Operating a High Quality Online Program: A Focus on Standards and Accreditation

Operating a High Quality Online Operating a High Quality Online Program: A Focus on Standards Program: A Focus on Standards

and Accreditationand Accreditation

Dr. Ray Lindley, Executive SecretaryInternational, Transregional Division

Liz Pape, President and CEOVirtual High School Global Consortium

Allison Powell, Vice PresidentNorth American Council for Online

Learning

Copyright 2008, VSS North American Council for Online Learning

Quality Online ProgramsQuality Online Programs

NACOL National Standards for Quality Online Courses

NACOL National Standards for Quality Online Teaching

NACOL National Quality Standards for Online Programs


Quality Standards for Quality Standards for Online ProgramsOnline Programs

Committee– Representatives from 3 Regional Accrediting

Agencies– Higher Education– Researchers– K-12 Program Representatives (district, charter,

state, non-profit, for profit, etc)

Define “Online Program”– An online learning program is an organized

offering of courses delivered primarily over the Internet.


Quality Standards for Quality Standards for Online ProgramsOnline Programs

Literature Review– Reviewed 24 documents (standards, best

practices, research, etc)

Standard Organizers– Institutional– Teaching and Learning– Support– Evaluation


InstitutionalInstitutional

Institutional Standards:– Mission/Beliefs/Philosophy/Objectives– Governance– Leadership– Planning– Organization Structure / Staffing– Resources (Finances)– Organizational Commitment– Access


Teaching and LearningTeaching and Learning

Teaching and Learning Standards– Curriculum

– Instruction

– Course Design

– Assessment of Student Learning/Student Learning Outcomes


SupportSupport

Support Standards:– Faculty Support (professional development to

deliver quality instruction)

– Student Support

– Student Support Services

– Guidance Services

– Organizational/School/Parent Support


EvaluationEvaluation

Evaluation Standards:– Internal Evaluation

– External Evaluation

– Improvement Planning


StandardsStandards

Member Input Survey

Final Standards released at end of year

Optional adoption by schools, districts, states, etc.

Optional adoption by accrediting agencies


NAAS Standards for NAAS Standards for AccreditationAccreditation

NAAS accreditation provides benefits at all levels of the educational system:1. For the public, accreditation verifies that schools are

doing what they say they are doing.2. For parents, accreditation assures them that their

children are receiving a quality education that will be recognized across state lines, between schools, and by colleges and universities across the world.

3. For the school, accreditation engages the entire school staff in meeting rigorous standards and in continual improvement.

4. For the students, accreditation provides an environment of quality and a commitment to helping all students achieve.



Richard H. Bryan Elementary School self-study concluded:

“We have learned to share our work with our community, and that has reaped us rich dividends. Without this accreditation process, we might have failed to articulate that which is most important to us and to understand the significance of using student performance data to correct instruction midcourse, which would have delayed, if not deterred, our progress in improving student achievement.”



TEACHING AND LEARNING STANDARDS

1. Mission, Beliefs, and Expectations for Student Learning

2. Curriculum

3. Instruction

4. Assessment



SUPPORT STANDARDS

5. Leadership and Organization

6. School Services Student Support Services Guidance Services Library Information Services Family and Community Services

7. Facilities and Finance



SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT STANDARD

8. Culture of Continual Improvement School Improvement Plan


NAAS Application NAAS Application ProceduresProcedures

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

Instructions:

Send the Completed Application to: 1510 Robert Street, Suite 103, Boise, ID 83705-5194

NAAS regional accreditation dues will be billed if the school is accepted. ($450 plus $.17 per student enrolled).

Download an Initial Visit Template (below) and complete it prior to the initial visit of your school. The team will review the template during the initial visit.

Provisional accreditation is awarded by the Commission on Schools in December or June each year.


NAAS Application NAAS Application ProceduresProcedures

Download an Initial Visit Template (on NAAS website: (northwestaccreditation.org) and complete it prior to the initial visit of your school. The team will review the template during the initial visit.

Provisional accreditation is awarded by the Commission on Schools in December or June each year.


NAAS Accreditation NAAS Accreditation ProcessProcess

The school submits an annual report form by October 15 of each year. (The initial report format mirrors that of the annual report to help the school know what areas of the standards it needs to focus on during the provisional accreditation period.)

During the first three years of provisional accreditation and every six years thereafter a school completes a comprehensive self-study.

The state chair and committee present the names of the schools/centers recommended for accreditation to Northwest Association commissioners at the annual business meeting in December of each year. Accreditation is retroactive to the beginning of that school year. In special circumstances schools can be approved by commissioners at the June meeting of the Commission on Schools.

The school reports the progress of implementation of the self-study, especially the school improvement plan, in Standard VIII as apart of the annual report each year. This helps to assure on-going school improvement.



There are three phases to Northwest Accreditation accreditation:

Application

Provisional Accreditation: it is during this time (up to three years) that a school completes its first self-study. The school cannot vote on resolutions or by-law changes during this period.

Full Accreditation


NAAS Accreditation ProcessNAAS Accreditation Process

NAAS Accreditation Process: The school makes application to the

Association office (the form can be downloaded from the NAAS web site www.northwestaccrditation.org) and submits the $200.00 application fee.

A letter is sent to the school with some general information and the name, address and phone number of the person to contact for additional information.



The school is asked to complete an initial report form for the response team to review.

Working with the ITD Division, the school hosts an initial visit team of two persons for a one-day visit. The team reviews the initial report form and its contents, tours the facility and works with the representative to determine if the school can meet the standards within the provisional accreditation period of three years.



The ITD chair and executive secretary present the names of the schools/centers recommended for accreditation to Northwest Association commissioners at the annual business meeting in December of each year. Accreditation is retroactive to the beginning of that school year. In special circumstances schools can be approved by commissioners at the June meeting of the Commission on Schools.



The school reports the progress of implementation of the self-study, especially the school improvement plan, in Standard VIII as a part of the annual report each year. This helps to assure on-going school improvement.



SHAMELESS PLUG

NAAS conference for Distance Education, Travel Study and Residential Treatment Schools:

February 24-25, 2009 Las Vegas, NV

Keynote Address:Dr. Thomas Sawner

Authority on leadership, organizational culture, orchestrating change, and innovations in education.


A Case Study: Virtual High School Global Consortium’s Accreditation Process and Lessons Learned


How and Why We StartedHow and Why We Started

VHS partnership model with public schools was the driver

Initial request to New England Association of Schools and Colleges – not a school=not eligible

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission of Secondary Schools has process for Supplementary Education Organizations (SEO)


The ProcessThe Process

Fall 2006 – submitted Candidacy Application– For first-timers undergoing accreditation– Preparation for full accreditation self-study– Orients SEO towards accreditation process and the standards

that must be met– Assists the Candidacy Visitor in planning the visit and

assessing the readiness of the SEO for the next stages of the process.

December 2006 – Candidacy Visit– One-day visit: review of info in application and meeting with

SEO leadership Jan 2007 – Candidacy Report

– VHS accepted for candidacy and fast-tracked


Be Careful What You Ask Be Careful What You Ask For!For!

Self Study conducted Jan-Sep, and report written and submitted Sep 2007

Peer Review Team visits conducted virtually Sep-Nov 2007

– VHS office visit by head of Peer Review Team– “classroom” visits – reviews of VHS courses– Student, teacher and site coordinator “meetings” – global

representation through conference calls– VHS Board of Directors “meeting” – conference call

VHS visit to Middle States offices for final Peer Review Team meeting Nov 2007

Commission Board unanimously accredited VHS April 2008 – 5-year accreditation


How We Did ItHow We Did It

Primary point of contact named: VHS CLO Accreditation standards reviewed

– Committees determined for each standard, headed by VHS staff

– Draft responses to standards written and reviewed by CLO

Responses focused on VHS’s vision, mission, beliefs, governance, standards (course, teacher and program), strategic planning, annual goals and Quality Benchmark Indicators


Accreditation StandardsAccreditation Standards Philosophy, Mission, Beliefs and Objectives

– VHS Mission and Beliefs established by BoD 2003– VHS evaluates annually against mission and goals/objectives

Governance, Leadership and Planning– VHS BoD, bylaws established 2001– VHS BoD Executive Committee meets monthly– Formal evaluation process for CEO – VHS Strategic Plan approved by BoD Oct 2004

Organizational Design and Staff– VHS Administrative Team, VHS team org chart established – Formal employee evaluation plan– ProGrEss: teacher evaluation and development plan


Accreditation StandardsAccreditation Standards

Educational Programs & Materials– Course design and delivery standards– National curriculum standards alignment– Strong professional development model

Assessment of Student Learning and Organizational Performance

– Clearly defined evaluation process and grading rubrics– Current grade averages published every 2 weeks– Data-driven evaluation - Quality Benchmark Indicators

measure student learning, preparation and performance of online teachers, and organizational performance



Student Programs and Services– Leveling the playing field for all students– Summer credit-recovery courses– Real-time feedback on student performance

Resources– Membership-based program is self-sustaining & scalable– Focus on core competency and outsource the rest

Curriculum Program Areas– All content areas reviewed– Standardized course design and alignment to national

curriculum standards– Supplement not supplant model of course offerings



Improvement Plan– Student performance plan (required)

Increased performance in content knowledge and online navigational skills as measured by course completion rate, grade performance data and student satisfaction data

– Organizational performance plan Increased participation in VHS program services and

satisfaction with VHS program quality as measured by increased survey response rates and seat utilization rates


Accreditation Reports InputAccreditation Reports Input

Clear, thoughtful, and visionary leadership sustained by a well-developed support structure ensures that teachers and students alike learn from their experiences with VHS. The growth opportunities for teachers are as rich as they are for students.

The Evaluation Team to Virtual High School found a school that is setting the bar for online education and is, in fact an exemplar of how quality courses can be delivered over the Internet.


Accreditation Reports InputAccreditation Reports Input

VHS demonstrates very effective use of data and results of assessments to measure and track the performance of its students and the organization across many facets. The Team can say with a great deal of confidence that VHS is a data-driven organization.


Next StepsNext Steps

Conduct annual reviews Prepare a five-year report Prepare for the five-year visit Prepare for reaccreditation – prior to

conclusion of 10th year of accreditation


VHS Quality Benchmark Indicators Program


VHS Program Evaluation

What is measured?Mission statementAnnual goalsStrategic Plan

How is it measured?Hard data pointsSelf-reported data

When?Continuous improvement loop


Mission and Focus

The VHS mission is to develop and deliver standards-based, student-centered online courses to expand students’ educational opportunities and 21st century skills and to offer professional development to teachers to expand the scope and depth of their instructional skills

The focus includes:– Effective online course design and delivery– Professional development for online teachers– Quality control/quality assurance– Infrastructure for course delivery– 21st Century Skills development for Millennial Generation students


Goals – the first place to start

Program growth goals: students, courses, schools

Quality goals: course quality, membership services, preparation of teachers


Course Quality Measures

AP pass rates: 66% AP exam take rates:73% Course completion rates: 79% Credit recovery rate (summer):63% Satisfaction with VHS course quality:

– 92% superintendents– 100% principals– 98% Site Coordinators

Course features, teacher satisfaction:– 92%: engagement in course work– 78%: collaborative learning– 97%: 21st century skills development


Professional Development Measures

Professional development grad rate: 91% 1st-semester teacher success rate: 87% % of all teachers remaining with mentor: 5% Satisfied with VHS professional development

– 99% principals Applying VHS pedagogy to f2f teaching

– 79% teachers


Program and Services Measures

Membership retention rates: 90%(08/09) 88%(3-yr cumulative)

Course seat utilization: 85% Satisfaction with electronic communications: email

– Teachers: 99%, SCs: 96%

Website– Teachers: 97%, SCs: 98%

Newsletter/Annual Report– Superintendents: 86%/68%– Principals: 78%/79%– Teachers: 79%/54%– SCs: 84%/54%


VHS Growth Indicators

VHS Schools

28 3087

232183 174

207278

345

461523

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08

VHS Courses

30 37

94

156134 121

154184

216241

297

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08

VHS Students(07/08 projected)

710 943

25163675 3736 4063

50696114

76049111

11,000

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

97/98 98/99 99/00 00/01 01/02 02/03 03/04 04/05 05/06 06/07 07/08


QuestionsQuestions

Dr. Ray Lindley, [email protected]

Liz Pape, [email protected]

Allison Powell, [email protected]

Documents

Operating a High Quality Online Program: A Focus on Standards and Accreditation