Online Learning in Washington State School

DistrictsAugust 18, 2009

The Problem

Washington State has little centralized data and it is limited in

scope.Most meaningful policy and

practices regarding online learning have been set at the district level,

with no consistent reporting mechanism.

The Question

What are Washington State school district policies and practices related to online

learning?

The Definition

Online courses are defined as fully online, delivered entirely via the Internet, with no face-

to-face component.

The Report

•Based on an online survey of 20 questions sent to each district in the state•45% completion rate

The Issues

•District policies regarding student access to online courses, such as restrictions and policies to handle student requests to take one or more online course for credit• Perception of barriers to online courses and how students receive information about online courses•Types of course providers from which students take online courses for credit and which types of courses are likely to be approved for credit• Funding and tracking of online courses taken for credit• Practices to ensure online course quality

National Trends

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

2005-06 2007-08

Districts reporting students enrolled in online learning

National Trends

0

200,000

400,000

600,000

800,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

2005-06 2007-08

Number of students enrolled in online learning

National Trends

• In 2007-08, 665,871 students were enrolled in fully online courses

• In 2005-06, 73% of online students were in grades 9-12. This percentage dropped to 64% by 2007-08.

National Trends

Major barriers/issues in national surveys:

• Concerns about course quality• Course development and/or

purchasing costs• Concerns about FTE funding issues

with online students• Need for teacher training

State Trends

Student enrollment in 2007-08:• 14,266 students taking at least

one course• 6,766 took just one• 3,630 took two or more (but not

full time)• 3,827 took all courses online

State Trends

In 2007-08:• 301 schools had one or more

secondary students enrolled in online courses

• 26 schools had 100 or more students enrolled in at least one online course

State Trends

Three largest online schools in 2007-08:

• WAVA in Steilacoom – 2,513 students

• Insight School of Washington in Quillayute Valley – 991 students

• Internet Academy in Federal Way – 609 students

Online Schools in Washington

School District Grades Model Area Course Provider(s)

Christa McAuliffe Academywww.cmacademy.org

Private (located in Yakima) K-12 Full-time and part-time

Worldwide Achieve Online

Columbia Virtual Academy. www.columbiavirtualacademy.org

Valley School District K-12 Full-time and part-time

10 member districts

Digital Learning Commons,Apex Learning, Global Student Network, Calvert

Federal Way Internet Academyiacademy.org/

Federal Way School District

K-12 Full-time and part-time

Statewide Developed in-house

Insight School of Washingtonwww.insightwa.net

Quillayute Valley School District

9-12 Full-time Statewide Insight Schools

iQ Academy Washingtoniqacademywa.net

Evergreen School District (Vancouver)

7-12 Full-time Statewide KC Distance Learning

Kaplan Academy of Washingtonkaplanacademywa.com

Stevenson-Carson School District

7-12 Full-time Statewide Kaplan Virtual Education

Kent Virtual High Schoolwww.highschoolontheweb.com/kent/

Kent School District 8-12 Full-time and part-time

Kent Advanced Academics

Online Schools in Washington

School District Grades Model Area Course Provider(s)

MOVE UPwww.iwanttograduate.com/

Marysville School District

7-12 Full-time and part-time

Statewide Advanced Academics

Okanogan Regional Learning Academywww.highschoolontheweb.com/okanogan/

Okanogan School District

9-12 Full-time and part-time

Statewide Advanced Academics

Onalaska Virtual Schoolhttp://www.ov-school.com/

Onalaska School District

6-12 Full-time Statewide OdysseyWare

OnlineHSonline.everett.k12.wa.us

Everett Public Schools 9-12 Full-time and part-time

Everett In-house development, Apex Learning, Class.com

Spokane Virtual Learningwww.spokaneschools.org/onlinelearning/

Spokane School District 9-12 Part-time Spokane Developed in-house

Twin Cities Virtual Academywww.highschoolontheweb.com/twincities/

Centralia School District and Chehalis School District

7-12 Full-time and part-time

Centralia and Chehalis

Advanced Academics

Washington Virtual Academywww.k12.com/wava/

Steilacoom Historical School District

K-8 Full-time Statewide K12 Inc.

Survey Findings – March 2009

Purpose: Determine school district policies and practices related to online courses

Part 1 – Respondent characteristicsPart 2 – Survey findings – Policies and

Practices1. Students taking courses for credit2. Online course providers, at-risk students,

funding3. Tracking and quality assurance4. Access issues5. General comments

Respondent Characteristics

• 133 schools districts = 45% response• WA State School for the Blind• WA State School for the Deaf• Total enrollment = 495,509 = 48.4%• 3 anonymous districts• Representative sample, based on

– District enrollment– Online course enrollment– Urban and rural

Policies – Students Taking Online Courses for Credit

District Size VariationSmall (< 1,000)

Medium (1,000 – 9,999)Large (> 10,000)

• None permitted– All small districts (15) making up 25% of small districts– 11 of 15 are rural– 11 of 15 don’t have a high school– No medium/large districts gave this response

• Most common response – only HS students permitted

• 64% have no restriction on number of courses taken at a time

• Those with restrictions: 1, 2, 3, 6 courses most common

Who decides whether/how much credit is granted?

Determining Whether Course Can Be Taken for Credit

• 29% consider all 5 factors• 17% consider 4 of 5 factors• 51% consider >3 factors

Online Courses Likely Approved

• 98% selected at least 2 course types

Other Credit Granting Policies and Procedures

• 34 districts– 17 urban/17 rural– 7 large/16 medium/11 small)

1. Must be from accredited institutions2. Follow ALE policies and procedures3. Considers FTE status of student4. Who is involved / How approval process

happens5. Student eligibility

Online Course Providers

Note: 17 wrote in DLC, though it was meant to be in “Nonprofit or Commercial Provider” category

From which course providers do students take online courses for credit?

Districts Providing Own Courses

• 37 districts (27%)• 8 provide internal courses

exclusively• Rest have at least one other

provider• 76% - medium/large• 46% urban

Online Courses Helping At-Risk

• 74% of districts use as a tool• Themes:

– Credit recovery/retrieval– Alternative high schools/ALE

programs

Funding for Online

• Who pays?Circumstance School Stude

nt

Advanced Placement 61 47

College credit 58 38

Required for graduation

76 45

Electives 61 51

Credit recovery 71 54

Courses beyond 1.0 FTE

25 66Other responses: It depends, Grant, State, District

Tracking Summary

Quality Assurance

• Question: What actions, if any, do you take to ensure that online courses are aligned with WA GLEs and or CBAs?– 71% take some action– 9% take no action– Remainder – don’t know, NA

What Actions?

• Review course curriculum, description, syllabus

• Assured alignment by DLC• Same as with traditional courses• Assuring accreditation• Researching programs and providers• Making sure instructor is Highly

Qualified Teacher (HQT)

Who is Responsible?

• Course provider• Teacher• Curriculum department• Counselor and principal• High school curriculum team• High school department• Curriculum advisory committee

Assuring Quality: Teacher PD

• Question: What kind of PD, if any, do you require for a teacher to be qualified to be an online instructor?

• 41% provided info on PD– Online course provider– DLC– Online learning conferences– In-house supervisor– Orientation for teacher mentor– Online program coordinator

Access Barriers

• 64% cited more than one barrier• Others: student characteristics, misalignment of

need and fit, district policies

Info Provided to Students about Online Courses

General Comments• Students who have been schooled with online

classes and then enroll at our school are usually behind our students.

• My main concern is that someday most students will take their high school courses online and teachers will no longer be needed.

• Completion rates drop off without a face-to-face component built in. I wonder how effective the funds used to support online classes are in terms of completion rates for courses without that support system built in.

• I would love to see the state provide funding opportunities for online courses

General Comments

• Not for everyone. Only certain kinds of students are successful in this type of learning.

• Online course participation should be a graduation requirement for all students in preparation for the work world or higher education.

• Some regulation of all these online course providers and the basic education funding attached to various models seems like a good idea for the near future!

Variations in Policies

• 64% of districts do not restrict the number of online courses a student can take at a time.

• Districts reported using 50 different kinds of online course providers.

• Districts listed 54 unique factors that are considered in determining if an online course can be granted credit.