rob darrow - robdarrow@cusd coordinator, instructional resources clovis unified, ca

Case Study: How can a small school district How can a small school district finance an online high school? finance an online high school?

OR…the tale of two online OR…the tale of two online schools in school districts in schools in school districts in

CaliforniaCalifornia

Rob Darrow - [email protected] Rob Darrow - [email protected] Coordinator, Instructional ResourcesCoordinator, Instructional ResourcesClovis Unified, CaClovis Unified, CaVirtual School Symposium, 2008Virtual School Symposium, 2008

Questions for youQuestions for you

Opening an online school?Opening an online school? Operated an online school Operated an online school

less than 3 years?less than 3 years? Operated an online school Operated an online school

more than 3 years?more than 3 years?

Share: Share: How do you fund (or hope How do you fund (or hope

to fund) your online to fund) your online school?school?

Two California Two California School DistrictsSchool Districts

Kings Canyon Kings Canyon UnifiedUnified

Dunlap Leadership Dunlap Leadership Academy - 2008Academy - 2008

(Students: 9700; (Students: 9700; Teachers: 439)Teachers: 439)

www.dunlapleadershipacademy.com/

Clovis UnifiedClovis Unified Cal Online Cal Online

(2000-2005)(2000-2005) (Students: 37,000; (Students: 37,000;

Teachers: 1752)Teachers: 1752) calonline.cusd.com

Yosemite

Kings Canyon Park

Kings Canyon Unified

Geographically – 600 square miles Geographically – 600 square miles that cross two counties. that cross two counties.

Almost 10,000 students, K-12Almost 10,000 students, K-12 3000 high school students. 3000 high school students. Three distinct areas: Three distinct areas: Orange CoveOrange Cove, ,

ReedleyReedley and and DunlapDunlap. . Orange Cove and Reedley have a high Orange Cove and Reedley have a high

school…but Dunlap does NOT.school…but Dunlap does NOT.

Kings Canyon Unified

Dunlap…the one area of the district Dunlap…the one area of the district without a high school.without a high school.

Where’s Dunlap? Population: 131Where’s Dunlap? Population: 131

Dunlap Leadership Academy

Why?Why?

KCUSD

On the bus…you would see…

Dunlap Leadership Academy

Dunlap Student

““Because I didn’t want Because I didn’t want to ride the bus two to ride the bus two hours to the other hours to the other high school and I get high school and I get headaches when I ride headaches when I ride buses for that longbuses for that long.”.”

Financing the SchoolFinancing the School

California FinanceCalifornia FinanceHow public schools are fundedHow public schools are funded

1 student in school 1 day = 1 ADA 1 student in school 1 day = 1 ADA (or FTE). (or FTE).

Cannot split ADACannot split ADA

California California FinanceFinance

ADAADA (“seat time” - 240 (“seat time” - 240 minutes each day) minutes each day)

Independent StudyIndependent Study (student (student gets hours based on work gets hours based on work and physically meets a and physically meets a teacher once a week). teacher once a week).

CharterCharter

1 student in school 1 day = 1 ADA.1 student in school 1 day = 1 ADA.

California FinanceCalifornia FinanceADA DifferencesADA Differences

Per student, per yearPer student, per year

Kings Canyon - Kings Canyon - $5900$5900 Clovis Unified –Clovis Unified – $5,000$5,000 Sierra Unified - Sierra Unified - $8,000$8,000

Dunlap Leadership Dunlap Leadership Academy FinancingAcademy Financing

Dunlap Leadership AcademyDunlap Leadership Academy

30 students - ADA30 students - ADA

30 students X $5900 = 30 students X $5900 = $177,000$177,000 per year. per year.

Special program funding - $650 Special program funding - $650 per student (or another $20,000)per student (or another $20,000)

Total Income: Total Income: $197,000$197,000. . Round up to Round up to $200,000$200,000

Share: Share: What are the Cost Items What are the Cost Items

for an online school?for an online school?

Dunlap Leadership AcademyDunlap Leadership Academy PersonnelPersonnel

Principal – Part time (shared with Principal – Part time (shared with school across the street)school across the street)

Secretary/lab aide and campus aide Secretary/lab aide and campus aide 8:00-2:00 each day – 30 hours per week. 8:00-2:00 each day – 30 hours per week.

Custodian (part time – shared with Custodian (part time – shared with school across the street).school across the street).

Total Personnel Cost: Total Personnel Cost: $169,000 $169,000 ((Total Income: Total Income: $197,000$197,000. ). )

Dunlap Leadership AcademyDunlap Leadership Academy Computer LabComputer Lab

Cost for Cost for hardware: hardware: $40,000$40,000..

Dunlap Leadership Dunlap Leadership

AcademyAcademy Course Course Content Content

and Teachersand Teachers Provided by Advanced Academics. Provided by Advanced Academics.

Cost: $400 per student per course.Cost: $400 per student per course. 5 courses per student.5 courses per student. $400 X 30 students X 5 courses = $400 X 30 students X 5 courses =

$60,000.$60,000.

Dunlap Leadership AcademyDunlap Leadership Academy SuppliesSupplies

Supplies = Supplies = $5,000$5,000. .

Dunlap Leadership AcademyDunlap Leadership Academy Income and ExpensesIncome and Expenses

Income by ADA: Income by ADA: $197,000$197,000. . Personnel: $169,000Personnel: $169,000 Equipment: $40,000Equipment: $40,000 Content and Teachers: $60,000Content and Teachers: $60,000 Supplies: $5,000Supplies: $5,000

Income – Expenses = Income – Expenses = - ($77,000)- ($77,000)

Dunlap Leadership AcademyDunlap Leadership Academy Asst. Supt. BusinessAsst. Supt. BusinessCost Per Student Cost Per Student

ADA = $6550ADA = $6550

30 students = $7400 per student. 30 students = $7400 per student. 60 students = $5017 per student.60 students = $5017 per student. 120 students = $3609120 students = $3609

Why go to the computer lab?

Why students go here: Why students go here: ““because I like because I like seeing the other seeing the other kids and I have kids and I have friends herefriends here.”.”

Share:Share:

Questions to ask about these Questions to ask about these figures…any issues?figures…any issues?

Clovis UnifiedClovis Unified

Unified in 1960: Unified in 1960: one high school / intermediate school, one high school / intermediate school,

4 elementary schools4 elementary schools


District motto: “District motto: “Be the best you can in Be the best you can in mind, body and spiritmind, body and spirit.” .”

In 2008: In 2008: 28,00028,000 students – 12,000 in students – 12,000 in high school. high school. 6 high schools, 5 intermediate schools 6 high schools, 5 intermediate schools

and 32 elementary schools.and 32 elementary schools.

Clovis Unified Clovis Unified Superintendent : Superintendent :

20002000

““One of the things CUSD is doing to One of the things CUSD is doing to prepare for the future are ‘Virtual prepare for the future are ‘Virtual

Classrooms’ – CUSD teachers are in Classrooms’ – CUSD teachers are in the process of designing curriculum the process of designing curriculum

for a virtual classroom where students for a virtual classroom where students can take courses on the Web...”can take courses on the Web...”


Cal OnlineCal Online

First classes: June 2001First classes: June 2001

Find Mari pic


Cal Online ADA = 0Cal Online ADA = 0

Budget: Budget: $250,000$250,000 Funded from 2000-2006 by Funded from 2000-2006 by

12 different grants and 12 different grants and funds over 6 years – no funds over 6 years – no ADA or General Fund.ADA or General Fund.


Cal Online ExpensesCal Online Expenses

PersonnelPersonnel: : Coordinator, assistant Coordinator, assistant 4 part time teachers – 4 part time teachers – TOTAL: TOTAL: $180,000$180,000



MaterialsMaterials: : (textbooks, lab kits, etc.): (textbooks, lab kits, etc.): $6,000$6,000

Teacher cell phones: Teacher cell phones: $4,000$4,000 New Course development: New Course development: $20,000$20,000



Content (FLVS): Content (FLVS): $30,000$30,000 Jones Knowledge: Jones Knowledge: $4,000$4,000

Total Yearly Costs: Total Yearly Costs: $244,000$244,000


Cal Online Cal Online Enrollment = Enrollment = 100100

CoursesCourses: Algebra, English 9, English : Algebra, English 9, English 11/12, World History, U.S. History, AP 11/12, World History, U.S. History, AP Government, Economics, Art History, Government, Economics, Art History, PEPE

Florida Virtual School and self Florida Virtual School and self developeddeveloped


Asst. Supt. BusinessAsst. Supt. Business

100 students enrolled.100 students enrolled. $244,000 Costs$244,000 Costs Divide out: Divide out: $2440$2440 per student per student

Clovis Unified - Cal Online Clovis Unified - Cal Online

Ended in 2006Ended in 2006

No finance model worked for part time No finance model worked for part time studentsstudents

2020 Visions Report 2020 Visions Report (2006)(2006)

$1 mil to start up an online school$1 mil to start up an online school

Bellsouth Foundation (2006). Anderson, Bellsouth Foundation (2006). Anderson, A.B., Augenblick, J., and DeCesare, D., and A.B., Augenblick, J., and DeCesare, D., and Conrad, J.Conrad, J.

Online School Online School Finance ChallengesFinance Challenges

Economy of scale: Need money or Economy of scale: Need money or studentsstudents

With full complement of courses, how With full complement of courses, how do you reduce costs?do you reduce costs? Contract content out?Contract content out? Own teachers?Own teachers? Develop own content?Develop own content? Get more students?Get more students?

Lessons Learned:Lessons Learned:Via research and Via research and

experienceexperience Get all district admin Get all district admin on boardon board TalkTalk with all “stakeholder” groups with all “stakeholder” groups

in establishing your online school in establishing your online school (counselors, special education, (counselors, special education, etc.)etc.)

Identify budget income for Identify budget income for 3 years3 years Lack of money = no programLack of money = no program

Questions…Questions…Comments…ThoughtsComments…Thoughts

Contact InformationContact Information

Rob Darrow – Rob Darrow – [email protected]@cusd.com http://robdarrow.wikispaces.comhttp://robdarrow.wikispaces.com

rob darrow - robdarrow@cusd coordinator, instructional resources clovis unified, ca

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