a dynamic partnership that equals student online …...ased on texas education agency’s aeis...
TRANSCRIPT
A Dynamic Partnership that Equals Student Online Success:
Houston ISD and Texas Connections Academy @ Houston
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Lea Ann Lockard
Executive Director & Founding Principal
Texas Connections Academy @ Houston
@LeaAnnLockard
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Harrison Peters
School Support Officer
Houston ISD
[email protected] @HarrisonPeters
Peter Robertson
Senior Vice President of School Operations
Connections Education, LLC
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Houston ISD Profile
• Nation’s 7th largest school district
• Texas’ largest district• 280 Schools• A Leader in Public School
Choice
• 217,000 students– Hispanic 62%– Black 25%– White 8%– Asian 4%– Other 2%
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Houston ISD’s Desire to Pursue Online School Options
• Influenced by Disrupting Class• TEA offered an online school pilot program in 2009
• matched HISD’s philosophy of “choice schools”• TCAH approved HISD as pilot on Dec 18, 2009
• regulatory cap of 100• TCAH is now a Texas Online School administered through
the Texas Administrative Code
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School Profile
3rd -12th Grade Students; 60 students in 2009 to 4,800 in 2016
Students are not physically present for instruction; instruction is 100% virtual
Students are physically present for state assessment with secure test materials and processes
State funding based on students meeting promotion requirements/successful course completion
184 teachers work from home across Texas with traditional teaching hours with responsibility to administer state testing, conduct field studies, and outreach
Executive Director and a Program Manager coordinate the partnership
Executive Director, Principals, Managers and Administrative Assistants work in a teaching center, 25 employees
Authorization is based off of new legislation that is pushing education reform
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Truly a Dynamic Partnership for Education Reform
First EMO-ISD partnership for a Texas Online School and most tenured in Texas
First Texas Online School to meet state standards in the state’s new accountability system; First TOLS to receive a Distinction in the state accountability system
Executive Director and Founding Principal received the United States Distance Learning Award for Leadership by an Individual in the Field of Distance Learning in 2014
The school has been featured in over a dozen publications including the New York Times, Education Week, Texas Tribune, Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle as well as local television and radio
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Students Served by Full-time Virtual Schools
• Average/Gifted Students
• Student Athletes
• Students in the Visual and Performing Arts
• Medically Homebound Students
• Special Needs Students
• Struggling Students
• Bullied Students
• Families in Need of Flexibility
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Top Five Reasons Texas Families Need TCAH
BASED ON FAMILIES’ RESPONSES DURING 2014-2015 ENROLLMENT PROCESS.**
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High Quality Teaching
14 Average years experience
51% Advanced Degrees
100% Highly Qualified
61% Highly Effective
100+ Average # of training hours annually
100% in PLCs with subject specific SMART Goals
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TCAH Highlights 2014-2015
TCAH students passing STAAR surpassedthe State and HISD averages in4th – 8th Reading & English EOC I & II7th Grade Writing6th – 7th Grade Math
Based on the Houston ISD website, 2012 School Profiles
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Contributions to District Accountability
TCAH students
scored above HISD students in student achievement and
closing performance gaps; at the same level for student progress
Based on Texas Education Agency’s AEIS Report for Texas Connections Academy @ Houston
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Curriculum Model
Pre-planned, asynchronous curriculum with 24 hour access
Comparable to a “flipped classroom model”
Embedded and engaging instructional tools
Personalization for individual student needsHigh quality interventions for RtI
Parents have full access and ability to preview curriculum
Teacher Model
Grade Level Teams are established at every grade level
LiveLessons® for synchronous small group and one-on-one instruction
Interventionist and special populations teachers (Special Education and ELL) are on each team
Professional Learning Communities followed with fidelityProfessional development and training on protocols
Parents have the role of the Learning Coach to provide a triad of support for students (parent, teacher, EMS)
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Student Leadership, Clubs & Activities
• TCAH is part of a national network of clubs, activities, talent networks and service organizations
• Monthly Grade Level Guidance Lessons with artifacts for college readiness
• National and National Junior Honor Societies
• Monthly Student Spotlight for each grade level
• Students heavily engaged in faith based service, community and student leadership organizations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=yyXssTxWzCs
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Parental Involvement
• State wide field trips
• TCAH Parent University
• The TCAH “Homeroom Mom/Dad”: Community Coordinators
• Parent-to-Parent
• Informal Facebook Meet Up
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Partnership
• Compliance
• Support
• Advocate
• Thought Partner
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Partnership
Remove Barriers:• Dual Credit• ELL• Special Needs• State Accountability
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• Socialization• Personalization
On the Horizon
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Created by
Harrison Peters and Lea Ann Lockard