The Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow
An
Overview
ECOT OVERVIEW
 ECOT is sponsored by the Lucas County
Educational Service Center. (Ohio requires
charter schools to be sponsored)
 ECOT was founded by Bill Lager of Altair
Learning Management in August 2000.
 ECOT educates over 7000 students in
grades K-12 from 86/88 counties in the state
Marzano’s 35 years of
Research on school
effectiveness:
1. Guaranteed and viable curriculum
2. Challenging goals and effective feedback
3. Parent and community involvement
4. Safe and orderly environment
5. Collegiality and Professionalism
6. Effective Leadership
Teaching What Students
Need to Know and Be
Able to Do
Align Curriculum with
Content Standards
Technology
 Secure INTRANET
 IQ*ity is the Learning Management System
(LMS)
 Help Desk
 Server Farm
 Connectivity (Broadband Project)
 Computer, Printer, Scanner, Headsets with
microphone provided to students
 Assistive Technology provided to students with
disabilities, (Touch Screen, Read Please, Dragon,
etc.)
Instruction designed to
ensure every student’s
success
 Individualized Attention
 Flexibility to Student
 E-mail
 Elluminate
 Phone
 Parent/Student Conferences
 Parental Involvement
Instruction Designed for
Success (cont.)
 When there is difficulty – Response to
Intervention (RtI) new Federal Model of
early intervening services – (2005)
 Team of teachers work with students based
on need
 Supplementary Materials sent to students
 Library, reading books, workbooks, Sony
Play stations, etc.
RtI – 3 Tiers
ECOT Student Overview
 Before enrolling in ECOT, many ECOT
students were unsuccessful in the traditional
public education system for a variety of
reasons.
 Many students rely on ECOT as their “last
best chance” for success in public
education.
ECOT Overview
 Completing its sixth year, ECOT has the 9th
largest high school population of any
district in the state
 In the first year (2000-2001), 24 students
earned diplomas.
 2006: Over 700 students graduated this past
school year
Student Population by Year
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Who enrolls in ECOT?
 62% of high school students must work to
support their families
 20% of high school students have children
of their own
 22% have been victims of violence/bullying
in their previous school environment
 9% have been perpetrators of violent or
criminal acts.
Why ECOT?
2%
1%
1%
2%
Flexible Schedule
5%
Own Pace
8%
32%
Be at Home
Learning/Curriculum
Teachers
8%
Needs Met
Privacy
9%
Better Focus
Computer
10%
Accountability
22%
Graduate Early
Student Demographic 2005-2006
School Year
White
Black
Multi
Hispani
Indian
Asian
ECOT Family Income
Summary
27%
73%
Free & Reduced
Lunch
Not Qualify
Department of Exceptional
Children (DEC)
 Over 1, 254 students identified as a child
with a disability (15.9%-2006 data)
 Majority of CWD arrive with IEPs
 Follow Ohio Rules and Federal Regulations
 1 Director, 3 Coordinators, 10 Student Reps
 66 Teachers
Disabilities
900
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
ASD
MD
HVT OHI
ED
CD
SLD
DEC Policies &
Procedures
Due Process & Procedural
Safeguards
In Person
Telephone
Mail
Elluminate
(No back-pack!)
Evaluations
 Pre evaluation conference to determine
assessments needed
 Assessments by contracted personnel
throughout the state at a library closest to
the child’s home
 Evaluation team meeting held and report
completed, eligibility (typically phone)
IEP Conferences
 Parent invitations by telephone and by
written notice
 All required participants on the conference
call
 Three lines for conferencing
 10 “Student Reps”
Related Services
 Seek Agencies and Contractors around the
state
 Parent takes child to the service
 If the child cannot leave the home, the
service is provided in the home
 FULL ARRAY of Related Services
Specialized Instruction
 66 DEC teachers access the general
education teacher’s “classroom” and
lessons, assignments, etc.
 Develop specialized instruction
 Designed for students to access and
progress in the general curriculum
DEC interventions at 3
level of intensity:
 Mild accommodations, modifications,
interventions
 Moderate
 Intensive
Parental Involvement
 August – Open Houses which include student &
Parent technical orientation conducted regionally
throughout the state
 E-learning requires Parental involvement
 4 Parent/Student Conferences held regionally at
different times
 Constant teacher/student/parent contact
 The Enrollment application updated annually to
include expectations & responsibilities to ensure
success
Parental Involvement (cont.)
 Parent Focus Groups held
 Title Advisory Group
 18 Parent Workshops held regionally
throughout the state for Math and Reading
 Parent & Student Surveys
 Parent and Student Liaisons hired full-time
Challenges
 Testing- “Renting” test sites to ensure 95%
participation of students
 Test site within 20 miles of each student
(State law requires 50 miles)
 On-line state testing forbidden
 2006 cost: $650,000
Challenges
 Most schools have audits once every 3
years – maybe
 ECOT has had 26 in 3 years!
 Last 2 Audits: 100% Compliance – No
findings
Challenges
 Obtaining records from the previous school
district
 Student turnover
 AYP
 “ECOT is a really cool school and I love the
teaching style.”
“The teachers have been really easy to work with
and offer their help in a friendly and concerned
manner. I have never had any problem
expressing my own concerns and receiving help
when I need it. The teachers are always helpful
with my son and give him encouragement.”
 Well all me and Mom can say is Thank You Jesus
for ECOT
 That with my son right away his teacher from last
year set out to find out why he couldn't read. She
put him in title one reading and had him start back
at the basics. He now reads at a normal fourth
grade level and for the first time ever he enjoys
school and learning. His title one teachers made it
very easy for us to meet with them by coming to
Lima. I think it is great how the needs of the kids
are so important to you all!