delivering online credit recovery: featuring st. tammany parish public schools
DESCRIPTION
Often called the "silent epidemic" in our nation's high schools, high dropout rates put individual students' futures at risk and pose enormous challenges to our nation's economic and social well being. Online credit recovery is an option that is rapidly gaining acceptance thanks to its unique ability to help address the dropout crisis. With innovative delivery options that include before/after school models, weekend programs, and offerings during the school day, online credit recovery is delivering important benefits to students and schools alike including efficiency, flexibility, and cost effectiveness. St. Tammany Parish Public Schools (LA) describes how they are using online credit recovery, delivered through a virtual school, to engage students with personalized learning opportunities and maximize district resources in order to increase graduation rates. Also explored is how the Blackboard Learn(TM) platform provides the foundation for a district-based online credit recovery program.TRANSCRIPT
Tuesday September 1, 2009Dr. Regina Sanford, Secondary Supervisor of Instruction, St. Tammany Parish Schools
Rachael Blanchard, Instructional Technology Curriculum Specialist, St. Tammany Parish Schools
Stacey Alexius, Secondary Curriculum Specialist, St. Tammany Parish Schools
Mike Petersen, Manager, K-12 Solutions Engineers, Blackboard
Delivering Online Credit Recovery: Featuring St. Tammany Parish Public Schools
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Born from education
in 1997
20 million users
1,000+ of us, working with 5,200+ of you
Extended by 2,500
developers and partners
9 global offices across 4 continents
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• Close the gap between the way students live and the way they learn
• Deliver a 21st Century educational experience that is engaging, individualized and effective
Our Vision:
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• An open, web-based teaching and learning platform for engaging and assessing learners in and beyond the classroom
• 3,000+ clients, 15+ million estimated active users, at all levels of learning
• Local or hosted deploymentEngaging and assessing learners at all levels
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Client Community
ST. TAMMANY PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Blackboard Client Spotlight
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Virtual LearningSt. Tammany Parish Schools
Louisiana
St. Tammany Parish Schools
Dr. Regina Sanford
Secondary Supervisor of Instruction
Rachael Blanchard
Instructional Technology Curriculum Specialist
Stacey Alexius
Secondary Curriculum Specialist
St. Tammany Parish Schools
• 35,602 students PK – 12
• 84% of Student in Public Schools
• 54 Schools
• Suburb of New Orleans
• 41% Free and Reduced Rate
• St. Tammany Parish (county) has ranked as one of the fastest growing counties in the United States during the past decade.
Online Learning is STPSB
• Issues faced by our district regarding Credit Recovery
–Curriculum Alignment–Expense–Training on variety of applications–Multiple Vendors–State Policy
21st Century Skills
• Information and technology skills
• Communication and collaboration
• Creativity
• Innovation
• Critical thinking and problem solving
• https://blackboard.stpsb.org/
Development
Initial pilot of 10 elective new credit Courses
Teacher Selection•Certification •Aptitude•Professional Recommendation
Training•Online course facilitation•Online course development
Participant Criteria•Junior/Senior classification•High performing•Volunteers
Evaluation:
•Student Feedback Surveys
•Parent Response
•Teacher Feedback
•Pass / Fail Rates
Virtual Learning
Carnegie Credit Courses
Summer School 2009– 350 students per semester– 2 semesters – June/July
Fall 2009• Addition of ½ time facilitator at each school• Continuing to add courses as needs arise• Pilot Spanish II (3rd party vendor)• Remedial Test Preparation• Digital Curriculum
Present
Digital Curriculum
• Redesign and expansion of the Guaranteed Curriculum and the Louisiana Comprehensive Curriculum
• Digital learning environment is an extension of the regular classroom
• $100,000 8g grant will fully fund a 1-to-1 laptop initiative for students taking the digital courses at Lakeshore High School
Digital Curriculum: Course
Digital Curriculum: Unit
Digital Curriculum: Lesson
Digital Curriculum: Activity
Lessons Learned
• Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships are as important as content
• Establish a review process for Course refinement
• Continue to integrate technological components into existing courses
• Quality over quantity…avoid busy work
• Continue to develop lines of communication with parents and the community for online learning
Challenge: Increase Graduation Rates
By offering credit recovery courses delivered both in online and in offline formats
Blackboard Solution: Anytime, Anywhere Student Engagement
Rather than selecting one model for credit recovery, the district chose to offer multiple models in order to address as many students’ needs as possible.
“While the program is still new, I know that it has helped. This is the only thing we are offering in our district as an alternative education offering. I definitely feel that we will make a difference in graduation rates.”
- Rose Valderaz, Director, Virtual High School
Ector County Independent School District
Blackboard
Case Study
• 26,000 students
• Virtual high school
• Texas
Challenge: Diverse Learning Needs
Offering enriched curriculum for all learners.
Blackboard Solution: Anytime, Anywhere Student Engagement
“Students today are very tech-savvy and comfortable with technology and the flexibility of online instruction. Whether they are fine arts or magnet students, athletes, or those enrolled for credit recovery, they enjoy the individual choices they make in regards to when, where, and how long they participate in their virtual course.”
- Becky Nunnally, Supervisor, eHigh School
Cobb County School District
Blackboard
Case Study
• Suburban county
• 100,000+ students
• 8,800+ staff
• 113 schools and educational centers
• Georgia
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Blackboard LearnCommon Challenges:• Raising graduation rates• Keeping students engaged in their learning• Providing varied means for students to recover
lost credits
• Operating within limited and declining budget
Solution:
Blackboard Learn provides the foundation for a district-
based online credit recovery program that engages
students with personalized learning opportunities and
maximizes district resources in order to increase
graduation rates.
Quick Start Solutions: Credit RecoveryChallenge:“Developing online credit recovery courses takes time and resources but I need to make the courses available right away.”
--Director of Instructional Technology
Solution:• Blackboard Quick Start Solutions will
help you get started quickly and achieve early success
• Enroll up to 50 students in Florida Virtual School credit recovery courses
Quick Start Solutions: Credit Recovery
Challenge:“I don’t know how to start an online credit recovery program at my district. Who can I turn to?”
- Director of Instructional Technology
Solution:• Participate in the Florida Virtual Leadership
Course (1 seat)• Become certified to teach and learn online
with 1 seat in 3 Blackboard Training Courses: Teaching and Learning Online Certification Series (Building Courses, Enhancing Communication, Assessing Learners)
www.k12perspectives.com
Strong credit recovery programshelp to knock out
excuses forstudents not to
succeed.
Ms. Rose ValderazDirector, Virtual High SchoolEctor County, Texas
Thank you! Questions? Dr. Regina Sanford, Secondary Supervisor of Instruction,
Rachael Blanchard, Instructional Technology Curriculum Specialist, [email protected]
Stacey Alexius, Secondary Curriculum Specialist,
St. Tammany Parish Schools: http://www.stpsb.org/
www.blackboard.com/k12/learn
(800) 424-9299 ext. 242728