We’ve heard from many PSO families across the country that students who were already learning online have seen very little to no disruption to their learning due to COVID-19. According to a survey conducted by Education Next shows this to be true: 

" Our survey reveals that when schools were forced to close their buildings, charter schools pivoted more effectively than their district counterparts, offering a more robust program of remote instruction and producing higher levels of parental satisfaction. Elsewhere in the issue, Michael McShane reports on how charter schools managed by for-profit firms—a breed often singled out for criticism by politicians on the left—were particularly agile in reacting to the coronavirus."  

These findings underscore the need for a major overhaul to our national education system. It’s no secret that many public school systems across the country were ill equipped to make the transition to online learning in the spring. And, it’s no secret that many of the issues families experienced when the pandemic first began were still there when classes resumed in the fall. 

If we've learned anything from the pandemic, it’s the importance of washing your hands, wearing a mask and the providing families with educational options.

We’ve seen how well online learning can and does work for children. Throughout the pandemic, online school families have seen their child’s academic growth continue thanks to the consistency in their education.

It’s time for lawmakers and others in the education policy arena to have a real conversation about the important role online public schools can—and should—play in the future of education.