A Contemporary Overview of Online Education Use in Rural, K-12 Schools in the United States

This study explores contemporary trends in online education within rural K-12 schools in the U.S. by examining site characteristics, Internet connectivity, and smartphone usage in online learning. Despite nearly a century of discourse on rural education and distance learning, gaps in research persist. Through a mixed-methods approach, this study analyzes survey and focus group data to investigate variations in online education usage across different rural school types, with a focus on size- and income-related characteristics. Key findings reveal that larger, higher-income schools tend to use online education at higher rates, while smaller, lower-income schools face challenges such as unreliable Internet and staff limitations. The study also highlights the critical role of Internet connectivity and emerging relationships between smartphone usage and online education. These results inform stakeholders about the unique challenges and opportunities rural schools face in integrating online education, emphasizing the need for context-specific solutions to improve access and equity.