Special Issue “Virtual Schools for K-12 Education: Lessons Learned”

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Special Issue of the MDPI journal “Education Sciences” on “Virtual Schools” (online K-12 providers)

Authors are invited to submit research articles to this Special Issue. The deadline for submissions is 1 April 2024.

This Special Issue aims to consolidate cutting-edge research and insights into K-12 virtual schools in order to serve as a comprehensive resource for researchers, policy makers, school leaders and virtual school teachers.

The full title of the Special Issue is “Virtual Schools for K-12 Education: Lessons Learned and Implications for Digital K-12 and Other Sectors of Education”. Guest Editors are Paul Bacsich, BT Professor Sara de Freitas and Bieke Schreurs. The journal is Open Access.

The scope of this Special Issue encompasses the development, implementation, and evaluation of virtual schools, with a focus on innovation, accessibility, diversity and educational outcomes. It aims to provide significant coverage of countries including from the Global South and smaller countries (including Small Island States).

We hope that there will be some authors who may wish to collaborate on studies spanning several countries or states. In-depth analysis of specific virtual schools is encouraged, preferably with input from practitioners at these schools, with a view to drawing relevant lessons for other virtual schools. It is also hoped that some papers will focus on the use and impact of open educational resources in virtual schools.

Full details of the Guest Editors, the Special Issue topic suggested topic list, and submission information can be found at MDPI Special Issue.

For the avoidance of doubt, articles about supplemental programmes (part-time virtual K-12 instruction) and online GCSE/A level providers are also in scope. However, not in scope are “virtual schools” in the sense often used in local authorities in England, unless such entities offer online provision as part of their service to children.