Quakertown Community School District

Complete Versatility:

Online and Blended Learning PLUS a 1:1 High School Environment

QCSD – Community is our middle name!

Began with an idea.

Cyber School Discussion

February 2009

• • • • • • Cyber learning is a viable educational option QCSD must consider implementing for 21 st Century Learners VHS is already offered as part of the HS curriculum Presently 70 students attend 9 cyber charter schools QCSD sends $10,735 per regular ed and $20,111 per special ed students to cyber schools in tuition payments Cost/benefit analysis to determine savings Conservative estimate $404,000 (total 2008 $807,656)

Theory to Practice

What can we do to support our students to achieve at their maximum potential?

21

st

Century Learning Initiative

Goal areas 1. Student Engagement

(motivation, attendance, etc.)

2. Student Learning

(increased strategic and extended thinking – direct relationship to SBG)

3. Instructional Practices

(re-examination of teaching methods and strategies, efficiency)

4. Resource Utilization – Artful Use of Infrastructure

(reduce costs over time - paper, textbooks/workbooks, infrastructure, Cyber Commons, etc.)

QCSD Cyber Program

Overview Philosophy

• •

Support vision of anytime, anywhere learning 21 st Century Skills, Web 2.0

•

Flexible, more customized learning paths for students

Cost avoidance

Flavors of cyber program

•

Online learning available to all students in grades 6-12

• •

Some students participate fully outside of brick and mortar school Some students take face-to-face courses and fully online course (outside of school or in school cyber lounge)

QCSD Cyber Program

Curriculum

Moving all courses to Blended Schools (BlackBoard, Collaborate, etc.) • •

QCSD curriculum taught by QCSD teachers Over 80 courses available in a fully online format (grades 6-12)

Building all courses from scratch

• •

Standards-based (competency-based) model Mirrors content and pacing of QCSD face-to-face courses

•

Quality-assurance framework established based on iNACOL quality standards

Content/Instruction Providers used as needed

• VHS, MyLanguage 360, Apex, K12, etc.

Learning Management Framework

Blended Classroom Environment

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

Announcements Learning Targets Assessment Submission Videos – visual/differentiation Screencasts – recording lessons (“Flipped” Lessons, Podcasts) Formative Assessments Articles of the Week Online Discussions 9.

Make-up work 10. Remediation

Human Resources

Teacher Collaborative Negotiations

• • • •

Contract Language Includes:

Release time or payment for cyber course development. Teaching/monitoring a cyber class is a type of teaching assignment. “Staffing and assignment practices for cyber classes will be comparable to staffing and assignment practices for all other teaching assignments.” The District will first offer work to QCSD teachers provided   that we have the capacity appropriate certification  the ability to effectively teach the course in a cost-effective manner and can meet the needs of the affected students.

Fiscal Responsibility

Number of cyber courses offered Number of students participating in cyber program High school Middle school Elementary school Number of students taking 5-9 courses (high school students only) Number of students taking 1-4 courses Number of students not choosing cyber charter schools Savings from cyber charter school expenditures (New Savings) Program expenses (hardware, software, salaries, etc.)

Total savings (cost avoidance) 2009-10

317 91 91 0 0 33 58 23 $275,000 $209,594

$65,406 2010-11

506 140 110 28 2 12 128 +27 $297,000 $158,500

$138,500 2011-12

563 220 183 34 3 16 148 +16 $192,000 $160,000

$32,000

Note: “Savings from Cyber Expenditures” becomes compounded each year.

QCSD Cyber Program

Challenges

•

Rapid implementation

• •

Professional development Administrative logistics

Successes

• •

Personalized options for students Supports competency-based learning

•

Enhanced support for technology vision

• •

Cost-avoidance (more that $250,000 per year) iNACOL Innovation Award, other awards

QCSD Cyber Program

QCSD Cyber Program

Requests for Assistance

2010-11

•

QCSD received requests from 14 school districts seeking advice or assistance with respect to offering online courses to their own students

•

Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22 developed a task force to investigate a regional solution to address school districts’ needs for online learning

2011-12

•

QCSD and Bucks County Intermediate Unit #22 form a “partnership” called Bridges Virtual Education Services to provide online learning solutions to schools in the southeastern Pennsylvania region

•

Interest has grown beyond the region

Requests for Assistance

h t t p : / / w w w . b r i d g e s v i r t u a l . o r g

Services Offered:

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Virtual program development and implementation services

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Virtual course offerings

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Professional development focused on virtual course design and facilitation

Vision for the Future

Vision:

• Anytime, anywhere learning…eliminate barriers for students • As the 21 st Century Learning Initiative progresses, teaching and learning will be redefined to be more efficient and targeted • Cyber course options will no longer be viewed as a new or separate opportunity…they will become our regular program • QCSD program will continue to improve as Bridges Virtual shares expertise and experiences of other school districts as there is value in collaboration and consortia.