This guide was developed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Innovation and Improvement. Sharon Horn was project director.

An external advisory group provided feedback to refine the scope of the study underlying this guide, define the selection criteria for case study sites, and clarify the text. Members (and their affiliations at the time of the advisory meeting) included Cathy Cheely, e-learning coordinator, Virginia Virtual Advanced Placement School; John Flores, chief executive officer, United States Distance Learning Association; Patrick Gould, associate researcher, Center on Education and Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Don Lake, director, Center for Distance and Online Learning, Los Angeles County Office of Education; Linda Morrell, director of instructional technology, Cobb County (Georgia) School District; Joyce Pittman, associate professor, instructional technology, University of Cincinnati Teachers College; and Kurt Steinhaus, board president of the International Society for Technology in Education and deputy secretary of education, new Mexico Public Education Department.

Staff in the Department of Education who provided input and reviewed drafts included Carol Cichowski, Tom Corwin, Kate Devine, Cynthia Dorfman, Ayesha Edwards, Steve Freid, Braden Goetz, Cathy Grimes-Miller, Laura Johns, Brian Lekander, Tim Magner, Meredith Miller, Iris Oliver, Wendy Tada, and Linda Wilson.

The six online course providers and their partnering districts and schools that participated in the development of this guide and the case studies on which it is based were generous with both their time and attention. We would like to thank those who were instrumental in coordinating and participating in the site visits that informed this work, including district and school staff, parents, and students who agreed to be interviewed for this project.

Colorado Online Learning
13300 West 2nd Place
Lakewood, Colo. 80228
http://www.col.k12.co.us
Chris A. Rapp, Executive Director
Tim Synder, Executive Director Emeritus

Florida Virtual School
445 West Amelia Street, Suite 301
Orlando, Fla. 32801
http://www.flvs.net
Julie Young, President and CEO
Lori Gully, Director of Florida Services

Iowa Online Advanced Placement Academy
210 Lindquist Ctr.
The University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa 52242
http://www.iowaapacademy.org
Clar Baldus, Project Administrator

Johns Hopkins University—
Center for Talented Youth
5801 Smith Ave., Suite 400
McAuley Hall
Baltimore, Md. 21209
http://cty.jhu.edu/index.html
Patricia Wallace, Senior Director

Michigan Virtual High School
3101 technology Blvd., Suite G
Lansing, Mich. 48910
http://mivhs.org
Robert Currie, Executive Director

Virtual High School
3 Clock tower Place, Suite 200
Maynard, Mass. 01754
http://www.govhs.org
Liz Pape, Chief Executive Officer