Using Online Curriculum to Implement a Virtual Academy and In-House Alternative Education Program

Tammy J. MillerInstructional Technology Coach

Chestnut Ridge School District

How it looks at Chestnut RidgeThe costs are almost doubling during a three-year period.

Charters / Cyber Charters 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10

Agora Cyber Charter $0.00 $0.00 $10,216.30

Achievement House Charter $4,742.55 $0.00 $0.00

Commonwealth Connection $9,870.27 $22,596.11 $45,099.78

Central PA Digital Learning Foundation $29,982.15 $41,336.60 $17,549.80

Pennsylvania Cyber Charter $3,520.31 $20,229.21 $13,139.94

Pennsylvania Leadership Charter $22,948.48 $19,761.13 $20,495.24

Pennsylvania Virtual Charter $23,771.17 $39,585.93 $50,051.03

Ridgeview Academy / Dr. Kettering Charter $4,784.10 $6,237.12 $0.00

Tuscarora Blended Learning Charter $4,252.25 $27,884.15 $37,508.40

TOTALS $103,871.28 $177,630.25 $194,060.49

Number ComparisonTuitions Costs With / Without Virtual Academy

2008-09 2009-10

$177,630.25 $194,060.49

$250,800.56 $316,327.77

$73,170.31 $122,267.28

Total Costs would have been:

Actual tuition costs paid:

In 2008-09 , nine additional tuitions would have been incurred.

In 2009-10, twelve additional tuitions would have billed.

Number ComparisonTuition Costs vs. District Cost Per Student

District Cost per Pupil

6 Courses $250. per course $1,500.00PE gym membership $60.00 $60.00

laptop $700.00 $700.00

total cost: $2,260.00

Average Cyber Tuition $10,188.94Total Savings: $7,928.94

Figures vary from student tostudent. Numbers are typical of enrolled students.

Let’s Re-visit Some Numbers Actual District Savings

2008-09 2009-10

$250,800.25 $316,327.77$197,970.25 $221,180.49

total savings: $52,830.00 $95,147.28

Out of District Tuition Costs With Virtual AcademyOut of District Tuition Costs Without Virtual Academy

Virtual Academy costs are stable; not considering the cost of a laptop.

So how are we doing it?• An Overview of the Chestnut Ridge Virtual Academy

20 District Courses

•English 12•English 11•English 10•English 9•Algebra I•Algebra IC•Geometry•Geometry C•American History 9•World Cultures•American History / Economics•American Government•Biology•Chem in the Community•Technical Physics•Accounting•Senior Seminar•Freshmen Seminar / Computer Applications•Child Development•Wellness

•Courses delivered via Blackboard•Development Costs• $500 per course• Sub coverage for 4

work days•Cost of instruction

•$250 per student

So how are we doing it?• An Overview of the Chestnut Ridge Virtual Academy

20 District Courses

Plato Software

•Self-paced online software•Currently using 9-12•Initial investment• 15 “seats”• $15,000

•Assign students a HQT•Cost of instruction

•$125 per student

So how are we doing it?• An Overview of the Chestnut Ridge Virtual Academy

Plato Software

20 District Courses

Advanced Academics

•Self-paced online software•Currently using 5-8•Students have access to HQT as needed•Cost of instruction

•$300 per student per course

So how are we doing it?• An Overview of the Chestnut Ridge Virtual Academy

Advanced Academics

Plato Software

20 District Courses

PE Solution

•District purchases a 3-month Membership at local facility for students 9-12•Students are supervised by certified physical trainer•Fitness program has been approved by district employed HQT•Advanced Academics offers an online PE course for students 5-8

So how are we doing it?• An Overview of the Chestnut Ridge Virtual Academy

Plato Software

Advanced Academics

PE Solution

20 District Courses

On-Site Coordinator

•First point of contact•Monitors attendance•Monitors student progress•Communicates with parents•Facilitate weekly meeting with students

So how are we doing it?• An Overview of the Chestnut Ridge Virtual Academy

20 District Courses

Plato Software

Advanced Academics

PE Solution

On-Site Coordinator

Learning Support

•Students are scheduled time with a LS teacher as needed to meet the terms of each individual IEP•Courses are adapted as needed•Transportation arrangements are made as needed

In 2008-09Of the nine students who came and went through the Virtual Academy…

• 3 remained in the Virtual Academy for the entire year and successfully passed all coursework

• 1 remained in the Virtual Academy for the entire year and successfully passed 4 of 6 courses

• 1 student completed the school year, successfully passing all courses, blending his school day with two periods a day face-to-face and the remainder of his coursework via the Virtual Academy

• 1 student was pulled back “in house”• 1 student dropped out of school• 2 students were subsequently placed

in the district’s Alternative Education program

Our StudentsSometimes it’s a coin toss!

In 2009-10Of the twelve students who came and went through the Virtual Academy…

• 5 remained in the Virtual Academy for the entire year and successfully passed all coursework

• 1 student remained in the Virtual Academy for the entire year and successfully passed 3 out of 5 courses

• 1 student completed the school year, successfully passing all courses, blending her school day with two periods a day face-to-face and the remainder of his coursework via the Virtual Academy

• 2 students dropped out of school• 2 students were subsequently placed

in the district’s Alternative Education program

• 1 student enrolled for the second semester and did not pass a single course

Our StudentsSometimes it’s a coin toss!

STUDENT A

• Spent two years at a PA Cyber• Cost the district $13,860• Earned ½ credit in Wellness• Earned 4 credits the 1st year

attending the Virtual Academy• Earned 7 credits this year

STUDENT B

Consider the following…Let’s look at the bottom line.

What’s the

big ?

• Was failing all courses in house• Parental request to enroll in

Virtual Academy• Failed all courses

What’s the big question?Where is it cheaper for a student to fail?

• Ran a pilot program in 2008-09. Target goal was six enrollments.• Contacted via telephone all families of students who were

district residents attending cyber alternatives • Two families contacted us regarding possible online education

for their children with health issues• Recouped one student• Kept eight other enrollments in our Virtual Academy• In year two, designed a brochure and sent a mailer• Followed the mailer with telephone contacts.• Recouped three additional students and kept nine

other enrollments in our Virtual Academy

Cold Calls & LegworkHow Did We Start?

What we’ve learned….

Questions?

An Overview of Alternative Education in the Chestnut Ridge School District

STAR ProgramStudents Trekking a New Ridge

Alternative Education Programs in Bedford Co.

Nulton Diagnostic & Treatment Center• COST: $130/day

Extended Family Academy, EFA• COST: approx. $150/day

Manito• COST: approx. $110/day

•Alternative Education Programs in Bedford County

• Nulton Diagnostic

•Alternative Education Programs in Bedford County

• Behavioral Programs• EFA• Northern Point Learning (06-07)• Manito (09-10)

Structure and Schedule- covering the basics

Behavior Modification System• Student progress, consistency, or regression is measured daily.

Privileges and Consequences• Given according to the student’s ability to perform academically and behaviorally.

Schedule• Consistently maintained to ensure predictability and seamless transition between learning modules.

Counseling- offering support based on the needs of the student.

• Focused on replacing negative attitude and behavior with personal accountability and the willingness to learn.

• Individual and Group Sessions offered weekly.• Creating a stronger foundation for academic and behavioral

success. • Group- occurs once per week

• Career Exploration and Service Learning• Offered daily by our Guidance Counselors and Social

Services Coordinator.• Assisting students with identifying potential career

paths based on their interests and personal strengths.• Providing an essential link between the regular

education setting and the student participating in the program.• Teaching lessons of selfless giving and

taking the role of productive members in our community.

Program Activities - Giving back

• Bedford County Food Bank- learning how to take an active role in our community.• STAR sponsored food drive- organized by students in the high school. Benefited the New Paris Food Bank.• Picnic Tables- completed during service learning activity. These tables are featured outside of the cafeteria and available for all student and staff use.

Benefits to the District• Cost SavingsDuring the 2009-2010 school year, the STAR Program will have saved the District more than $78, 000. This figure takes staff salaries, counseling agreement, educational software, and general supply costs into account.

•Helping our students stay in schoolDrop out rate has been reduced 200% in comparison to last year’s statistics.

•AttendanceStudents that attend the program are at a higher risk for drop out and being absent from school. STAR Program attendance has risen to 88% in comparison to 74% during the 2008-2009 school year. We are keeping our students where they need to be during the formative years of their life.

Benefits to the District

• District Courses via Blackboard• Plato• Advanced Academics• Learning Supports are also in place for studentswith IEP needs

Curriculum

What we’ve learned….

Questions?

• Plato is our primary provider for summer school students• Blackboard semester

courses are popular choice with high school students• Summer courses from

Advanced Academics are used for enrolled middle schoolers

Summer School OpportunitiesUtilizing the same online curriculum options

Summer School OpportunitiesOur students are currently studying…

• Senior Seminar• Driver’s Ed• Pre-Algebra• Algebra I• Algebra II• Fundamentals of Math 7• Fundamentals of Math 8• Earth Science• Wellness• PE

Summer School EnrollmentsCredit Recovery & Acceleration

2008-09

4 students

7 courses

2009-10

22 students

28 courses

Program Guidelines

Credit Recovery• Students must be online 3

hours a day• 5 days a week• 4 weeks or until

coursework is complete

Acceleration• Daily requirements are

flexible• Continuous steady

progress

Can work at home or inhouse.

Tuition

$135 per course

$60 per PE course

$150 per Advanced Academics course

Cost to District

$125 HQT stipend

Facilitator stipend

Summer School Fees & Expenses• Credit Recovery & Acceleration

Tammy J MillerChestnut Ridge School District

(814) 839-4195 x 3343tmiller@crsd.k12.pa.us