Virtual Classes in School Districts

Parent Partnership Programs in WA

2009-05-23T06:40:00.000-07:00

PPP for Snohomish SD - http://www.sno.wednet.edu/PPP/
Columbia Virtual Academy

OSPI FAQ on PPP as part of ALE - http://www.k12.wa.us/alternativeed/ProgramImplementationGuidelines/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.pdf

The Pink Book on laws and rules surrounding homeschooling - http://www.k12.wa.us/PrivateEd/HomeBasedEd/PinkBook/pinkbook.pdf

Questions for Interview

2009-04-23T06:40:00.000-07:00

What are the questions of interest?

Make the case against the current policy toward virtual schools.

What are OSPI's plans (if any) to create a state-led online learning program? (See http://www.kpk12.com/downloads/KP08-NationalSnapshot.pdf)
Has any group asked OSPI to consider promoting "an online learning requirement" for students in K-12 (See http://www.kpk12.com/downloads/KP08-NationalSnapshot.pdf)
What are OSPI's plans

Seattle Times Article about Hunter and virt schools

2009-04-12T14:28:00.001-07:00

http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2007/12/17/story2.html

National Study of Virtual Schooling Across States

2009-04-12T13:16:00.000-07:00

http://www.kpk12.com/downloads/KP08-NationalSnapshot.pdf

Washington State Policy Issues from WA State Board of Education

2009-04-12T07:39:00.000-07:00

http://www.sbe.wa.gov/documents/OnlineLearningMemo051408.pdf

Possible Ed Policy topic books

2009-04-12T07:20:00.000-07:00

The Virtual Highschool - Teaching Generation V

A Classroom of One: How Online Learning is Changing our Schools and Colleges

Global Perspectives on E-Learning Rhetoric and Reality
Alison A. Carr-Chellman, Pennsylvania State University
© 2005 288 pages
Sage Publications, Inc

School Choice - new book with review of research

2009-04-12T07:10:00.000-07:00

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-04/vu-nbo041009.php

Kansas Public Policy on Virtual Schools

2009-04-12T06:48:00.000-07:00

http://kansaseducation.wordpress.com/virtual-schools/

ps-at-home --- Public School-At-Home Programs

2009-04-08T05:49:00.000-07:00

http://www.americanhomeschoolassociation.org/blogs/HS-PSatHome/?cat=96

Dissertation

2009-04-05T10:21:00.000-07:00

Clemens, Debra Jane. "Homeschool Parents' Perspective on Virtual Public Schools." Ph.D., Gonzaga University, 2002.

Referenced on: http://www.indiana.edu/~homeeduc/topic_demographics.html

Nearly Nine of Ten Oregonians Would Opt Out of Regular Public Schools

2009-04-05T09:51:00.000-07:00

http://www.cascadepolicy.org/2009/01/05/oregon-education-opinion-survey-results/

Paper: Home School Parents’ Dilemma in front of the Internet

2009-04-05T08:48:00.000-07:00

http://www.editlib.org/?fuseaction=Reader.NoAccess&paper_id=22485

Sun, S. & Wang, C. (2006). Home School Parents’ Dilemma in front of the Internet. In C. Crawford et al. (Eds.), Proceedings of Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference 2006 (pp. 2685-2689). Chesapeake, VA: AACE.

Conference Information

Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education International Conference (SITE) 2006
Orlando, Florida, USA March 19, 2006
Caroline Crawford, Dee Anna Willis, Roger Carlsen, Ian Gibson, Karen McFerrin, Jerry Price & Roberta Weber
AACE

More Information on SITE Table of Contents

Authors

Sunny Shuxiang Sun, Charles Xiaoxue Wang, Georgia State University, USA

Abstract

Abstract: This study examines the dilemmas facing thousands of home schooling parents: “To use or not to use” the Internet. Parents choose home schooling primarily to protect their children from the bad and unsafe learning environment. Yet the Internet, both as a learning means and learning resources, is a widely open environment with all the potential harms that home school parents worry about. This paper describes the study background and rationale, and offers research questions in examining influential factors behind their dilemmas. It shares with its audience the implications for home school parents in supervising their children and instructional design for virtual schools for home

Ramblings, Questions, and Thoughts

2009-03-18T19:57:00.000-07:00

Digital learning, online learning, distance learning, virtual schools - k-12 education - the connection with homeshooling

1.5 million families in the US homeschooled their children in 2007

my initial question - can the offering of virtual school leaning medium draw more homeschoolers into the public school realm.

The answer looks like yes and no - some will and some won't based on the reason they have decided to homeschool - whether it's because they want to school their children at home or more because they disagree with public school approaches, possibly because they don't like the curriculum, they don't want their children to have to take the WASL, they don't like the public school environment, or they want a more religious environment.

A more recent question - how often do educators guide students into virtual schools because the student has become a problem in the physical school? A high rate of referral for behavioral and academic problems might translate into high rate of at-risk kids in virtual schools.

Basic research question - what proportion of kids in virtual schools stay in school, drop out, do well?

Possible topic - "Some states are considering creating a common definition of “completion rate” or “retention rate,” which would be particularly useful for funding purposes, but currently the majority of providers self-define their completion rates."97 (p. 9, http://leg.wa.gov/documents/Senate/SCS/edu/WAOnlineLearningPoliciesAndPrograms.pdf)

Possible topic (from Senate brief) - "Currently, Washington State has relatively few laws regulating online learning, leaving much deference to local school districts. The Legislature may want to consider whether providing opportunities for online learning should be left in the hands of individual districts or whether the State ought to take a more involved approach appointing funding for online courses, digital resources, student lap tops, and the like."

district, virtual school, and parent/student accountability to tax payers for the online courses they subscribe to, offer, or take
promotion of more opportunities for online learning through increased state involvement

Possible topic - Should WA state offer its own virtual school - "Washington State does not have its own virtual school, but the State helps fund the DLC." (Senate Brief)

VirtSchools/HomeSchools & Pub Schools

2009-03-15T20:29:00.001-07:00

Public School Virtual/Online Programs Target Homeschoolers
From Washington Homeschool Organization (WHO)
http://www.washhomeschool.org/advocacy/whopublicschoolvirtualonline.html

New Articles:

Cyberschools hang in balance - http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_616251.html

Concerns to Explore

2009-01-08T20:30:00.000-08:00

These are some of the concerns I hear expressed and that will need some response.

Students of Virtual Schools don't perform as well on state standardized tests (see Georgia article)
Students of Virtual Schools don't get enough socialization (See Georgia Article)
Virtual Schools take money and resources away from traditional brick and mortar schools

Initial Thoughts and Links

2008-12-11T22:20:00.000-08:00

Keywords:

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

Research Article from - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VCJ-4TT710J-1&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=e7ccad5ca92d4dac9b69a85ce538c336
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

Michael K. Barbour	Division of Administrative and Organizational Studies, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48202, United States
Thomas C. Reeves	Department of Educational Psychology and Instructional Technology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, United States

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