Dive Brief:

• A new report from the American Institute of Research shows that when students are allowed to retake courses online, their performance does not necessarily improve.
• Key findings include that students who work online were 10% less likely to pass than students who took classes in person; 69% of students received D's or F's online versus 47% in a traditional class, and students working online felt classes were more difficult with murkier grading expectations.
• Online credit recovery is a growing trend for high schools hoping to keep students on track for graduation by allowing them to re-take failed courses. 

Dive Insight:

Many high schools across the country are increasingly turning to outside for-profit companies to administer courses for students who fail the first time around. Advertised as a cost-effective way for districts to raise graduation rates, the AIR study found it actually increases costs for districts, since teacher salaries remain flat whether they re-teach students or not. However, the study found when the assigned lab mentor — the person designated to proctor the online courses and troubleshoot any technological difficulties —provided additional instruction or guidance in the course material, students were more successful. 

This is not the first time for-profit course providers have been shown to be disserving students. In December, claiming that a “substantial disconnect between compensation and performance results” existed, K12 Inc.'s investors in the virtual charter school operator K12 Inc. voted down the company’s proposed plan regarding executive pay at an annual shareholder meeting. CEO Nathaniel Davis was reportedly paid $5.33 million dollars in 2015.

Recommended Reading

NPR: Research Finds Poor Outcomes For Students Who Retake Courses Online