VSS2007 (Guest Blogger) - “Cyberschool” Myths and Realities: Towards a Better Understanding of Full-Time Programs
Session notes from our guest blogger, Abby.
“Cyberschool” Myths and Realities: Towards a better understanding of full-time programs
John Watson
- Definitions: Nomenclature important because people have preconceived ideas.
- Online is definition of choice.
- Supplemental program (not required for NCLB scores) verses full-time program
- Multiple and single district programs (geographical reach)
- 200% increase in 4 years – full time online program about 175
- Students who gravitate to K-12 online schools
- gifted and needing more challenge
- struggling
- rural
- urban
- elite athletes/performers
- homebound
- teen parents
- students with high functioning autism-Asperger's syndrome
- Mobile (military family)
- Myths hearing about full-time schools
- Reality is that full-time, online public cybershools publicly accountable through performance on state tests, regular reporting to authorizer/partner, open meetings of its non-profit goering body if charter school
- students are required to participate in the state tests
- Full time online schools across the country report 48% of students qualify for free and reduced lunch and 23% are minority students.
- Students regardless of color and SES can do this.
- FT teacher interact with students/parents via telephone, email, in-person meetings, and we conferencing
- Report knowing their students online as well or better than students F2F
- Some states require state certification and online PD
- lower grade levels on computer much less than upper grade levels
- Augenblick Palaich / Bell South study: real cost is ranges from 7200 to 8300 per FTE for full-time online schools. Bottom line: Same cost as brick and mortar. main cost --> teachers and personnel. So even though can scale technology cannot scale student -teacher ratio.
- Cyberschools can channel more funding to instruction than traditional schools can.
- Cyberschools are accountable in the same ways all public schools are accountable in same ways as public schools, in some cases MORE
- All NCLB/AYP requirements apply
- State tests, including end-of-course and graduation tests
- Reporting to the charter school authorizer
- Online learning requirements in some states
- An immense array of school data
- Curriculum often notably rigorous
- Multiple mechanisms for ensuring academic integrity
- Teacher practice
- Plagiarism check
- In online school, every student is visible – no where to hide.
- Much better option in many cases than keeping kid at home being home-schooled in poor quality manner.
- Not all full-time online schools are created equal
- Performance diverse as schools themselves
- Florida: both online k-8 programs get A on 2007 school report
- Arizona: Leading TAPBI schools rated performing and performing plus for 2006
- Nevada: Exemplary AYP status and significant reduction % of non-proficient at risk students
- They don't necessarily want their kids to be socialized in that manner.
- Parents want to control the socialization
Tags: VSS2007, NACOL, virtual school, cyber school, high school, education
Labels: cyber school, education, high school, NACOL, virtual school, VSS2007
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