For two decades, Indiana Online (IO) has helped learners achieve their educational goals in an online environment, using innovative technologies that engage students and provide proactive learning opportunities. We collaborate with partner schools to provide wraparound services, rigorous online courses, and meaningful connections with highly qualified teachers to support their students’ educational journey.
This year marks our 20th year of serving schools and students, and we are proud of how much our accredited organization has evolved over the years. From humble beginnings to a robust catalog of programs, Indiana Online has earned a long-standing reputation in online education.
History of Indiana Online
Indiana Online (previously known as Indiana Online Academy) was established in 2005 as a department of the Central Indiana Educational Service Center (CIESC), serving just a few school districts in Marion County. The partnerships grew quickly, serving primarily CIESC member high schools. 2010 was a pivotal year as national online schools entered the marketplace, catering to students looking for an online option. During this time, school districts realized the benefit of partnering with IO to provide an online option while keeping their students enrolled. Through intentional outreach efforts, which included school visits, conference presentations, and networking with other in-state and national providers, IO’s partnerships have grown into a state-wide, highly respected program serving over 300 public, charter, private, and homeschool communities.
There have been many milestones and achievements over the past two decades. Here are a few of our organization’s highlights:
Indiana Online would not have experienced so much growth or be the organization it is today without the support of our internal team and dedicated teachers! These professionals are the lifeblood of our organization. Read below some key takeaways from current and previous staff on how IO has evolved over the years:
I started with Indiana Online in 2011 and have experienced such growth in our program. Not just growth in numbers, but growth in how we serve. We focus on finding innovative ways to meet the needs of our partners and students. Our team cares for students and is committed to quality. I am honored to lead our incredible team. I know the next 20 years will be just as amazing.
—Kim Hendrick, Director of Indiana Online
Impact By Numbers
Spending two decades in online education prompted exponential growth in our numbers. From 2005 to 2024, we have documented 309,160 enrollments with an average annual enrollment growth of 35.30% and 290,518 credits earned.
More specifically, during the 2023-2024 school year, we continued to see growth in enrollments, partner schools, and courses. With this growth came a need to hire more teachers, both full and part-time.
Dedicated to Educating Differently
Since its inception, Indiana Online has spearheaded the online education space in Indiana, one program at a time. The scope of education is constantly evolving, and IO has closely followed these trends and the needs of our stakeholders to serve more students and schools in our state. As the demand for online learning has grown, IO has made adjustments and additions to our staff and offerings to accommodate a full-time solution, support for teacher shortages, tutoring, ELL support, full-time teachers, and a dedicated Student Services Team with wraparound services.
The Heart of Indiana Online Is Our Students
At the heart of Indiana Online is a mission to serve students with high-quality educational opportunities. We are committed to helping students meet their goals despite challenges they may face along the way. There are endless scenarios for why IO is the preferred online learning provider for students. Here are just a few ways we provide flexible opportunities for our students.
Supporting Students Through Highs and Lows
Indiana Online aims to support our students in every way possible—through the highs and the lows. Everyone has a different path. When students are faced with challenges, we assist them in staying on track to graduate. For instance, when a scheduling conflict caused a student to be missing two-course requirements for graduation, the first-generation student was delayed from earning his high school diploma. This resilient student worked throughout summer school, taking courses with Indiana Online, and earned his diploma in July. He went on to study at Indiana University, earning his BA in Marketing, then attended Butler University. This graduate is now living his best life in California as a sports commentator and is a successful owner and operator of a branding company.
One of the things that has impressed me about Indiana Online over the past 13 years that I was associated with the program is that the staff continually look for ways to partner with schools to help students be successful. They talk to educators and administrators and listen to find out what students need.
The program started as a partnership with several schools to offer online options for high school students. It has grown from 389 students in 2005 to over 35,000 students in 2023. It has expanded to flexible school year options, summer school, full-time enrollments, middle school courses, dual credit, Advanced Placements, and iCAP—just to name a few. All of these programs were developed to meet the diverse needs of schools and their students.
I have been honored to be part of the Indiana Online teaching staff since the summer of 2012. During this time, I have seen Indiana Online grow from a part-time program to being able to offer both a part-time program as well as a full-time Indiana Online Academy for students who make a choice to attend a full-time virtual school. Also, in that time, Indiana Online has added counseling services, student support services, instructional support services, a dual credit option for schools and students, an English Learner program, and many new course offerings!
It has been amazing to see how much IO has grown! It started as an online school with primarily Ben Davis High School students. It has continued to grow and attract more and more students outside the central Indianapolis area. Students now have so many offerings beyond credit recovery.
Online learning is a wonderful option for students facing health challenges. The program has served many students who were battling life-threatening illnesses. The IO staff sends care packages as encouragement to these students.
One student stands out to me. She was hospitalized most of her 8th grade through sophomore years of school. She was an advanced student who chose to focus on what her future could be once she won the battle over leukemia. While hospitalized and homebound, the student took online courses and maintained a high GPA, taking AP courses and exploring college options. I had the honor of watching her succeed academically and win her health battle. I was invited to attend her high school graduation and celebration. This was one for the memory books! As she walked off the stage with her honors diploma in hand, the audience was crazy with applause, celebrating her accomplishments. I recently received a message and picture of this young lady who graduated from Texas A&M with her BA in Molecular Biology.
Remote Learning Opens Doors to Opportunity
Online learning provides an immense amount of flexibility for students—especially geographically! IO had three students who took a four-month “sea-batical” with their parents, sailing the Leeward Islands. They each took five high school courses at sea and connected at each port to download assignments and upload the completed ones. The students also journaled their whole experience and shared it with their classmates and the IO staff. Enrolling in online education allows students to learn from essentially anywhere in the world.
Providing Accessibility for All Students
At Indiana Online, we believe every student deserves the opportunity to thrive academically, no matter their circumstances. That’s why our online courses are designed with accessibility in mind, providing a supportive and flexible learning environment for all students. Whether supporting students with accommodations, students facing extended illness or hospitalization, or offering stability during family relocations, our programs and staff ensure that education remains consistent, inclusive, and empowering.
Former IO teacher Angela Barnes shared that Indiana Online Academy (IOA) offers students quality options on their academic journey. “When I was a teacher, my students sought IOA courses for many reasons, including extended illness, access to challenging courses not offered at their school, and flexibility with demanding sports schedules. She confirmed, “IOA made it possible for these students and many more to graduate with a quality education.”
Eshleman shared a touching story regarding a former student; “I remember one situation where a student was getting treatment at Riley Hospital and taking her courses online with IO so she wouldn’t fall behind. Without being asked, her Spanish teacher visited her at the hospital on several occasions and made sure the student knew she cared and was supporting her. Another IO staff member also stopped by after hours to visit her. The student’s mother called me and was crying as she talked about how much it meant to know we were helping her daughter.”
Indiana Online Has Grown Alongside Its Staff
Online education has changed immensely over the years as technology evolves. As an online education provider, we deeply consider not only the student experience but also the teachers’ experience. We take our staff’s feedback very seriously and implement it into our program and platform updates.
When asked about the process of adjusting to certain challenges within IO, Van Deuren compared her personal timeline of transformation. “When I began with IO in 2012, I could see that virtual learning would become a much-needed avenue to support and build student success. I have been mentored along the way by IO staff to become a better and more effective online teacher, which led me to earn my Doctorate in Education with an E-Learning Specialization. Because IO has mentored and supported me, I’ve been able to support many students and families in the world of online learning!”
According to Brabson: “I personally have had a few challenges during my time at IO. Through these challenges, I have felt fully supported and appreciated by the compassion expressed to me by my colleagues, teachers, and CIESC staff. I believe this environment is inherent to the leadership.”
Educate Differently with Indiana Online
Indiana Online is proud to celebrate 20 years as a department of CIESC serving the state. As technology and student needs remain in a constant state of flux, we are committed to providing top-tier online educational opportunities to students and our partner schools. If you would like to support our investment in the future of Indiana’s education, visit our donation page to contribute to the Indiana Online scholarship fund.
We don’t know where the next 20 years will take us, but we know we will continue to serve our partners to meet their ever-changing needs. Thank you for celebrating with us!
