Virtual Schools, Actual Learning: Digital Education in America

“Virtual Schools, Actual Learning helps explain what online learning and schooling have and have not accomplished and lays out a vision for its potential to level the playing field for all kinds of learners.”
— Sal Khan, CEO of Khan Academy

Co-edited by national digital education leaders Julie Young, Julie Petersen, and Kay Johnson, the book draws on rigorous research and real-world case studies to examine what works in online learning, what doesn’t, and how states can design policies that put students first. From flexible, mastery-based learning to emergency resilience and innovation at scale, the book offers practical insight for policymakers, educators, and families navigating the future of digital K–12 education.

Available now in paperback, ebook, and on Kindle Unlimited via Amazon.

Julie Young (Co-Editor) is an edupreneur—an educator, innovator, and visionary leader, renowned for her expertise in school design for diverse educational models, including virtual, blended, and technology-enhanced learning. As the Vice President of Education Outreach and Student Services at Arizona State University (ASU), and in her former role as CEO and Senior Advisor to ASU Preparatory Academy and ASU Prep Global, she has played a pivotal role in integrating innovative digital strategies into education. Young’s pioneering work began as the founding President and CEO of Florida Virtual School in 1997. In that visionary role, she not only embraced virtual schooling but helped lay the groundwork for an entire industry. She envisioned and built FLVS into a trailblazing incubator, continually testing and evolving innovative digital learning models while cementing Florida’s reputation as an epicenter of virtual school advancement. Young led FLVS as its President and CEO for over 17 years, building one of the nation’s first fully-online public schools, while exploding enrollment made it the largest state virtual school in the United States. Her transformative tenure set key precedents for the future of education reinvention in the digital age.

Julie Petersen (Co-Editor) is a freelance writer and editor based in California. As a former nonprofit communications director and journalist, her work has been published by Stanford Social Innovation Review, Harvard Education Press, EdSurge, and Education Next. Julie began her career as a venture capital reporter for Red Herring Magazine, where her print cover story on educational technology was featured in Best Business Stories of the Year. She went on to lead communications at venture philanthropy firm NewSchools Venture Fund. Since 2012, Petersen has written and edited papers, articles, case studies, strategic plans, grant proposals, impact reports, and other publications in partnership with more than 40 education nonprofits, companies, philanthropists, and government agencies. Julie holds a bachelor’s degree in English from Vanderbilt University and a master’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Kay Johnson (Co-Editor) is a strategic communications leader with over two decades of experience at the intersection of education, policy, and innovation. She has supported national initiatives that shaped the early growth of online learning, including legislative efforts that led to the first statewide virtual school funded through public education dollars. Kay has led executive communications, research, and thought leadership for education organizations across the K–12 and higher education spectrum, including Florida Virtual School. Her work spans policy analysis, internal and external communications, and strategic advising for executive teams. A seasoned ghostwriter and editor, she has contributed to numerous articles, white papers, and books on digital learning and education reform. Kay currently serves as Director of Strategic Communications for ASU Prep Academy, where she supports national partnerships, research, and storytelling that advance future-ready learning models.

Michael B. Horn (Foreword) is the co-founder of and a distinguished fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute for Disruptive Innovation, a non-profit think tank, and teaches at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is the author of several books, including most recently Job Moves: 9 Steps for Making Progress in Your Career and the award-winning Disrupting Class: How Disruptive Innovation Will Change the Way the World Learns. Michael also serves as an executive editor at Education Next, is a contributor to Forbes, and his work has been featured in outlets such as New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and NBC. He was included on Tech & Learning magazine’s list of the 100 most important people in the creation and advancement of the use of technology in education, and serves on the board and advisory boards of a range of education organizations, including Imagine Worldwide and Minerva University. Michael holds a BA in history from Yale University and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.