The Kentucky Virtual High School

1. The Kentucky Virtual High School Linda A. Pittenger, Director SEIR-TEC April 2001

2. KVHS - Quick Facts • Opened Pilot 24 January 2000 • Program of state department of education • Not a credit-granting institution - KVHS teaches for the schools • 4 Staff/ 18 Part-time teachers/ $500K/yr • From 47 (Spring 2000) to 350+ students • 30 courses – broad spectrum of content/ broad spectrum of learners

3. Kentucky – Quick Facts • 3.9 million Kentuckians • 600,000 K12 Students • 40,000 K12 Teachers • 176 School Districts • 1290 schools • 250 high schools

4. What We Believe • All children can learn at higher levels • The school is the best place to make decisions about what happens in the school • High standards and high expectations produce high achievement • We teach for results and build accountability for results • Equity is crucial; inequity is unacceptable

5. Why a Virtual High School? • More choices for students • Equitable learning opportunity • Address local teacher shortages • Distribute and model online teaching and learning

6. Every School/ Every Child • Commonwealth Diploma available from every school • Foreign Languages • Increase graduation rates – especially for alternative education • Improve literacy through accelerated learning programs • Recapture drop-outs and push-outs

7. The Ground Rules • KVHS will augment local school services - not compete with local schools • All courses will be taught by Kentucky teachers • All courses will be aligned with state and national curriculum standards

8. Online Learning? Web-based Education Commission, October 2000 Shortcomings • Focus on recall of facts • Teacher and textbook centered instruction • Limited social interaction • Antiquated assessment

9. Online Learning • More Engagement • More Interaction • More Content

10. Online Learning • More Engagement in Learning • “Learner-centered” instruction • Adaptive learning/ critical thinking • No back row / No labels

11. Online Learning • More Interaction with Learners • Creation of learning communities • Greater collaboration/ broader reach to global resources and diversities • Faculty focused on critical thinking & comprehension

12. Online Learning • More Content • Real-world applicability • Increased access to content • More, varied opportunity to demonstrate knowledge • Inter-disciplinary is easier

13. Real World Issues for a Virtual School • Structure and Administration • Funding • Curriculum and Instructional Management • Faculty • Student Retention, Student Retention, Student Retention

14. Program Administration KVHS is an educational service managed by state department: • All enrollments come through local high school • Credit is granted by the local high school • Local school retains “ownership” of student • Shared responsibility for student progress

15. Funding • Modified cost recovery – $275/ $500 • School pays fee out of ADA/FTE • Fee payment governed by local policy: • Schools pay fee if course is for-credit and not available at the school • Policies are not consistent across districts

16. Learning Environment • Web Based/ 24 x 7 • 25 students in a class • Classroom Model (v. Independent Study) • Small group work • Extensive use of threaded discussion, writing, and research in all content areas • From “seat time” to “comprehension time”– performance based credit • From traditional assessments to portfolio assessments

17. Student Retention • Communication with teachers • Course Design that engages • Interaction with other students • Time and opportunity to learn • Preparation (content and writing) • Realistic expectations • Partner at the school • Partner in the home

18. Attendance Accounting • Credit earned and ADA generated for courses taken outside the normal school day and away from the school • Physical presence not required

19. Courses • Core Courses • Advanced Placement • Dual credit w/ Virtual University • Foreign languages and electives • Accelerated learning and study skills • Value-added: Online Writing Center and Virtual Counseling Office

20. Common Platform/ Multiple Content Providers Platform • eCollege Courses • License from private sector • License from public sector • Develop Decision Points – Content and Course Design

21. KVHS Faculty Kentucky secondary certifications Part-time Personal Services Contract Paid at same scale – Base plus add-on per student $1K + $65 $1.25K + $70 $1.5K + $95 $2K + $100 Course development, mentoring, team-teaching as fee-for-service

22. Policy Implications for Schools • Criteria for participation (who?) • Scope of participation (how much?) • Accommodation and monitoring (when?) • Scheduling and access? • Who pays? • Academic calendar? • Middle school access? • Seniors completing early?

23. Critical Success Factors • Teachers • Small class sizes • Course design – interaction, differentiated instruction • Choices/ ability to accommodate learning styles • Engaged partners in the school • Equitable access and support • Rapid cycle of innovation, reflection, change

24. Other Dimensions of Kentucky Virtual High School • Virtual Learning for Educators • Information dissemination • Technical assistance • Professional Development • Virtual Teaming • Working online across organizational/ geographic boundaries to solve problems and support schools • Efficient, effective, everywhere, every time

25. What’s Next Growth • Identify targets • Build core competencies • Increase capacities • Extend P16, non-public and middle school agenda

26. Before you make the menu for the party, take a good, long cook’s tour of the kitchen and the pantry.

27. www.kvhs.org