New Study: Parents Say Online Schools More Transparent Than Traditional Schools

According to a new study, parents say online school is more transparent than traditional one.

Many advancements in educational technology are gradually metamorphosing schools as we know them. These developments are often celebrated by those who will reap the benefits and see the advantages of the digital age. With these new changes afoot, the issue of transparency has become the primary concern of parents across the globe. When we talk about transparency, it means not only sharing information across different channels but also honest and open communication between various school stakeholders.

The study devised by Dr Corey DeAngelis, a third-party researcher, found “parents with children enrolled in virtual public charter schools operated by Stride K12 are statistically and substantially more likely to agree with nine measures of curriculum alignment, transparency, and control than parents with children in district-run brick-and-mortar public schools.” This study uses national survey data to examine how well schools are meeting the needs of parents when it comes to curriculum. 

The study found that parents of students enrolled in online public schools are:

• Twenty-seven percentage points more likely to strongly agree that they have a good sense of what their children are learning at school;
• Twenty percentage points more likely to strongly agree that school values are consistent with their own;
• Thirty percentage points more likely to strongly agree they have some control over what their children learn at school; and
• Twenty-eight percentage points are more likely to strongly agree that the teachers view them as partners.

What are the problems faced in traditional schools? 

The following are the major problems of the traditional education system:

Rigid Curriculum

The traditional education system focuses heavily on memorizing and regurgitating facts rather than teaching students how to think and apply what they learn in real life. This curriculum neglects to teach vital skills, such as problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity. 

Lack of Student Input

Traditional schools do not give students much autonomy over their learning process. Students are expected to follow instructions and complete assignments without questioning the material they are taught.

Low Engagement

Traditional classrooms are often dull and uninspiring, with students having little or no say in the course material they cover. This can lead to low engagement and a lack of motivation to learn.

Poor Teacher-student Ratio

Most traditional classrooms have large student-teacher ratios, making it difficult for teachers to give individual attention to each student. This can lead to some students falling through the cracks and not receiving the quality of education they require.

Parents lack real-time information

Traditional schools lack the technology to give parents real-time updates on their child’s performance. This can make it difficult for parents to track and manage their children’s educational progress.

How are online schools bringing transparency to education?

Online schools rely on various tools to make the educational process more transparent. New technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning allow teachers to monitor student progress in real-time and provide feedback when needed. Parents or other stakeholders can also monitor progress and access reports. Many online schools are utilising data analysis to identify trends in student performance to better inform curriculum design. These tools help ensure that students get the most out of their learning experience while providing teachers and parents with more visibility into the process.

The technology we have today makes it easy for teachers, students, and parents to communicate, which keeps everyone informed about the student’s progress. This transparency helps create a culture of accountability, which can yield better educational outcomes in the long run.

Final Words

Nowadays, one of the primary concerns for parents when choosing a school is its transparency. More than two-thirds of parents consider an established online option for their child over public schools(source). Although online schooling has only been around for a few decades, it is clear that this education brings more transparency and accountability than traditional schools.