The National Center for Education Statistics, a branch of the U.S. Department of Education, also found that the total enrollment in distance learning courses across all post-secondary degree-granting institutions roughly doubled -- from 754, 000 to 1.6 million -- from 1995 to 1997-98.

CNN: fyi.com - Study: Public higher education embracing virtual classrooms

The bright spot in all this is that local businesspeople have found creative ways to come up with jobs, support for education and a fresh outlook on economic opportunity.

FORBES: Local heroes

The bright spot in all this is that local businesspeople have found creative ways to come up with jobs, support for education -- and a fresh outlook on economic opportunity: n As head of the Littleton Industrial Development Corp.

FORBES: Local heroes