How Many U.S. Schools Use Online Learning? (2026)

In U.S. K–12 education, “online learning” typically refers to the digital systems schools use to deliver instruction, assign work, assess learning, and communicate with students and families.

Here are the most recent statistics available:

What counts as “online learning” in U.S. K–12?

Does “online learning” only mean full-time virtual school?

No. In most K–12 reporting, “online learning” includes both full-time virtual schools and the digital tools used in regular (in-person) schools.

• Fully online schools (virtual schools): students attend primarily online.

• Online course offerings: online electives, credit recovery, or state virtual course catalogs.

• Hybrid/blended learning: mix of in-person instruction plus online components.

• Day-to-day digital learning tools: Learning management systems (LMS), digital assignments, online assessments, adaptive practice platforms, tutoring systems, instructional videos, and interactive educational apps and games used for instruction or practice.

• Infrastructure: 1:1 devices, school internet, take-home policies, digital literacy instruction, and home connectivity supports.

1) Device access and 1:1 computing in U.S. public schools

How many U.S. public schools have a 1:1 computing program (one device per student)?

• 88% of public schools reported having a 1-to-1 computing program in the 2024–25 school year.[1]

In 1:1 schools, what types of devices are most common?

• 89% of 1:1 schools make laptops available.[1]

• 27% make tablets available.[1]

Do schools let students take devices home?

• 46% of 1:1 schools allow devices to go home on school days and weekends.[1]

• 37% do not allow devices to go home.[1]

How did device support change during COVID (pre vs. during pandemic)?

• Before COVID (2019–20):23% of public school principals reported assigning devices to all students to take home (vs. 14% in private schools).[2]

• Early COVID (Spring 2020): the public school figure rose to 45% (vs. 20% in private schools).[2]

At the start of 2021–22, how many schools provided devices and internet support to students who needed it?

• 96% of public schools reported providing digital devices to students who needed them.[2]

• 70% provided internet access at home to students who needed it.[2]

• 49% provided internet access at locations other than home (e.g., libraries/community sites) to students who needed it.[2]

Were there rural vs. urban differences in early pandemic internet support?

• Schools working with internet providers to help students access internet at home: City 52%, Suburban 49%, Town 42%, Rural 36%.[2]

2) Connectivity: Internet availability in schools (and home broadband support)

How many public schools have high-speed internet available to students across all school grounds/buildings?

• 77% reported high-speed internet across all grounds and buildings (2024–25).[1]

• 21% reported high-speed internet across buildings but not all grounds.[1]

• 1% reported it only in some rooms.[1]

Are districts still helping students get home broadband access?

From the CoSN 2024 State of EdTech District Leadership survey (digital equity section):

• 31% of districts reported they no longer provide any services to address student home broadband access (compared to 19% two years ago).[7]

• The number of districts providing hotspots to unconnected students declined from 69% (2022) to 49% (2024)..[7]

• 75% of respondents reported having students without home broadband access; 17% said they didn’t know the status of student broadband access.[7]

• Only 24% of districts reported that all students have access to devices at home.[7]

3) Teacher use of digital tools

How often do teachers use EdTech in day-to-day work?

In an Aug 2023 national survey, large majorities of teachers reported daily EdTech use for core tasks.[5]

• 77% use EdTech daily for communication.[5]

• 71% use EdTech daily for planning & preparation.[5]

• 65% use EdTech daily for whole-class instruction.[5]

What hardware devices do teachers use for their work?

Education technology is not limited to software - most teachers rely on multiple hardware devices as part of their daily workflow.[5]

• 97% use laptop computers for work; 83% use them daily.

• 70% use smartphones for work; 34% use them daily.

• 73% use interactive whiteboards; 56% use them daily.

What percent of teachers use a learning management system (LMS)?

• 85% of teachers reported using an LMS occasionally or daily.[5]

4) Teacher and parent attitudes toward education technology (2023)

Do teachers think EdTech helps learning?

• 61% agree it’s beneficial when students use EdTech independently.[5]

• 59% say EdTech gives insight into what students need; 58% say it helps show what students know.[5]

Do teachers worry about overuse?

• 35% say students spend too much time using EdTech; 47% say the right amount; 18% say not enough.[5]

• 84% say teachers should have more say over how technology is deployed.[5]

• Teachers reporting little/no control: 67% hardware selection; 55% software selection; 76% school rollout of new technology.[5]

Are parents generally positive about EdTech?

• 76% have a favorable view of how technology supports learning; 74% say EdTech positively impacts their child’s learning.[5]

• 66% say their child spends the right amount of time using EdTech.[5]

• 86% support continuing or increasing technology use; 54% want schools to use more technology in the future.[5]

What do parents say kids use EdTech for most often?

• Assignments/projects: 77%; exploring topics of interest: 51%; improving in a subject: 46%; communicating with teachers: 46%.[5]

5) AI classroom usage in U.S. K–12

How many teachers are using AI tools?

• 60% of public K–12 teachers reported using AI tools in 2024–25.[3]

• 32% reported using AI weekly (surveyed Mar–Apr 2025).[3]

Do schools have AI policies and training in place?

• 31% of public schools reported a written policy on student AI use (2024–25).[1]

• 67% reported providing AI training to at least some staff/teachers (2024–25).[1]

How common is AI use by teachers inside schools (school-reported)?

• 73% of public schools reported at least a few teachers using AI for tasks like lesson planning, tailored materials, assessments, or grading (2024–25).[1]

• 32% reported using software to identify whether student work was AI-generated (2024–25).[1]

Do teachers think AI in K–12 does more harm than good?

• 25% say AI tools do more harm than good; 32% say equal mix of harm and benefit; 6% say more good than harm; 35% aren’t sure.[4]

• By grade band: 35% of high school teachers say more harm than good vs. 24% middle school and 19% elementary (Fall 2023).[4]

Are districts formalizing generative AI initiatives?

• In CoSN’s district survey, 35% reported having a generative AI initiative, and 97% said they see benefits in how AI can positively impact education.[7]

These CoSN figures reflect district EdTech leader survey responses (not a national teacher poll), but they help describe district-level AI strategy momentum.[7]

6) Digital literacy instruction

How many public schools teach digital literacy?

• 68% offer digital literacy training to students; 61% say it’s part of a formal/structured curriculum (2024–25).[1]

• Common approaches: library/media lab training (57%) and embedding digital literacy in core subjects (54%).[1]

Sources :

1. [1] IES/NCES School Pulse Panel press release (Feb 19, 2025): https://ies.ed.gov/learn/press-release/more-half-public-school-leaders-say-cell-phones-hurt-academic-performance

2. [2] NCES “Technology Support” (NTPS, HPS, SPP comparisons; 2019–2021): https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/annualreports/topical-studies/covid/theme/elementary-and-secondary-education-technology-support/

3. [3] Gallup (June 25, 2025) “Three in 10 Teachers Use AI Weekly…” (includes links to report/PDF): https://news.gallup.com/poll/691967/three-teachers-weekly-saving-six-weeks-year.aspx

4. [4] Pew Research Center (May 15, 2024) teacher views on AI: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/05/15/a-quarter-of-u-s-teachers-say-ai-tools-do-more-harm-than-good-in-k-12-education/

5. [5] AFT/Hart Research memo (Sept 18, 2023) “Surveys of Teachers and Parents on Educational Technology”: https://www.aft.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/2023/ME-14570_AFT_Teacher_Parent_Tech_Surveys_MEMO.pdf

6. [6] CoSN 2024 report page (hub): https://www.cosn.org/tools-and-resources/resource/2024-state-of-edtech-district-leadership-survey/

7. [7] CoSN 2024 report PDF: https://www.cosn.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024_CoSN_LeadershipSurvey_Report_F1.pdf

8. [8] GovTech summary referencing CoSN home broadband/hotspot declines: https://www.govtech.com/education/k-12/cosn-report-surging-demands-on-ed-tech-leaders-with-limited-resources

9. [9] NEPC landing page (Virtual Schools in the U.S. 2023): https://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/virtual-schools-annual-2023

10. [10] ERIC full-text PDF (Virtual Schools in the U.S. 2023): https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED628827.pdf

11. [11] ListedTech LMS market share perspective (2024): https://listedtech.com/blog/the-state-of-the-lms-market-in-2024-trends-in-k-12/