West Virginia Virtual School: Course Options for Students

1. West Virginia Virtual School: Course Options for Students Sharon Gainer, WVVS Registrar Office of Technology and Information Systems West Virginia Department of Education

3. Why Distance Learning Courses? • A significant share of West Virginia’s students live in rural areas, and attend small schools. • WV has a decreasing population base, and this has resulted in public school staff cuts. • WVVS was created “to offer high quality educational courses via Internet technology to all students.” • In this setting, technological solutions are a key to assuring equitable accessto education.

4. Created by legislation July 1, 2000 (House Bill 4319) • WV Legislature based the bill on findings of need and capacity, addressing the primary need to provide instruction to students who are “geographically disadvantaged.” • West Virginia State Board Policy 2450 was revised October 18, 2000, to support new DL initiatives. • Policy sets forth directives for course approval, course management, course materials, evaluation of pupil progress, technology access, and funding.

5. WVVS Model • WV does not currently have the resources to create and deliver web-based courses (the current exception to this is Spanish). • WVVS delivery model involves: • identifying providers that offer both high-quality courses and course delivery options. • identifying quality courses that align with corresponding state content standards. • WVVS model requires that the course provider make available an online teacher to direct and guide the student through the learning process. • Content + Electronic Delivery + Online Teacher = Tuition Model currently used by WVVS

6. Role of WVVS • WVVS operates as a broker for state’s public schools and facilitates operational areas of delivery. • WVVS evaluates and selects providers. • WVVS evaluates and approves courses. • WVDE negotiates statewide prices for services. • WVVS currently provides 100% of tuition through a grant funded by the WV Legislature and awarded through a joint partnership of the WV Educational Broadcasting Authority and the WV Department of Education.* • Tuitions can be funded until the funds have been expended.*

7. Course Evaluations • Course and provider quality are the keys that will determine student success. • Teams of content specialists receive training in the pedagogy of online teaching and learning. • Teams are trained on evaluation procedures and documents. • Courses are evaluated by alignment with state content standards and objectives and by the SREB’s “Essential Principles of Quality” checklist. • This process results in the course approval catalog posted on web site.

8. What you need to know… • All courses meet WV State Curriculum Goals and Objectives • Counselors insure that courses fit students’ educational programs • Some courses are electives—must be approved by county • AP courses come from course provider, not WVVS (College Board Requirements) • Student must be in WVEIS

9. One Size Does NOT Fit All • Learning style • Technology expertise • Computer availability • Independence • Motivation • Extracurricular commitments • Family commitments • Time of year

10. Which Students are a Good Fit for Virtual Courses? • Student seeking • higher level challenges • extra credits • class not offered at his school • credit recovery • career exploration • addition to home schooling or home-bound instruction

11. How are Classes Scheduled? • In a class period in the lab called virtual learning—random courses • Full group instruction • Sit-in student • Independently at home • Before or after school • In the summer

12. What Kinds of Courses are Available? • Fine Arts—15 courses • Foreign Language—65 courses • Health—4 courses • Math—54 courses • Physical Education—3 courses • Reading and Lang. Arts—49 courses • Science—30 courses • Social Studies—72 courses • Tech. and Career—19 courses • Middle School—9 courses

13. Core Classes • Health—full credit • Reading and Language Arts—4 credits • Math—4 credits • Science—4 credits (Physical Science?) • Social Studies—4 credits • Physical Education—no credit

14. Other Graduation Requirements • Fine Arts credit • Foreign Language—2 years of six languages • Many elective choices

15. WVVS Additions for 2009-10 School Year

16. WVVS Registration Procedures

17. Registration Procedure – Pre-registration • Student pre-registers request for course(s) at: http://virtualschool.k12.wv.us(Enroll in a Course link) • Pre-registration is mandatory. This step is how all necessary student information for enrollment is gathered. • Contacts can register (this replaces student pre-registration) and approve students at the same time.

18. Next Steps After Enrollment Approval • Contact’s approval of request is automatically forwarded to WVVS Registrar. • Registrar reviews and evaluates the school contact’s approval. • Automatic emails detailing provider-specific registration instructions are sent to the student, parent and the school contact. • Registration leading to course start is NOT complete until provider-specific registration requirements are met.

19. Course Providers and Effective Mentoring and Monitoring of Students

20. WVVS Course Providers • AMDG, Inc. • BYU • APEX Learning • Aventa Learning • Florida Virtual School • Mountaineer Virtual • Virtual Greenbush • West Virginia Virtual School

21. http://virtualschool.k12.wv.us

22. Tips for Successful Facilitation • Good Practice is Good Practice • Select Students with Care • Set Expectations for Students and Parents • Conference with Students to Monitor Progress • Check Reports Weekly • Report Grades • Bring Issues to Registrar in Timely Manner

23. And now… What are your questions? What are your concerns? What are your comments?

24. Contact Information • Sharon Gainer, Registrar, West Virginia Virtual School sgainer@access.k12.wv.us toll-free at 866-593-8065 • Anne Meadows, Asst. Director, WVDE Office of Technology ameadows@access.k12.wv.us304.957.9833 Ext. 53433