Colorado Digital Learning Landscape
Colorado Digital Learning Solutions, a DLC State Affiliate, was instrumental in conducting the research for this profile.
| State virtual school? | YES |
| Multi-district fully online schools? | YES |
| Online learning requirement for graduation? | NO |
| State approval process for online providers? | NO |
| State approval process for online courses? | NO |
Colorado has numerous fully online programs operating across multiple districts, district-level programs that are fully online and/or supplemental, hybrid schools, a state virtual school and an online learning consortium. The Colorado Department of Education’s (CDE) Office of Online and Blended Learning reported 25,655 students enrolled in multi-district fully online programs in SY 2021-22 after serving 28,424 students in SY 2020-21 and 20,025 during the 2019-20 SY. There are 54 online schools recognized by the CDE as of September 2022: seven multi-district charter schools, 27 multi-district schools run by districts, and 20 single-district schools. The CDE maintains a list of all multi-district online schools with program descriptions.
Colorado Digital Learning Solutions (CDLS) is the state virtual school and reported 4,343 course enrollments in SY 2019-20 but jumped to 25,667 for the 2020-21 SY during the pandemic. CDLS served 5,540 students and 11,877 course enrollments for SY 2021-22. CDLS launched a "partnership" model (referred to in other states as a franchise model) for the 2020-21 SY where districts use CDLS courses and technology infrastructure with their own district teachers. Because of the teacher shortage, CDLS has expanded its “co-teaching” model where local staff and teachers partner with CDLS online instructors to support students as part of their “scheduled day.”
The iLearn Collaborative (iLC) is a nonprofit organization, that is a state-funded provider of education services delivering digital learning professional development for both teachers and administrators in Colorado. iLC offers digital learning consulting and leadership coaching to school and district administrators in addition to teacher training in blended learning and other topics.
Colorado has significant digital learning activity in districts including:
St Vrain Valley Schools’ Launched Virtual Academy offers full-time options for students in grades K-12.
Boulder Valley School District offers BVSD Online, a supplemental program for middle and high school students, and a full-time option through the Boulder Universal K-12 Online School.
Jeffco Virtual Academy offers JeffCo Public Schools students both part- and full-time options.
Lewis-Palmer School District 38 has both an online high school and middle school.
For details of online learning funding in this state see the DLC's report A Review of Online Learning Funding.
State Policies
No major legislation impacting online and/or blended learning was passed January through August 2022.
The Colorado Department of Education no longer requires that local districts must apply and receive approval to establish their own local online programs or schools.