Abstract
Quality K-12 online teaching is designed to be delivered online. During the COVID-19 pandemic, learning that was planned to be delivered in-person was delivered online, creating negative impacts to student learning and mental health and wellness. As online and hybrid options become a permanent feature of K–12 education, many questions remain about how to support student success on and offline. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of an on-site facilitator who supports K-12 online students, and their role in academic success. The study used a mixed methods design to evaluate the impact of an on-site facilitator. The results of this study show a moderate correlation between care provided by an on-site facilitator and student academic success. The study also illustrates students’ perception of needs for support, what actions student correlate to care, and the needs students perceive for their peers. The results of this study begin to demonstrate the need for an on-site facilitator to provide support for K-12 online students, providing evidence that on-site facilitators should be considered in the design of successful K-12 online programs.