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Targeting At-Risk Learners in an Online Environment Presented by Nichole McCauley and Megan Henry. Speakers. Nichole McCauley K12, Inc. Academic Services Formerly the K-8 Principal for the Arizona Virtual Academy 5 years in online education Teacher, administrator, trainer. Megan Henry
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Targeting At-Risk Learners in an Online Environment Presented by Nichole McCauley and Megan Henry
Speakers • Nichole McCauley • K12, Inc. • Academic Services • Formerly the K-8 Principal for the Arizona Virtual Academy • 5 years in online education • Teacher, administrator, trainer • Megan Henry • K12, Inc. • Head of School, Arizona Virtual Academy • 5 years in online education • Teacher, administrator
Background • AZVA, in its 8th year of operation, serves 4,515 students K-12, with 3,392 K-8 students and 1,123 High School • Arizona Virtual Academy is a Title I school, with 56% of students who qualify for free/reduced lunch • On average 55% of students are new to AZVA and virtual education. • Need to quickly identify at-risk students and provide interventions • Some hybrid locations but primarily online instruction • Mandatory instructional sessions targeted towards areas of improvement • In the online program, students work from home with a learning coach guiding them as their assigned teacher delivers direct instruction, monitors attendance and progress and provides intervention
Identifying Students • AZVA serves a growing number of academically at-risk students who come to AZVA performing significantly below grade level • 55% of students are at-risk in the area of math • 27% of students are at-risk in the area of reading • 30% of high school students in remedial classes • 40% of new seniors are 18 or over • Students are identified as at-risk through a ranking system that considers: • AIMS/Stanford 10/DIBELS scores • Previous coursework/report card/transcript • Scantron Performance Series data • Group status (special education, FRL, etc.)
Targeting Identified Students-Title I • Started with a small pilot, later mandated for all Title I students (most at-risk) • Mandatory online instructional sessions in math, reading and writing depending on subject for which they qualify for services • Supplemental program along with instructional sessions • Weekly Scantron assessments and/or DIBELS assessments to monitor progress • Small group sessions (10 or less) or one-on-one
Assessments, Instruction, Conferences • Dynamic Indicators of Basic Literacy Skills (DIBELS) testing • Weekly Scantron Assessments • Test preparatory (Study Island) and remediation • Teachers conference with parents/learning coaches several times per month
Gains • READING: 25% increased at least one grade level • WRITING: 53% increased at least one grade level • MATH: 17% increased at least one grade level
Let’s Watch • High School Title I small group: S1 C2:PO 2. Real number operations https://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/launch/play.jnlp?psid=2009-11-17.1347.M.68021B463F83FEF50C79127DF945E7.vcr • Grade 4, Title I small group: S1 C1 PO1: Express whole numbers through 6 digits using and connecting multiple representations. https://sas.elluminate.com/site/external/jwsdetect/playback.jnlp?psid=2009-09-28.0914.M.4A6A54E4F33D57A59108B9913C5E50.vcr
Activity • In groups of 4 discuss the ways you could reach struggling learners in an online environment • Could you use any of the tools we presented? • How do you currently meet the needs of your school’s struggling learners? • Share best practices
Questions • Nichole McCauley: nmccauley@k12.com • Megan Henry: mbhenry@k12.com