Parent school choice and experiences of K-12 online distance education in Australia

Damon Andrew Sokolowski

K-12 online distance education (ODE) has emerged as a growing sector of the education market. However, the demand-side factors that drive parents' decisions to enrol their children in ODE schools remain understudied. This mixed-methods exploratory study aimed to fill this research gap by examining parent school choice and experiences of K-12 ODE in Australia. A survey was administered to a volunteer sample of 193 parents across a network of three private Christian online schools in three different states of Australia. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, cross tabulations and ANOVA, while the qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. The study found that a majority of the students enrolled in the ODE schools were females in the middle school years (Years 7-10), and health, educational, and concerns with behaviour at previous schools were the primary reasons for choosing an ODE school. The mothers were the primary supervisors of their children's learning. Parents reported high levels of satisfaction with their children's ODE school, with flexibility, learning (content, structure, and outcomes), support from the school, and student engagement being the most significant contributing factors. However, parents also desired increased teacher interaction for their children. A significant majority of parents reported that their children had experienced improvements in their learning, engagement, and mental health since enrolling in ODE. The results of the study indicate that ODE can be a feasible alternative to traditional schooling, affirms parents’ pivotal role in deciding on the form of their children’s education, and emphasises the need for promoting and enhancing the accessibility of ODE. The study contributes to the literature on K-12 ODE by revealing that parents’ school choice is influenced by multiple factors beyond seeking a competitive advantage for their children. The study emphasises the importance of student well-being, happiness, and engagement in parents' decision-making. Keywords: education policy, K-12 Online Distance Education, online learning, online schooling, parent experiences, parent satisfaction, parent school choice, self-paced, student well-being

Parent school choice and experiences of K-12 online distance education in Australia

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