E-learning is everywhere.

How hot is electronic learning? So hot that Michigan will soon require students to experience online learning before graduating from high school. The requirement is part of a larger education initiative passed in 2006 to ensure students are held to rigorous standards and are prepared for the 21st century workforce.

Last year, Georgia passed a law allowing cyber charter schools. North Carolina created the North Carolina Virtual Public School and Missouri passed a law to create a new state-led program that will include both full-time and part-time students in grades K-12.

E-learning is not without its challenges, as Colorado and Kansas learned after recently completing audits of online learning in their states. Colorado responded to the problems identified in the audit by convening task forces that address lax oversight, questionable funding and quality concerns. The Kansas audit also pointed out areas where more stringent oversight is necessary.

THE GROWTH OF E-LEARNING IN THE STATES

* Thirty-eight states have e-learning initiatives, including virtual schools, cyber charter schools, online testing or Internet-based professional development.

* Twenty-five states have statewide or state-led virtual schools.

* Eighteen states have 65,354 students attending 147 virtual charter schools.

* In 2000, there were 40,000 to 50,000 enrollments in K-12 online education. In 2002-2003, there were 328,000 distance education enrollments in K-12 public school districts (the most recent year data are available). The Peak Group has estimated that online enrollments in 2005 were at 500,000.

Source: The North American Council for Online Learning