plagued by misuse of taxpayer funds.

Aside from brief discussions on infrastructure and special education, these pressing issues are not addressed in the report. Most concerning, the report does not acknowledge continuing limitations and problems associated with virtual schools.

Read the full review on the Great Lakes Center website or on the National Education Policy Center website.
Read the review →

WHY YOU SHOULD CARE

Such reports advocate for privatizing our schools and marketing for-profit virtual schools and other alternatives to traditional learning with little substantiation. Such reports do not offer independent, accurate information for parents looking to make decisions about their children’s education.
 

TALKING POINTS TO REMEMBER

  1. A new report by the Mercatus Center does not acknowledge clear limitations and problems with virtual schools in its argument for reallocating taxpayer funds toward online learning post-COVID-19.
  2. The review noted clear shortcomings of virtual schools are already known, including those that directly and negatively impact students with the fewest advantages.
  3. The Mercatus Center provided little, if any, evidence to support its argument that virtual schools should be expanded.

SOCIAL SHARES

Want to share this Think Twice Review with your social networks? We drafted some sample social media posts for your use.
A new report published by the Mercatus Center argues with little evidence that education budgets should be reallocated to investments in virtual learning. A new report published by the Mercatus Center argues with little evidence that education budgets should be reallocated to investments in virtual learning.
A new review by @NEPCtweet found reallocating education budgets toward investments in virtual learning after #COVID19 would negatively impact students with the fewest advantages. A new review by @NEPCtweet found reallocating education budgets toward investments in virtual learning after #COVID19 would negatively impact students with the fewest advantages.
A new review by @NEPCtweet found little evidence for dedicating more public funds to virtual schools after the #COVID19 pandemic. A new review by @NEPCtweet found little evidence for dedicating more public funds to virtual schools after the #COVID19 pandemic.
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Think Twice, a project of the National Education Policy Center, provides the public, policymakers and the press with timely, academically sound reviews of selected publications. The project is made possible by funding from the Great Lakes Center for Education Research and Practice.
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