Austin Cyberschool

Project Overview Project Name:

Austin Cyberschool
Project Rationale: Student Need There is a need to prepare for implementation of the Texas Virtual School Network authorized by passage of SB 1788. This will build college readiness and a college-going culture in all AISD high schools. There is a need to build enrollment in Supplemental Educational Services (SES) at low performing campuses.

Rationale Online learning is growing rapidly across the United States within all levels of education, as more and more students and educators become familiar with the benefits of learning unconstrained by time and place. Across most states and all grade levels, students are finding increased opportunity, flexibility, and convenience through online learning. Teachers are discovering a new way to reach students including those who were not successful in traditional schools and courses, (Watkins, 2007). Most colleges and universities now require the use of online learning as part of regular instruction and students who are prepared for that will be more successful in higher education. The State of Nebraska now requires all high school graduates to have completed at least one course online to graduate from high school. A similar local requirement for Austin ISD students is recommended. Although K-12 education lags behind post-secondary in using the Internet to teach, many school districts in Texas are realizing the potential of online education. Among the in state leaders are Houston ISD, Plano ISD and the Texas Virtual School at Region IV ESC. The Austin School District participated in the Texas Virtual School Pilot in 2000-2003 (Surles et al, 2002) and continues to offer online learning to students in the community. This program is not teacher-led, does not include the utilization of a Content Management System (CMS); and does not earn funding from the state for students in attendance. Texas Virtual School Network legislation enables Texas public school districts to offer online learning while earning ADA funding.

Objectives and Scope: 1. To establish the framework whereby Austin Cyberschool will begin operating by the conclusion of the 2007-08 academic year. 2. To enroll a minimum of 50% of all eligible students for Supplemental Educational Services (SES) at all eligible campuses within the Austin ISD. 3. Establish the Austin Cyberschool Task Force to meet monthly and at the conclusion of the initial year of planning to draft a report with recommendations to the Superintendent of Schools. Scope: Includes students, teachers, technology facilitators, curriculum specialists, college and career center staff, campus administrators and district administrators

Expected Outcome: 1. College Readiness – additional early college start and dual credit opportunities provided by direct access to colleges and universities 2. Increase the number of students taking AP classes 3. Increase the number of graduates under the recommended graduation plan 4. Enroll a majority of students at eligible campuses in SES programs  Campuses Affected: All Austin ISD high school campuses

Timeline: 8/1/2007 – 8/1/2008  Project Description/Activities: Activities 1. Leadership and Planning -- The Austin Cyberschool Task Force will be constituted of Technology Facilitators from the Department of Instructional Technology, the Distance Learning Coordinator from the Community Education and Support Services Department and Curriculum Specialists from each of the core subject areas. District administrators from Office of Educational Services, the High School Office, and the Office of High School Redesign will provide leadership. 2. Facilitation – The Distance Learning Coordinator will establish communication with Texas Education Agency and the designated agency managing the Texas Virtual School Network. The Distance Learning Coordinator with consultation of instructional coaches in each of the core subject areas will create a shell curriculum for online instruction. As the Virtual School Network approves courses the Task Force will consider those in the context of the Austin Cyberschool. The Distance Learning Coordinator will also serve the district by recruiting and enrolling students to participate in online tutoring and face to face tutoring provided by approved vendors of Supplemental Educational Services (SES). 3. Training -- Training for the Distance Education Coordinator and Technology Facilitators will be by the Texas Computer Education Assn. The district Information Technology Dept. will manage servers loaded with Joomla and Moodle ® CMS. Training for potential online instructors will be provided to teachers who are selected at each campus and to teacher aides selected to serve as student and parent liaisons. The Texas Virtual School at Region IV Education Service Center will provide this training using a web based instructional platform and at least one face-to-face workshop in Austin.

External Partners Role: 1. The Educational Technology Department at TEA will plan the state Virtual School Network. 2. Various institutions of higher education will enroll students in dual enrollment or early college start classes. 3. Texas Computer Education Assn. will provide training Distance Learning Coordinator and technology facilitators. 4. Region IV ESC’s Texas Virtual School staff will provide training to online instructors and liaison staff. 5. A variety of public and for profit vendors and service providers of online curriculum will offer their support. No external curriculum will be purchased during the initial planning year as teachers are engaged in developing their own courses online. Open content course content will be evaluated for possible adoption.

Resource Overview: The state recently announced $320 million in new funding for the High School Allotment Grant. A one year High School Allotment grant of $85,000 is required with the Austin Cyberschool becoming self-sustaining once enrolled in the Texas Virtual School Network and enrollment is supported by ADA.

District Implications: Pros: 1. The Austin Cyberschool is consistent with and will facilitate meeting the goals of the current major district initiative – high school redesign. 2. Outcomes could result in improved teaching and learning using proven constructivist models. 3. The district will have a College Readiness plan consistent with directives coming from state regulatory agencies. 4. The district could realize a potential revenue generator by providing educational services as part of the Texas Virtual School Network while increasing productivity from existing technology infrastructure. 5. A greater number of students at low performing campuses will be enrolled for quality SES tutoring services. 6. Online learning creates greater opportunities for “just in time” coaching at the point of instruction. Cons: 1. The Texas Education Agency was very slow to evaluate the Virtual School Pilot (VSP) and in implementing the Electronic Course Pilot (eCP). The agency could again take several years to build the Virtual School Network. 2. If the district decides later to purchase online courses rather than develop them in house, expenditures would have to be offset by ADA revenue. 3. If offsite SES vendors were chosen by students at low performing campuses, the district would be required to purchase those services. 4. Oversight of cyberschools has been lacking in some states. Needs: 1. Information Technology Dept. support to build a district-wide authentication system for Moodle ® CMS; 2. Instructional specialists’ support to identify teachers at each high school campus who meet the SREB guidelines for quality online instruction; and 3. Instructional coaching support for curriculum development and instructional oversight.