Christie RickertHays CISD Distance Learning Specialist

rickertc@hayscisd.net

http://www.hayscisd.net/virtualschool

Materials Available @

Project Share

http://www.epsilen.com/rickertc

“Share It”

Consider joining the Group:Virtual School Best Practices

Goal:

At the end of this workshop you will know how we started the online program in Hays CISD and learn strategies for

success from the perspective of students, mentors, counselors, and the coordinator.

Online Learning In Hays CISD

• 3 High Schools (about 4,000 HS students)

• A variety of Credit Recovery software

• Hays Virtual School (Est. June 2008)– Desktop Publishing – Health– Spanish

• Joined TxVSN in Spring 2010

Students Earning Credit By Semester In Virtual School

02040

6080

100120

140160180

Summ

er 200

8

Fall 200

8

Sprin

g 200

9

Summ

er 200

9

Fall 200

9

Sprin

g 201

0

Summ

er 201

0

Fall 201

0

Sprin

g 201

1

possible

Semester

Nu

mb

er o

f st

ud

en

ts

Virtual School Success Rate By Campus

100 10089

96

82

0102030405060708090

100

CMS BMS LHS HHS AHS

Campus

% P

assi

ng

District Average88%

CMS BMS LHS HHS AHS

Total # of Enrollments 3 2 18 24 44

# Students That Passed 3 2 16 23 36

# Students That Failed 0 0 2 1 8

Virtual SchoolTeaching Expenses Fall 2010

Revenue Expenses

Hays CISD Teacher Stipend(Paid $125 per student that passes)

$4375.00

Hays CISD Course Development Stipend(non-recurring cost, Sp 1B)

$2250

TxVSN Allotment Received (47 students)

$3680

Net Cost $2945

Net Cost Per Student (based on 80 students receiving credit)

$36.81/per student

More info in Project Share

Where are we going?

• Waiting on TxVSN announcement

• GROWING

• Analyze course needs

• Blended environments

Strategies For Success:Coordinator

Establish Student Support Roles

• Academic Dean, Executive Directors

• Counselor

• DL Specialist

• Camus Liaison

• Teachers

Look for this document in Project Share

Reasonable Course LoadTime CommitmentAsking For Help

Coordinate programRegistration & Logins

Communicate w/ LiaisonsReport grades

Lead OrientationMonitor Students Progress

Provide Local SupportProctor Exams

Student

LiaisonDL

Specialist

Success Plan located in Project Share

Get The Word Out

• Flyers for counseling center – Information outdated quickly (post on web)

• School Announcements

• Newsletters, Website

• Semester schedule available

• Classroom Visits - AHS

Look for this document in Project Share

Establish A Registration Process

• Paper or online registration

• Counselor approval→ Collect Signed

Commitment Form

• Fee Collected (?)• Student enrolled• Liaison contacts

student for orientation

Look for this document in Project Share

Plan An Orientation

• Face To Face - Required

• Several orientations offered, organized by course provider

• Orientation “Checklist”

• Website with links

Look for this document in Project Share

Create A Master Schedule

Set A Drop Deadline

• TxVSN policy: 10 Days

• Give counselor an “8 Day Update”

• Talk to students

• AHS – automatic drop < 70% (summer)

Establish Grade Reporting Procedures

• Students see their grade online, anytime• Counselors

– 8 Day Drop– Each progress report and report card

• Parents – Progress reports and report cards *NEW*– Some content providers have parent

accounts, or they could login as student

• Transcript– Semester average entered manually

Keep Records

• Database for student registrations

• Spreadsheet for information – By semester– Use filters– Run reports

Look for a template in Project Share

Know Your Content Providers

• Contact Information• Policies and Procedures

– Start/end/drop/final dates– Orientation– “Any pace” or not?– Where to find due dates– How grades are reported– How to communicate with teacher

• Use information to make course recommendations to students

Establish Policies

• Handbook– UIL– Transcript (GPA, Class Rank)– TxVSN Specific (# courses, 10 Day Drop)– Dropping A Course– Grade Reporting– Communication Expectations– Student Expectations– Fees– Out of District Enrollment

Look for this document in Project Share

Expected Handbook Additions

• Registration Deadlines• Final Grade (Cumulative)• # TxVSN courses per semester – not simultaneous• Student withdrawals/transfers (fee based)• Credit Recovery vs. Original Credit• Criteria for course extensions• AP / Dual Credit - GPA• NCAA• Password disclaimer

Strategies For Success:Counselor

Advising Checklist found in Project Share

Strategies For Success:Student

Strategies For Success:Liaison