If online education/k-12 education is "free", how will the quality of the education online be the same as physical schools?

For example, teachers, security, and counselors are considered to be essential employees for schools, but if physical schools are closed and leave online education, how will the "good quality" of education be maintained? The government is paying online education/k-12 "good quality" teachers, counselors, and security by what? If the teachers, security, and counselors are considered to be essential employees, then shouldn't they be considered to be still essential employees even if school is online?