ALE Changes

1. ALE Changes 2013-2014 School Year

2. Agenda • ESSB 5946 • ALE Rule Changes • ALE & HQT

3. Newport School District is a Remote Course • 5946: ALE Definition • Redefines ALE as three course types rather than three program types. • Online course • Site-based Course • Remote Course (No longer based on program type: online, parent partnership, contract-based) “Remote Course” means an alternative learning experience course or coursework that is not an online course where the student has in-person instructional contact time for less than twenty percent of the total weekly time for the course. Although ALE may be similar to home-based instruction in that it is characterized by learning that occurs away from school, it is not home-based instruction. ALE is a public school learning experience which is planned, developed, and supervised by a public school teacher.

4. Alternative Learning Experience • ALE means a course, or for grades Kindergarten through eight, grade-level coursework, that is a delivery method for the program of basic education and is: • provided in whole or in part independently from a regular classroom setting or schedule; • Supervised, monitored, assessed, evaluated, and documented by a certificated teacher; • Provided in accordance with a written student learning plan.

5. Alternative Learning Experience Old The broad categories of alternative learning experience programs include, but are not limited to: • On-Line programs as defined in RCW 28A.150.262 • Parent partnership programs that include significant participation and partnership by parents and families in the design and implementation of a student’s learning experience. • Contract based learning programs. New The categories of alternative learning experience courses are: • “Online course” means an alternative learning experience course that has the same meaning as provided in RCW 28A.150.262. • “Remote course” means an alternative learning experience course or coursework that is not an online course where the student has in-person instructional contact time for less than twenty percent of the total weekly time for the course. • ‘Site-based course” means an alternative learning experience course or coursework that is not an online course where the student has in-person instructional contact time for at least twenty percent of the total weekly time for the course.

6. “ALE” definition • ALE is defined as a “course” • Or, for K-8, “grade-level coursework” • “That is a delivery method for the program of basic education” What hasn’t changed • “ALE is provided in whole or in part independently from regular classroom setting or schedule…” • “ALE is supervised, monitored, assessed, evaluated, and documented by a certificated teacher…” • “ALE is provided in accordance with a written student learning plan that is implemented pursuant to the school district’s policy and this chapter.”

7. Section 4: ALE Program Requirements • WSLP (Written Student Learning Plan) • Weekly Contact • Monthly Evaluation 4(a) Written Student Learning Plans • WSLP must be ‘developed and approved by a certificated teacher” • Description of weekly contact for online and remote courses. • WSLP’s no longer need to specify if the course meets state and district graduation requirements

8. ALE program requirements con’t… 4(b) Weekly Contact • Each ALE student must have one of the following at least once per school week; • Direct personal contact • In-person instructional contact • Synchronous digital instructional contact • No minimum time requirements Documenting Weekly Contact For students who are not participating in regularly scheduled classes, evidence of contact must include the date of the contact, the method of communication by which the contact was accomplished, and documentation to support the subject of the communication. 4(c) Monthly Evaluation • After an initial month of satisfactory progress, in subsequent months where progress continues to be satisfactory the evaluation may be communicated to the student without direct personal contact • Example: • October=satisfactory • November=satisfactory • One way communication of progress okay • Weekly contact requirements must still be met • Direct personal contact w/ evaluation still best practice

9. Monthly Evaluation 4(c) Monthly Evaluation • Evaluation must be completed within 5 school days of the end of the month • Districts must not claim funding for the subsequent month for a student who has not yet been evaluated • Example: • October 2013 evaluation can be completed up to November 7 • District cannot claim the student in November unless the evaluation is done within five days of the end of October

10. Written Student Learning Planmeans a written plan for learning that includes at least the following elements • A beginning and ending date for the student’s alternative learning experience courses; • An estimate by a certificated teacher of the average number of hours per week the student will engage in learning activities to meet the requirements of the written student learning plan. • For remote courses, a description of how weekly contact requirements will be fulfilled; • A description of each alternative learning experience course or coursework included as part of the learning plan, including specific learning goals, performance objectives, and learning activities for each course, written in a manner that facilitates monthly evaluation of student progress. • Identification of the certificated teacher responsible for each course or coursework included as part of the plan; • Identification of all instructional materials that will be used to complete the learning plan and • A description of the timeline and methods for evaluating student progress toward the learning goals and performance objectives specified in the learning plan; • Identification of whether each alternative learning experience course or coursework meets one or more of the state essential academic learning requirements or grade level expectations and any other academic goals, objectives, and learning requirements defined by the school district.

11. ALE and HQT Teachers in the ALE Program • Teachers in ALE programs must meet HQT requirements when teaching core academic subject area courses. • Teachers assigned to teach such courses in an ALE program and who are responsible for student learning must meet HQT requirements through the paths available to all other teachers. • “Teacher of record” designation is not a valid pathway for meeting HQT requirements. • Districts that fail to meet the federal HQT requirements place their Title I, Part A and Title II, Part A funds in jeopardy. • Whenever districts contract with individuals or entities to provide basic education instruction, the requirements in WAC 392‐121‐188 (instruction provided under contract) must be followed. Highly Qualified Teachers • The federal definition of a highly qualified teacher is one who meets all of the following criteria: • Fully certified and/or licensed by the state • Holds at least a bachelor degree from a four‐year institution • Demonstrates competence in each core academic subject area in which the teacher teaches

12. INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT SERVICE PROVIDERS • Individuals who do not provide direct instruction but, instead, provide instructional support services. • May be employed directly by the school district, or they may have contractual relationship with the district. • Individuals who provide instructional support services, such as paraprofessionals, instructional aides, or teacher’s aides, may be used in ALE settings. • Must work under the direct supervision of a certificated teacher. • “Working under the direct supervision of a certificated teacher” means communication between the instructional support service provider and the certificated teacher is intentional and frequent while the instructional support activities are carried out. • Subject to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act(ESEA)requirements. • ESEA sets clear guidelines for academic qualifications for individuals assisting in instruction in Title I‐funded programs. They must have at least: • An associate’s degree, or have completed at least two years of college, or meet a rigorous standard of quality and demonstrate, through a formal state or local assessment, knowledge of, and the ability to assist in instruction in reading, writing, and mathematics, reading readiness, writing readiness, or mathematics readiness, as appropriate.

13. Newport’s Alternative Learning Program Implementation of OdysseyWare • ODYSSEYWARE is a leading provider of online curriculum and eLearning solutions for charter, public, and virtual schools across the United States. With more than thirty years of experience, ODYSSEYWARE provides innovative, 21st century learning opportunities for today's tech-savvy learners. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, the company has effectively revolutionized online education by offering a multimedia-enriched curriculum for grades 3-12. • OdysseyWare Parent Tutorial Schedule Changes • Tuesday/ K-6 • Wednesday/ 7-12 Book Clubs, Journal writing, Computer Labs, Art, Music, and Fitness/Health are just some of the ideas for ‘enriching’ our students online learning while on campus!