7KH&DOLIRUQLD 9LUWXDO6FKRRO5HSRUW A National Survey of Virtual Education Practice and Policy with Recommendations for the State of California &RPPLVVLRQHGE\ 8QLYHUVLW\RI&DOLIRUQLD&ROOHJH3UHSDUDWRU\,QLWLDWLYH Authors: Gordon Freedman, Knowledge Base, LLC Rob Darrow, Clovis Unified School District John Watson, contracted by Knowledge Base, LLC Editor: George Lorenzo, Educational Pathways Additional writing contracted by Knowledge Base, LLC: Fred Benz, Shery Hsi, Paul Linhardt, George Lorenzo, Frank Tansey 8QLYHUVLW\RI&DOLIRUQLD&ROOHJH3UHSDUDWRU\,QLWLDWLYH ZZZXFFSRUJ .QRZOHGJH%DVH//& ZZZNQRZOHGJHEDVHFRP &ORYLV8QLILHG6FKRRO'LVWULFW ZZZFORYLVXVGNFDXV Table of Contents About This Report .......................................................................................................................................... 5 Section I Executive Summary Executive Summary ......................................................................................................................................... 5 Section II Body of Report 1.0 Preface .............................................................................................................................................. 7 2.0 Introduction...................................................................................................................................... 9 2.1 Initial findings.................................................................................................................................. 10 2.2 A need for common goals and a common agenda ........................................................................... 10 Notes from the Trenches: Two Examples of VHS Growth ................................................................ 11 3.0 Online pedagogy .............................................................................................................................12 3.1 Challenges to online learning and teaching.....................................................................................14 3.2 Technology needs ........................................................................................................................... 15 3.3 Technology needs: course content .................................................................................................16 3.4 Technology needs: course management system ............................................................................. 17 3.5 The state of the technology: Building a systems approach ............................................................18 Notes from the Trenches: Leasing Online Courses .........................................................................20 4.0 Introduction: Existing online education programs ........................................................................... 21 4.1 Models of online education programs ............................................................................................. 22 4.2 State level programs in other States ................................................................................................23 4.3 Consortium based............................................................................................................................ 25 4.4 Regional or local education agency based outside California ......................................................... 26 4.5 Virtual charter school ....................................................................................................................... 26 4.6 For-profit, non-profit corporations ..................................................................................................26 4.7 K-12 programs in California .............................................................................................................26 Notes from the Trenches: Going to High School at the University .................................................29 5.0 California educational landscape ..................................................................................................... 31 5.1 Education administration ................................................................................................................. 31 5.2 California public education funding ................................................................................................32 5.3 California educational technology status and initiatives ................................................................ 33 5.4 Education funding and online education........................................................................................ 34 5.5 Pending legislation for online education in California ..................................................................... 35 5.6 Virtual education in California.......................................................................................................... 36 5.7 Educational needs that may be met by online program ...................................................................37 Notes from the Trenches: Teacher Training ....................................................................................39 2 The California Virtual School Report Table of Contents 6.0 What California thinks ..................................................................................................................... 41 6.1 The resulting model and recommendations .....................................................................................41 6.2 Questions asked .............................................................................................................................. 42 6.3 Focus group analysis ...................................................................................................................... 42 6.4 General Statements/ideas ................................................................................................................ 42 Notes from the Trenches: Quotes from Focus Groups ....................................................................44 7.0 Critical operational issues ................................................................................................................ 45 7.1 Program vision ................................................................................................................................. 45 7.2 Program goals .................................................................................................................................. 45 7.3 Target audience ............................................................................................................................... 46 7.4 Curriculum ....................................................................................................................................... 47 7.5 Review and quality assurance process ........................................................................................... 47 7.6 Course pacing .................................................................................................................................. 48 7.7 Support for students and teachers ..................................................................................................48 7.8 Assessment ..................................................................................................................................... 49 7.9 Access............................................................................................................................................. 50 7.10 Teacher recruitment, preparation and support ................................................................................. 50 Notes from the Trenches: Student Success..................................................................................... 51 8.0 Operational models ..........................................................................................................................53 8.1 Infrastructure development ............................................................................................................. 53 8.2 Virtual high school planning and development ............................................................................... 53 8.3 Establishing the California “eLearning Educational Trust” ............................................................. 54 8.4 eTrust to support multiple schools ................................................................................................. 59 8.5 Bringing the eTrust to life ................................................................................................................ 61 8.6 A collaborative model within the eTrust ......................................................................................... 61 9.0 Financial issues ............................................................................................................................... 62 9.1 Funding of other programs in other States ......................................................................................62 9.2 Tuition ............................................................................................................................................. 63 9.3 Financial recommendations ............................................................................................................. 64 10.0 Key metrics ......................................................................................................................................64 10.1. Goals and objectives ......................................................................................................................