The 74 Million – Greg Toppo
During the pandemic, K-12 schools endured withering criticism for their inability to effectively educate students remotely, with many parents and lawmakers demanding a speedy return to in-person learning.
In October 2020, for instance, a Pew Research survey found that parents whose kids attended school in-person were far more likely to say they were “very satisfied” with the way school was handling instruction: 54% vs. just 30% whose kids received online instruction only.
But Patricia Brantley, who leads the 15-school network of Friendship Charter Schools in Washington, D.C., said developing and maintaining virtual learning systems will be critical to public schools going forward. Friendship began investing in virtual learning before the pandemic and has actually expanded its virtual offerings since 2021.