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Introduction
The need to do more with less is an imperative for decision
makers in nearly every economic sector. Education is no
exception. State and local education systems face the dual
challenges of improving outcomes while confronting
budgetary declines. Reducing costs without sacrificing
quality, or doing better with what is available, requires
improvements in productivity (see Definition of
Productivity sidebar).
Productivity improvements is one of the primary goals of
the online learning systems that are rapidly proliferating in
secondary education. This report is intended
• to summarize what we know to date about
productivity as it relates to online learning and
• to offer guidance to policymakers who are faced
with the decision of whether and how to implement
this strategy.
Definition of Productivity
Productivity is defined as the relationship
between program inputs (measured in
terms of financial value or time) and
outcomes and outputs (including both
quantitative measures and measures of
outcome quality). Productivity can be
increased by
• reducing costs while maintaining
outcomes relative to other
alternatives,
• improving outcomes while
maintaining costs or
• both reducing costs and improving
outcomes.
Overview of Online Learning for Secondary Education
The available evidence suggests that schools are using information technologies with the
intention of expanding access, improving instructional quality and reducing costs associated
with traditional instruction. Many districts and states have turned to online learning (see
Definition of Online Learning sidebar) to replace or supplement teaching in brick-andmortar
schools. For example, journal accounts indicate that some schools and districts are
ending traditional summer school programs, instead providing instruction via the Internet
(Krafcik 2010; Olster 2010). Schools are also contracting with online providers to deliver
courses that they do not feel they could otherwise afford.
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