The Education Cooperative actively develops and coordinates educational and organizational programs to meet the needs of member communities and their students

The Education Cooperative actively develops and coordinates educational and organizational programs to meet the needs of member communities and their students.

The Education Cooperative (TEC)

Community Meeting on

Virtual LearningAugust 21, 2013


Today’s Agenda

About TEC and TEC Online Academy

What is a Virtual School? Why is TEC applying? Connections Academy Timeline Governance and Advisory

Group


About TEC

Canton Framingham Millis Sherborn

Dedham Holliston Natick Walpole

Dover Hopkinton Needham Wayland

Dover-Sherborn Medfield Norwood Westwood

• Educational Collaborative established under the authority of Massachusetts G.L. c.40, §4E and a 501 (c) (3) organization;

• Represent 16 high achieving public school districts:

• Provide innovative educational programs and services which complement and strengthen the school programs of our member districts and expand opportunities for their students, educators and communities in the most cost effective manner.


What is a Virtual School?


http://kpk12.com/cms/wp-content/uploads/Figure-7-State-Virtual-Schools.png




Virtual School Facts

State virtual schools exist in 27 states (Fall ‘12);

620,000 course enrollments in 2011-12; 31 states plus Washington DC have at

least one full-time online school operating statewide;

About 275,000 students attend full-time online schools.

http://kpk12.com/states/


What is a Commonwealth of

Massachusetts Virtual School?


“A Commonwealth of Massachusetts Virtual School (CMVS) is a public school operated by a board of trustees where teachers primarily teach from a remote location using the Internet or other computer-based methods and students are not required to be located at the physical premises of the school.”

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Virtual Schools Letter of Intent

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education


CMVS Legislation

• An Act Establishing Commonwealth Virtual Schools,Section 94 of G.L. c. 71; Signed into law by Governor Patrick on January 2, 2013;

• Not more than 10 Commonwealth of MA Virtual Schools will be allowed to operate in the MA at any time;

• A certificate to operate a CMVS granted by the Board shall be for at least three and up to five years;

• The total number of students attending all CMVS’s full-time must not exceed 2 % of the total number of students attending public schools in the MA;

• Students subject to MCAS and graduation requirements;

• All MA licensed teachers; evaluated using MA evaluation system.


CMVS Legislation

Preference to applications that include an educational program or specialized focus that appropriately addresses one or more of the following:

• students with physical or other challenges that make it difficult for them to physically attend a school;

• students with medical needs requiring a home or hospital setting; • students with unusual needs requiring a flexible schedule; • students who are over-age for their grade; • students who have been expelled; • students who have dropped out or who are at risk of dropping out; • students who are pregnant or have a child; • students with social and emotional challenges…make it difficult for them to

physically attend a school; • students who feel bullied or cannot attend school because the students’ safety is

at risk; • gifted and talented students; • students who seek academic work not available in their school; • students in rural communities; and • students in institutionalized settings.


TEC Online Academy

Dr. Brad JacksonSuperintendent,Holliston Public Schools


TEC Online Academy

In 2009 TEC Superintendents collaborated to:

• Develop Capacity

• Create Highly Effective Models

• Expand Opportunities


Educational Philosophy

• Focus on best practices in online instructional design, pedagogy and best practices;

• Mirror the rigor and academic excellence of the local (f2f) classroom experience;

• Access to a comprehensive, appropriate and challenging curriculum;

• Highly qualified, skilled teachers;• Promote increased student

engagement; and • Expand opportunities to develop 21st

C. skills.


Why Apply?

Dr. Peter SanchioniSuperintendent,Natick Public Schools


Establishing our CMVS

• What are our educational goals?

• How do we plan to implement a successful program?


Opportunities…

• Provide affordable access to supplementary learning opportunities: remediation, home-hospital, transition, summer, learning gaps, enrichment, acceleration etc.

• Create flexible, differentiated learning experiences; • Stimulate student curiosity, exploration, collaboration;• Leverage TEC’s College & Career Student Internships;• Establish an early college learning program; and• STEM Academy, Arts Academy, Language Academy.


Our Partner

Allison R. Reaves Connections Education Director of Schools


TEC COMMUNITY MEETINGIntroducing Connections Academy

Allison Reaves, Connections AcademyAugust 21, 2013


AGENDA

• Who is Connections Education?

• Quality and student outcomes matter: a brief look at Connections Academy-supported schools

• The TEC / Connections Academy partnership

THE CONNECTIONS ACADEMY MISSION

We help each student maximize his or her potential—and meet the highest performance standards—through a uniquely individualized learning program.

That’s our mission.

THE CONNECTIONS EDUCATION STORYWho are we?

• Founded in 2001• Supported two statewide virtual schools that opened in Fall

2002• To date, the schools we support have served well over

100,000 students and delivered more than 1,000,000 courses

• Connections Academy schools have sought and received accreditation from every regional accreditation organization in the states in which they operate.

• NCAA approved provider. • Purchased by Pearson Education in November 2011

CONNECTIONS SUPPORTED SCHOOLS (SY 2013-14)Fully Online and Blended

The first virtual schoolsto have official chapters in the NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

Recognized forEXCELLENCE NATIONWIDE

EXCELLENCE INEDUCATION AWARD

Founder/CEO,Barbara Dreyer

AdvancED

USDLA’s 21st CENTURY AWARD

Best Practices in Distance

Learning

USDLA

EDDIE AWARD

Best High School Chemistry

Course

ComputED Gazette

ELEMENTARY ONLINE TEACHER OF THE

YEAR

Peggy Barnholt

CO Dept. of Ed.

4 BESSIE AWARDS

2013

ComputED Gazette

A Learning Coach or Mentor is

face-to-face with the student

Expert, specially trained teachers work with students

OUR ACADEMIC MODELHow does it work?

• Average/Gifted Students

• Student Athletes

• Students in the Visual and Performing Arts

• Medically Homebound Students

• Special Needs Students

• Struggling Students

• Bullied Students

• Families in Need of Flexibility

Students served byFULL-TIME VIRTUAL SCHOOLS

Passionate and caring

Available to students and learning coaches every school day

Build personal connections with the whole family

Can work one-on-one with students

Bachelor’s and master’s degrees and beyond

Massachusetts certified in grade and subjects

Experts in online education

Peer collaboration

PERSONALIZED & PROFESSIONAL TEACHING

ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVE PERFORMANCE REPORT

OUR AWARD-WINNING Curriculum

Exceptional, comprehensive, flexible

Designed and evaluated by experts

Meets rigorous state and national standards

Core lessons and practice modules

MULTI-TIERED INTERVENTION

Tier 1 - Core Instructional Program Differentiated Instruction (e.g., basic, standard, honors, GT, AP,

lesson modifications) Skill Instruction – (e.g., Study Island) LiveLesson sessions– (live synchronous instruction) Ongoing teacher professional development

Tier 2 - Supplemental Programs and Support LiveLesson sessions – live synchronous remedial

intervention Targeted Skill Instruction – (e.g., Study Island, Skills

Tutor) Headsprout - online systematic reading intervention FastForward – “Fit Brains Learn Better”

Tier 3 - Alternative ProgramsPACE (Program for All Children to Excel)Alternative courses program (Alternative Math - Compass Learning) Special Education support/IEP implementation

Multi-tiered Instruction

Model

DRIVE STUDENTS TO EXPLOREEngaging Electives*

WORLD LANGUAGES

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING

STUDENT DEVELOPMENT

ENGLISH AND SOCIAL STUDIES

MATH AND SCIENCE

HEALTH AND P.E.

•Availability of electives varies by grade.

Clubs, Activities, FRIENDSHIPS

GRADUATION SUCCESSHigh School

College and career success!

WHAT PARENTS THINKof Connections Academy-Supported Schools

Annual independent parent satisfaction survey conducted by Leo J. Shapiro & Associates, February 2013

TEC AND CONNECTIONS ACADEMY ARE IDEAL PARTNERS BECAUSE OF OUR MUTUAL VALUES AND COMMITMENT TO QUALITY EDUCATION.

• High standards and expectations

• Outstanding student outcomes

• Academic rigor of our respective online programs and schools

• Commitment to student engagement and support

• Courses taught by highly qualified teachers


Timeline

Date Description

August 16, 2013 Letter of Intent due to DESE

September, 2013 DESE Releases RFP

November 4, 2013 RFP due to DESE

December 2013 – January 2014

DESE Reviews Proposal

February 2014 DESE Announces CMVS Certificates

March 2014 CMVS Enrollment School Opens

September 2014 CMVS School Opens


Governance

• Board of Trustees• Advisory Board


Board of Trustees

Nancy Gallivan……....Chair TEC Board of Directors and Walpole School CommitteeDr. Brad Jackson…….. Superintendent, Holliston Public SchoolsDr. Jean Kenney………Assistant Superintendent, Walpole Public SchoolsLiz McGonagle.……….Executive Director, The Education CooperativeLiz Pape .……..………….Executive Consultant, Former CEO, Virtual High SchoolKirby Salerno .…………Vice President of Sales, TenMarks EducationDr. Peter Sanchioni …Superintendent, Natick Public SchoolsDan Shovak …………….Director for Finance & Operations, The Education Cooperative


Advisory Council

Dr. Moira Rodgers, [email protected]


Questions?

What questions do you have?


Thank you!

Thank you for coming!Please complete your Ticket to Leave.

Contact info: Liz McGonagle, Executive

[email protected]

Documents

The Education Cooperative actively develops and coordinates educational and organizational programs to meet the needs of member communities and their students