Review of 2008-09 Online Courses and Programs
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Review of 2008–09 Online Courses and Programs Report to the Legislature Randy I. Dorn State Superintendent of Public Instruction December 2009 Review of 2008–09 Online Courses and Programs Prepared by: Karl Nelson, Assistant Director, Digital Learning Department Digital Learning Department Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction Judy Margrath-Huge, Director Randy I. Dorn Superintendent of Public Instruction Ken Kanikeberg Chief of Staff Alan Burke, Ed.D. Deputy Superintendent, K–12 Education Martin T. Mueller Assistant Superintendent, Student Support December 2009 Table of Contents Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 4 Process ............................................................................................................................................. 5 Definitions ................................................................................................................................... 5 Categories of Courses and Programs .......................................................................................... 5 Scope ........................................................................................................................................... 7 Data Sources ................................................................................................................................ 7 Limitations ................................................................................................................................... 9 Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................................... 10 Background and Demographics..................................................................................................... 11 Total Students in Online Courses .............................................................................................. 11 Programs and Providers ............................................................................................................ 11 Types of Courses ........................................................................................................................ 16 Student Demographics .............................................................................................................. 21 Student Motivations .................................................................................................................. 23 Previous Enrollment .................................................................................................................. 24 Financial ......................................................................................................................................... 25 Interdistrict Transfers ................................................................................................................ 25 Percentage of Total District Population in Online School Programs ......................................... 27 Financial Impacts ....................................................................................................................... 27 Alternative Learning Experiences .............................................................................................. 32 Transfers .................................................................................................................................... 32 Fiscal Impact on School District Levy Bases and Levy Equalization ........................................... 32 Contract Terms .......................................................................................................................... 35 Course Funding .......................................................................................................................... 37 Oversight ....................................................................................................................................... 39 Program Administration ............................................................................................................ 39 Content Creation ....................................................................................................................... 39 Washington Certificated Teachers ............................................................................................ 39 WASL Administration................................................................................................................. 39 Teacher Employment ................................................................................................................ 45 Student Achievement .................................................................................................................... 46 Course Completion Rate ............................................................................................................ 46 Pass Rate.................................................................................................................................... 47 Program Completion and Retention ......................................................................................... 48 WASL Results ............................................................................................................................. 50 Student Support ............................................................................................................................ 54 Enrollment ................................................................................................................................. 54 Computing Resources ................................................................................................................ 55 Scheduling ................................................................................................................................. 56 In-person Support...................................................................................................................... 57 Full-time or Part-time Programs................................................................................................ 57 Special Education....................................................................................................................... 57 Student-to-Teacher Ratios ........................................................................................................ 58 Extracurricular Activities ........................................................................................................... 60 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 61 Executive Summary Approximately 15,800 students took an online course in the 2008–09 school year. This includes students taking individual online courses, as well as students enrolled in part- or full-time online school programs. This report covers the 33 online school programs that operated during 2008– 09, as well as the individual courses offered by the Digital Learning Commons and by a number of other online course providers. Headcounts, Full-Time Equivalent, and Enrollments Online school programs in 26 districts reported 13,130 students and 9,445.4 full-time equivalents (FTE). These students enrolled in 50,920 individual courses (one student in one course for one term). See page 11 for more details. The Digital Learning Commons (DLC) served 998 students from 67 districts. These students enrolled in 1,805 individual courses. A survey of Washington school districts (39.6 percent of districts responding) found that 29 districts offered students online courses during the 2008–09 school year, and that those districts served 1,677 students. Demographics Seventy-three percent of online school program students were in high school, with middle and elementary students accounting for 14 percent and 13 percent, respectively. See page 20. Female students were significantly over-represented in online school programs (55.2 percent), as compared to the state as a whole (48.5 percent). See page 21. Hispanics were under-represented with 6 percent of the online school program population as compared to 15.3 percent of all students in the state. Whites were over- represented in online school programs with 77.3 percent of this population, as compared to 64.8 percent of all students in the state. See page 21. Interdistrict Transfers When a student lives outside the geographic boundaries of an online school program’s district, the student may transfer into the program using the “choice” transfer provisions described in RCW 28A.225.220. Nineteen districts gained students, with a total of 7,122 FTE entering those districts. Of those, seven districts gained more than 100 FTE. Those seven districts combined for 6,891.1 FTE, or 97 percent of the total transfers. See page 25. Of the 295 districts in the state, 248 lost students, for a total of 6,606 FTE. Seventeen districts lost more than 100 FTE. See page 25. Ninety-eight districts had more than 1 percent of their 2007–08 student population enroll in another district’s online school program in 2008–09. Of these, 26 districts had more than 2 percent, and eight districts had more than 5 percent. See page 26. Five districts had more than 5 percent of their total student