Nevada Virtual Academy

Transcription

1 Nevada Virtual Academy Mike Kazek, Head of School Joint meeting of the Assembly Education Committee and the Senate Education Committee March 23, 2011

2 History Nevada Virtual Academy is a Nevada distance education charter school sponsored by the Nevada State Board of Education. The Board approved NVVA s initial, or Subchapter 6, charter for grades 4 through 8 on March 17, 2007, and on June 29 of the same year approved conversion to a full charter. NVVA began operations on August 27, In August 2008, the Board gave NVVA permission to expand its class offerings to include grades K through 3 as well as grade 9. On January 16, 2009, the Board approved NVVA s new charter application for grades K through 12; these grades were added in the academic year. L-2

3 Board of Directors Current Board Founding Board Don Curry, President Sharon Kientz, Vice President Stephen Walters, Secretary William Bukovi Wilisha Daniels Richard Gordon Thad Simmons Bill Bukovi, President Don Curry Mike Kazek Thad Simmons L-3

4 National Trends in On-Line Public Education Online learning in grades K-12 is one of the fastest growing trends in education. The North American Council of Online Learning (inacol) recommends a state policy framework which includes equal access to full-time and supplemental online learning programs for students across each state. As of Fall 2010, 27 states plus Washington, DC, have at least on fulltime online school operating statewide. At least 200,000 students are attending fulltime online schools, while an additional 1.5 million students are taking one or more online courses. Keeping the Pace 2010 an annual review of policy and practice by the International Association for K-12 Online Learning (inacol) K12 is the largest operator of high quality, full-time online schools, serving more than 80,000 students in 27 statewide online schools, including students at Nevada Virtual Academy. L-4

5 Open Enrollment Headcount Day, Sept 2010 Carson 38 Churchill 35 Clark 2,102 Douglas 55 Elko 53 Esmeralda 0 Eureka 4 Humboldt 30 Lander 11 Lincoln 10 Lyon 81 Mineral 2 Nye 83 Pershing 2 Storey 2 Washoe 302 White Pine 15 Total 2,742 L-5

6 Enrollment Growth L-6

7 Ethnicity Report Indian/ Alaskan Asian Hispanic or Latino African American Pacific Islander White Multiple Total K Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Grade Total

8 NVVA s Curriculum Use the K 12, Inc curriculum, which is approved by the Department of Education and aligns with Nevada standards Is staffed by highly qualified, licensed educators Combines powerful technology with great teaching Can be delivered anywhere internet access is available Combines both synchronous and asynchronous instruction Is not bound by the bell schedule Provides students and families with a choice Creates learning opportunities different from than the brick and mortar school Creates closer, more individualized attention and relationships between students, teachers, and parents L-8

9 Student Assessment after Enrollment Scantron Testing to determine grade level Development of individualized academic plan for each student L-9

10 Individualized Daily Plan L-10

11 Student Stories L-11

12 Innovations in Teaching The quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers. The only way to improve outcomes is to improve instruction. How the Worlds Best Performing School Systems Come Out On Top McKinsey, 2007 L-12

13 Role of the Teacher Every student is assigned to a state-certified public school teacher. Teachers work remotely and are responsible for overseeing and managing student learning: Teachers assign lessons Teachers provide instruction, guidance and support. Teachers track student attendance and academic progress Teachers evaluate student work Teachers develop a strong partnership with parent or responsible adult In consultation with parent, teachers: Recommend remedial or enrichment programs Placement and promotion decisions Teachers communicate regularly with their students via phone, , and face to face meetings, including academic workshops. Organize social and academic outings; promote school community Participate in regular training and professional development L-13

14 Teacher Training, Support and Professional Development Teacher Support Teacher Help Desk Teacher Support Hotline Teacher assistance Teacher Support Website Virtual National Teacher Training (VNTT) K-8 and HS Online Teacher Onboarding hours synchronous and asynchronous training course National Professional Development Online Synchronous Instructor (OSI) Certificate Content area focused sessions L-14

15 New Teacher Training Onboarding 40 to 50 hours of training 46 learning goals and 134 objectives 11 units containing 65 lessons Synchronous Instruction (7 live sessions) Topics include: K 12 and You Students and Families Instructional Model Curriculum and Placement Synchronous and Asynchronous Instruction Tools and Techniques Online Communication Working From Home Ready to teach on Day 1 of school L-15

16 Accountability Students are assessed daily in every lesson Students take unit reviews and finals Teachers visit with families and review work K12 s state-of-the-art Online School allows teachers to track student progress Students are required to participate in state proficiency exams, such as CRTs and HSPE, in proctored settings at locations all over the state Parents sign time sheet documenting hours spent working on lessons Students must make adequate progress in the courses L-16

17 Community Building and Socialization School Outings and online communities: Throughout the school year, students are invited to participate in school outings, field trips (to historical sites, museums, zoos, etc.), picnics, and social events. We expect that local clusters of students and parents will keep in touch and get together on a regular basis in their areas. With online discussions and forums, new types of communities can be formed that are based not on geography and place but on shared interests. Student Clubs: NVVA sponsors many student clubs, including National Honor Society, Chess Club, Reading Club, Science Club, etc. Art Competitions: Each school year, NVVA sponsors an art contest for all students enrolled in K12 virtual academies. Community Chest: is a website which provides a wealth of information for parents and families about ways to interact with each other and the school, online and off. It includes discussion boards, blogs, games, competitions, and many other ways for students and families to interact. Family Directory: is an opt-in, web-based tool enabling parents of NVVA students to organize online and offline social activities for their children. Parents can run searches based on criteria such as their child s location, age, or interests (e.g. hobbies or sports) to locate and contact other parents of children with similar interests. Community Boards: NVVA hosts at secure, monitored Community Boards to create a safe environment for interaction between families. L-17

18 Teaching Tomorrow s Teachers Student teaching Discussions with UNLV re: certificate in teaching in the distance education model L-18

19 Mike Kazek Head of School Nevada Virtual Academy x7001 L-19