- Online Virtual High Schools
- e-learning
- digital curriculum
- online courses
- Digital Learning Programs in WA bills
- Alternative Learning Experience in WA bills
Here is a link to Monroe, WI Virtual High School - http://www.virtualdiploma.net/
Audit: http://www.sao.wa.gov/reports/auditreports/auditreportfiles/ar75118.pdf
Laws and Rules Related to Virtual schools and Online/Digital Learning
- WAC 392-121-182 Alternative learning experience requirements.
- C 356, L 2005 - DIGITAL LEARNING PROGRAMS - SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5828
- RCW 28A.150.262 - Defining student FTE wrt digital learning programs
An article with recent history on virtual schools in Washington state - http://virtualschooling.wordpress.com/2008/08/13/outsourcing-education-online-school-law-gets-new-look-in-wa-state/
Related Article - http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/09/22/story3.html
Questions:
- How many parents in the district would have an interest in a virtual class approach?
- How many parents could stay at home?
- How many have the communications infrastructure - broadband internet access and PC?
- How many students would the district need to have to make the program worthwhile?
- What would the program look like?
- What would make the program appealing to students and parents?
- What problems might this solve for the district? How might it benefit the District?
- What problems might this solve for parents and students? How might it benefit parents and students?
- How well do the DLC courses align with RHS/RSD courses? Could RSD use DLC classes as the basis for virtual course work?
- How do RSD staff feel about online/distance learning and virtual classes/virtual schools?
Project Questions:
- What grants could the district apply for to help with virtual/online/distance instruction?
Find case studies or examples of programs already in place to help define the nature of the program and the costs and benefits.
Resources:
- Center for Digital Education
- Journal of Interactive Online Learning - http://www.ncolr.org/jiol/issues/index.cfm
- 2008 Report Online Learning Policy and Practice Survey: A Survey of the States - http://www.centerdigitaled.com/story.php?id=108006
- DiPietro, M., Ferdig, R. E., Black, E.W. & Preston, M. (2008). Best practices in teaching K-12 online: Lessons learned from Michigan Virtual School teachers. Journal of Interactive Online Learning, 7(1), 10-35.
- Sloan-C - Online learning consortium for higher ed
- EFFECTIVENESS OF K–12 ONLINE LEARNING - This research briefing has been produced for NACOL by its Research Committee to inform its membership.
- SREBonline resource
- Good article about cost savings from Am Assoc School Administrators
- Good blog from National Association of School Boards
- OSPI Data - http://www.k12.wa.us/DataAdmin/
- CORE Student Record System - Districts provide information on these students to OSPI through the Core Student Record System (CSRS), which includes data on the number of students who dropped out - http://www.k12.wa.us/DataAdmin/pubdocs/GradDropout/05-06/2005-06GradDropoutStatistics.pdf
- Georgia Article
- JLARC Report on digital learning that served as basis for 5828(2005)
- Alternative Education Guidelines from OSPI - http://www.k12.wa.us/AlternativeEd/ProgramImplementationGuidelines/default.aspx
- Washington Association for Learning Alternatives - http://www.walakids.com/
- Washington Families for Online Learning on 5410-2009
- WACOL reasons to oppose 5410
The reality of virtual schools: A review of the literature
Michael K. Barboura, , and Thomas C. Reevesb
Research Article - http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1480559
| The reality of virtual schools: A review of the literature | ||
| Source | Computers & Education archive Volume 52 , Issue 2 (February 2009) table of contents Pages 402-416 Year of Publication: 2009 ISSN:0360-1315 | |
| Authors | ||
Senate Ed Committee:
- 2008 work plan with reference to controversy on funding of online learning http://www.leg.wa.gov/documents/Senate/SCS/InterimPlans.pdf#Page=2
- Latest report from Senate Ed Committee - http://www.leg.wa.gov/documents/Senate/SCS/edu/WAOnlineLearningPoliciesAndPrograms.pdf
Rainier School District Board
- Has Policy 2255 on Alternative Learning Experience Programs - approved by the board on June 19, 2008. http://www.rainier.wednet.edu/education/components/docmgr/download.php?sectiondetailid=2489&fileitem=303&catfilter=32
Comments:
"Cyber schools, or virtual schools, are a recent addition to the list of potential alternative schools available for dropout prevention or recovery. The New York Times described the Western Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School and the students who were graduating from high school in a June 2003 article. The article reports the increasing number of these schools: 67 schools with nearly 16,000 students in states such as Pennsylvania, California, Washington, Ohio, Florida, Arizona, and 11 other states. Several students described the problems they experienced getting along in traditional schools and their preference for computer-based education. Although online learning and virtual classrooms may be a workable approach for some students, issues and concerns arise over accountability, quality of education, and the impact of limited or sporadic contact with other people (Rimer, 2003)." from OSPI report Promising Programs and Practices for Dropout Prevention - a report to the Legislature
