Using Online Curriculum to Implement a Virtual Academy and In-House Alternative Education Program

1. Using Online Curriculum to Implement a Virtual Academy and In-House Alternative Education Program Tammy J. Miller Instructional Technology Coach Chestnut Ridge School District

2. How it looks at Chestnut Ridge The costs are almost doubling during a three-year period.

3. Number Comparison In 2008-09 , nine additional tuitions would have been incurred. In 2009-10, twelve additional tuitions would have billed. Tuitions Costs With / Without Virtual Academy

4. Number Comparison Figures vary from student to student. Numbers are typical of enrolled students. Tuition Costs vs. District Cost Per Student

5. Let’s Re-visit Some Numbers Virtual Academy costs are stable; not considering the cost of a laptop. Actual District Savings

6. So how are we doing it? • 20 District Courses • An Overview of the Chestnut Ridge Virtual Academy • Courses delivered via • Blackboard • Development Costs • $500 per course • Sub coverage for 4 work days • Cost of instruction • $250 per student • English 12 • English 11 • English 10 • English 9 • Algebra I • Algebra IC • Geometry • Geometry C • American History 9 • World Cultures • American History / Economics • American Government • Biology • Chem in the Community • Technical Physics • Accounting • Senior Seminar • Freshmen Seminar / Computer Applications • Child Development • Wellness

7. So how are we doing it? • 20 District Courses • An Overview of the Chestnut Ridge Virtual Academy • Plato Software • Self-paced online software • Currently using 9-12 • Initial investment • 15 “seats” • $15,000 • Assign students a HQT • Cost of instruction • $125 per student

8. So how are we doing it? • An Overview of the Chestnut Ridge Virtual Academy • Plato Software • Self-paced online software • Currently using 5-8 • Students have access to HQT as needed • Cost of instruction • $300 per student per course • 20 District Courses • Advanced Academics

9. So how are we doing it? • An Overview of the Chestnut Ridge Virtual Academy • District purchases a 3-month Membership at local facility for students 9-12 • Students are supervised by certified physical trainer • Fitness program has been approved by district employed HQT • Advanced Academics offers an online • PE course for students 5-8 • 20 District Courses • PE Solution • Plato Software • Advanced Academics

10. So how are we doing it? • An Overview of the Chestnut Ridge Virtual Academy • First point of contact • Monitors attendance • Monitors student progress • Communicates with parents • Facilitate weekly meeting with students • On-Site Coordinator • 20 District Courses • Plato Software • PE Solution • Advanced Academics

11. So how are we doing it? • An Overview of the Chestnut Ridge Virtual Academy • Learning Support • Students are scheduled time with a LS teacher as needed to meet the terms of each individual IEP • Courses are adapted as needed • Transportation arrangements are made as needed • 20 District Courses • On-Site Coordinator • Plato Software • PE Solution • Advanced Academics

12. Our Students Sometimes it’s a coin toss! In 2008-09 Of the nine students who came and went through the Virtual Academy… • 3 remained in the Virtual Academy for the entire year and successfully passed all coursework • 1 remained in the Virtual Academy for the entire year and successfully passed 4 of 6 courses • 1 student completed the school year, successfully passing all courses, blending his school day with two periods a day face-to-face and the remainder of his coursework via the Virtual Academy • 1 student was pulled back “in house” • 1 student dropped out of school • 2 students were subsequently placedin the district’s Alternative Education program

13. Our Students Sometimes it’s a coin toss! In 2009-10 Of the twelve students who came and went through the Virtual Academy… • 5 remained in the Virtual Academy for the entire year and successfully passed all coursework • 1 student remained in the Virtual Academy for the entire year and successfully passed 3 out of 5 courses • 1 student completed the school year, successfully passing all courses, blending her school day with two periods a day face-to-face and the remainder of his coursework via the Virtual Academy • 2 students dropped out of school • 2 students were subsequently placedin the district’s Alternative Education program • 1 student enrolled for the second semester and did not pass a single course

14. What’s the big ? Consider the following… Let’s look at the bottom line. Student a Student b • Spent two years at a PA Cyber • Cost the district $13,860 • Earned ½ credit in Wellness • Earned 4 credits the 1st year attending the Virtual Academy • Earned 7 credits this year • Was failing all courses in house • Parental request to enroll in Virtual Academy • Failed all courses

15. What’s the big question? Where is it cheaper for a student to fail?

16. How Did We Start? Cold Calls & Legwork • Ran a pilot program in 2008-09. Target goal was six enrollments. • Contacted via telephone all families of students who were district residents attending cyber alternatives • Two families contacted us regarding possible online education for their children with health issues • Recouped one student • Kept eight other enrollments in our Virtual Academy • In year two, designed a brochure and sent a mailer • Followed the mailer with telephone contacts. • Recouped three additional students and kept nineother enrollments in our Virtual Academy

17. What we’ve learned….

18. Questions?

19. STAR Program Students Trekking a New Ridge • An Overview of Alternative Education in the Chestnut Ridge School District

20. Alternative Education Programs in Bedford Co. Nulton Diagnostic & Treatment Center • COST: $130/day Extended Family Academy, EFA • COST: approx. $150/day Manito • COST: approx. $110/day

21. Alternative Education Programs in Bedford County • Nulton Diagnostic

22. Alternative Education Programs in Bedford County • Behavioral Programs • EFA • Northern Point Learning (06-07) • Manito (09-10)

23. Structure and Schedule- covering the basics Behavior Modification System • Student progress, consistency, or regression is measured daily. Privileges and Consequences • Given according to the student’s ability to perform academically and behaviorally. Schedule • Consistently maintained to ensure predictability and seamless transition between learning modules.

24. Counseling- offering support based on the needs of the student. • Focused on replacing negative attitude and behavior with personal accountability and the willingness to learn. • Individual and Group Sessions offered weekly. • Creating a stronger foundation for academic and behavioral success. • Group- occurs once per week

25. Career Exploration and Service Learning Offered daily by our Guidance Counselors and Social Services Coordinator. Assisting students with identifying potential career paths based on their interests and personal strengths. Providing an essential link between the regular education setting and the student participating in the program. Teaching lessons of selfless giving and taking the role of productive members in our community.

26. Program Activities - Giving back • Bedford County Food Bank- learning how to take an active role in our community. • STAR sponsored food drive- organized by students in the high school. Benefited the New Paris Food Bank. • Picnic Tables- completed during service learning activity. These tables are featured outside of the cafeteria and available for all student and staff use.

27. Benefits to the District Cost Savings During the 2009-2010 school year, the STAR Program will have saved the District more than $78, 000. This figure takes staff salaries, counseling agreement, educational software, and general supply costs into account. Helping our students stay in school Drop out rate has been reduced 200%in comparison to last year’s statistics.

28. Benefits to the District Attendance Students that attend the program are at a higher risk for drop out and being absent from school. STAR Program attendance has risen to 88% in comparison to 74% during the 2008-2009 school year. We are keeping our students where they need to be during the formative years of their life.

29. Curriculum District Courses via Blackboard Plato Advanced Academics Learning Supports are also in place for studentswith IEP needs

30. What we’ve learned….

31. Questions?

32. Summer School Opportunities Utilizing the same online curriculum options • Plato is our primary provider for summer school students • Blackboard semester courses are popular choice with high school students • Summer courses from Advanced Academics are used for enrolled middle schoolers

33. Summer School Opportunities Our students are currently studying… • Senior Seminar • Driver’s Ed • Pre-Algebra • Algebra I • Algebra II • Fundamentals of Math 7 • Fundamentals of Math 8 • Earth Science • Wellness • PE

34. Summer School Enrollments Credit Recovery & Acceleration

35. Program Guidelines Credit Recovery • Students must be online 3 hours a day • 5 days a week • 4 weeks or until coursework is complete Acceleration • Daily requirements are flexible • Continuous steady progress Can work at home or inhouse.

36. Summer School Fees & Expenses • Credit Recovery & Acceleration

37. Tammy J MillerChestnut Ridge School District (814) 839-4195 x 3343 tmiller@crsd.k12.pa.us