Indiana Online Sets the Bar, Achieving Rigorous National Accreditation for Virtual Learning

Indiana Online, the state’s largest online supplemental course provider and a department of the Central Indiana Educational Service Center (CIESC), has earned the prestigious Virtual Learning Program Accreditation from the Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance (VLLA). This first-in-the-nation achievement recognizes Indiana Online’s commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible online education to students across the Hoosier state. 

The VLLA accreditation is a rigorous, research-based benchmarking program that evaluates online course quality, teacher effectiveness, and program operations. To earn this distinction, Indiana Online underwent a comprehensive review process—meticulously aligned with the National Standards for Quality (NSQ) Online Programs—demonstrating its adherence to the highest standards of academic integrity, accountability, and continuous improvement. 

“Indiana Online’s achievement of this accreditation sets a high standard for online learning programs nationwide,” said VLLA Director Cindy Hamblin. “Their dedication to quality and excellence is commendable and serves as a model for others to follow.”

Indiana Online partners with over 300 schools statewide to offer more than 180 online courses, including Core 40, Advanced Placement, and dual credit options. All courses are designed by licensed Indiana teachers to meet state standards and are approved by the NCAA and College Board. In addition to supplemental courses, Indiana Online provides a full-time academy for grades 5-12, tutoring services, and an English Learner support program.

“I am so proud of our team for their commitment to quality,” said Indiana Online’s Executive Director, Kim Hendrick. “We were excited to participate in this national accreditation model to showcase our program and receive feedback from other programs from across the country. Being the first state in the nation to receive this accreditation is amazing.”

The VLLA accreditation comes as Indiana Online has seen steady growth in enrollment and partnering schools in recent years. In the 2022-23 school year, over 33,000 course enrollments were supported, representing a nearly 10% increase from the prior year.

To learn more about Indiana Online’s accredited courses and programs, visit https://indianaonline.org.

About Indiana Online

A department of the Central Indiana Educational Service Center (CIESC), Indiana Online is the largest non-profit online supplemental course provider in the state of Indiana. In partnership with over 300 schools statewide, Indiana Online offers a wide variety of full-time, year-round, and summer courses.

The majority of Indiana Online’s courses are developed by, and all are taught by Indiana-licensed teachers, each teaching within their content area of expertise. Each course is designed to meet the Indiana State Standards. Applicable courses are approved by the NCAA. Indiana Online’s Advanced Placement courses have also been approved by the College Board. In addition, Indiana Online offers a variety of solutions for schools, including supplemental courses, (for students to take something not offered in their school or for scheduling conflicts) FlexED (for teacher shortages and expanding course offerings), Academy (a full-time virtual solution for partnering Indiana school districts), and Summer School (offering a variety of courses), tutoring, and EdReady Indiana Pathway to Algebra.

About the Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance

The Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance (VLLA) is an esteemed association of supplemental virtual programs from across the United States. Comprising primarily state virtual schools and leading consortia, VLLA is a 501(c)(3) educational nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening online learning through leadership, advocacy, expertise, and professional relationships. Learn more about the VLLA.

About the National Standards for Quality Online Programs

The National Standards for Quality Online Programs offer a comprehensive framework for improving online and blended learning programs across various educational organizations. Each standard is supported by detailed indicators, explanations, and examples, providing flexible, practical guidance for diverse program types. Learn more about NSQ.

Contacts

Author

  • Kim Hendrick

    Kim Hendrick is the Executive Director of Indiana Online at Central Indiana Educational Service Center, one of the largest supplemental online high school programs in Indiana. She has more than 29 years of professional experience and plays an important role in the definition of Indiana Online’s direction and charting the course towards strategic objectives through the effective management of key resources and innovation initiatives. She serves on two committees for the national Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance (VLLA) and the SETDA Professional Development Committee. She also served on the Indiana Connected Educator’s Board and the IDOE's Indiana eLearning Leadership Cadre.

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