In the past several years, the field of distance learning education has grown considerably, supported by the booming charter school movement and a host of national and statewide technology initiatives in education. Educators and policymakers everywhere are beginning to recognize the potential for technology to transform the classroom and revolutionize learning, "disrupting" the traditional brick-and-mortar school setting that Clayton Christensen describes in his new book, Disrupting Class.

Parents, along with teachers and school administrators, can now mix and match a multitude of distance learning options for their students. Choosing the right program, however, can be a daunting task even for seasoned industry experts.

Here are a few guidelines to help you determine what program is right for you.

As Christensen and others have recognized, the benefit distance learning has over a traditional school setting is the individualized attention each student receives from teachers and school administrators.

Because the distance learning environment sets up learning as a one-to-one relationship, students are well-served by the personalized care of their teachers. Look for programs that take advantage of this unique relationship, whether with self-paced or customized curriculum, and a mastery-based learning philosophy that emphasizes complete proficiency at every stage of the process.

Knowing a student's learning strengths and weakness, as well as particular learning styles, can be a great asset in effective and long-lasting learning.

In the same vein, teacher services should be comprehensive and responsive to student needs. Distance learning offers the advantage of flexibility, and in strong programs, teachers should be highly responsive to their students' needs. Regular communication is essential, as is coordinating among multiple teachers and with parents for the well-being of an individual student. Seek out programs that understand the challenges as well as opportunities posed by the distance learning setting.

For traditional schools as well as distance learning programs, regional accreditation bodies such as the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or the New England Association of Schools and Colleges demand that schools adhere to a rigorous set of practices to guarantee excellence in education. Accredited schools must establish definitive learning goals and track student progress, and they are subject to periodic site visits and reporting. Though there are fewer distance learning programs that have been accredited, it may be an important factor in choosing a program as many universities and colleges prefer that their applicants come from accredited schools.

With distance learning, there are a number of curricular choices available to students. Programs frequently offer online, text-based, project-based and customized courses, and students should be able to mix and match courses according to the mode of delivery as well as appropriate grade level in a given subject.

As with a traditional school, look for programs that are correlated to state and national standards so that key skills and concepts are properly reinforced. Course catalogues should offer a range of Advanced Placement, honors, and College Prep courses, as well as a set of academic, art and technology electives. Be on the lookout for too much auto-generated, question-and-answer style courseware.

Quality curriculum will emphasize plenty of higher-level critical thinking skills, with ample opportunities for students to sustain a meaningful dialogue with their teachers.

The recent boom in online learning has resulted in a flood of start-up programs, and though they may offer appealing features and dazzling graphics, be attentive to the school's actual track record where it comes to assessment and accountability.

Many programs are run by private firms that lack sufficient input from certified teachers, so finding a school run by qualified educators is a must.

Longer-running programs are worth an extra look for their expertise in the field, as are those schools that adhere to best practices established by organizations like the North American Council for Online Learning (NACOL).

As with traditional schools, the focus in distance learning is often trained on getting students into the college or university of their choice.

Distance learning students tend to fare well when applying to colleges, being used to individualized, self-paced learning and exercising higher-level thinking skills. They also tend to score higher on SAT and other standardized tests.

Examine graduation rates, percentages of students who go on to 2- or 4-year post-secondary schools, and the schools where students are being admitted. In short, check that the school's college placement record matches with your own goals.

For example, one of the leading distance learning schools, Laurel Springs School has exceptional college placement statistics:

• 85% of seniors are attending college.

• 90% were accepted to the college of their choice.

• The 15% who postponed college were mainly professional, elite athletes and actors.

There SAT scores were also higher than state and national average.

A strong distance learning program will work cooperatively with other educational institutions to provide students with a range of academic opportunities.

The University of California, for examples, pre-approves coursework as meeting admission requirements, as does the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Schools may also participate in the National Honor Society, recognizing academic achievement and community service among outstanding students.

Beyond teacher support, the entire school should provide extensive personalized care for its students. Knowledgeable advisors who can assist in selecting courses, guidance counselors who monitor ongoing progress, college counseling, and a registrar that issues report cards and transcripts are all important support features that might not be included in all distance learning programs.

It is important also that the school understands the demographics of its student population, and that it knows how to address their particular needs, be they gifted students, credit recovery students, summer school students, or young athletes and film industry professionals.

Like a traditional school, a distance learning program should strive to create a sense of community, even if its students and teachers aren't located in the same place. Whether through online meeting places - regular newsletters, posted announcements, chat rooms and message boards - or annual prom and graduation ceremonies, a distance learning program should provide plenty of opportunities for the entire school community to gather together.

Parental involvement is important in any learning situation, and in distance education, where students don't regularly maintain face-to-face interaction with their teachers, the parents' role is all the more critical.

A strong distance learning program should provide comprehensive parent training and support. Parents should, for example, have the option to take a parent training course. They should be able to log-on to online courses to check the progress of their students' work, and most importantly, they should be in frequent communication with teachers.

With more and more distance learning programs available on the market, the task of selecting a school doesn't need to be an overwhelming process. Of the numerous factors to consider, these ten areas should help you ask the appropriate questions in finding the school that's right for you.

Laurel Springs School, founded in 1991, is an accredited, college prep private school offering distance learning programs and teacher services for students in grades K-12. Located in Ojai, California, Laurel Springs serves students across the United States and in 43 countries. Current enrollment is 3,000 students, with more than 2,000 students enrolled in the online high school program. Laurel Springs uses web-based communication tools, a standards-based curriculum, and personalized instruction to offer students the highest quality home education experience.

www.laurelsprings.com