The International Association for K-12 Online Learning (iNACOL) announces the release of ground-breaking quality standards for K-12 online learning titled, National Standards for Quality Online Programs. This publication is designed to provide states, districts, online programs, accreditation agencies and other organizations with a set of over-arching quality guidelines for online programs in several categories: leadership, instruction, content, support services and evaluation.

This document completes the triad of iNACOL's online education quality standards, including the National Standards of Quality for Online Courses and National Standards for Quality Online Teaching. These standards provide the encompassing and broad set of standards program leaders need to assure quality.

"Our overall goal is to ensure that every student has access to the highest quality education available today. This is the first publication of K-12 online learning program quality standards to help evaluate and ensure effective oversight. Online program quality standards will help underscore how important effective management, administration, quality content and instruction, student and faculty support, and academic rigor are for K-12 online education," says Susan Patrick, President and CEO of iNACOL.

K-12 online learning is growing at 30% annually. Thirty-four states have state-led virtual school programs, eighteen states offer full-time online learning programs, while 70% of school districts offer at least one online course to students. Online learning is expanding access to high quality educational opportunities for students, leveling the playing field for accessing highly-qualified teachers and helping to keep students on track for graduating on-time and college-ready.

The National Standards for Quality Online Programs are available on iNACOL's website: http://www.inacol.org/research/nationalstandards/index.php.

About iNACOL
iNACOL is the International Association for K-12 Online Learning, a non-profit 501(c)(3) membership association based in the Washington, DC area with more than 2,500 members. iNACOL is unique in that its members represent a diverse cross-section of K-12 education from school districts, charter schools, state education agencies, non-profit organizations, colleges, universities and research institutions, corporate entities and other content and technology providers (www.inacol.org). iNACOL hosts the annual Virtual School Symposium (VSS). VSS 2009 will be held Nov. 15-17, 2009 in Austin, TX (www.virtualschoolsymposium.org).

CONTACT: Wendy Fleming, iNACOL Assoc. Dir. of Communications, +1-703-752-6216, wfleming@inacol.org