Request for Flexibility 2014-15 Proposal INSTRUCTIONS: Please write your responses in the boxes below. SCHOOL NAME: Centennial HS CONCEPT NAME: “Virtual/Online Learning” focused General Study Skills Elective STRATEGIC INITIATIVE: Customized Learning: PLATO/GAVS credit recovery lab offered every period Concept Summary 1) Describe the need/challenge that your school seeks to address. The challenge is that we have a population of students with limited computer access outside of school that need both credit recovery during the school day and elective credit to meet graduation requirements. Due to their limited access, these students do not have the ability to complete credit recovery outside of school. However, if they take credit recovery during the school day they lose the opportunity to receive elective credit needed for graduation. In addition, these students often lack adequate study skills to succeed in on-line learning environments which are becoming increasingly prevalent in college and career settings. 2) Describe the proposed concept, and explain how it addresses the need/challenge identified above. The flexibility that we seek is a seat time waiver in order to allow students to simultaneously earn a Study Skills credit while completing their credit recovery courses during school hours. Centennial wishes to create a “Virtual/Online Learning” General Study Skills class for elective credit in which students learn and demonstrate mastery of virtual/online study skills through their work to successfully complete credit recovery courses – an effort they are completing in order to successfully graduate and continue into their college and career futures. The course would be measuring student mastery of learned skills and study strategies necessary to successfully manage a virtual, self-paced, independent study. The course will have clearly defined standards and curriculum upon which grading and course credit is based. The class would create more access to elective credits for students through their development and mastery of study skills tailored to virtual learning (time management, technology use, organizational skills, independent motivation) which are essential to be college and career ready in the 21st century. By leveraging the class time students are already investing by being in the virtual lab one full period per day (57 minutes), we can successfully offer the virtual/online learning support students would need to also fulfill a general study skills elective. The curriculum for the “Virtual/Online Learning” General Study Skills General Elective would include: participation in an online credit recovery course, accompanied by a virtual learning/online study skills elective. 1|Page 8/14/2014 Request for Flexibility 2014-15 Proposal 3) Include any research or evidence that the concept will positively affect your school’s student population. If no research exists, please articulate the rationale for the likelihood of success of the concept, and describe your plans for risk mitigation. 4) Outline the expected results in the columns to the right. In 2013, Centennial had 47 high school graduates who completed their high school graduation credits by utilizing the virtual lab, during the day, for credit recovery. In 2014, Centennial had 78 students who completed their high school graduation credits using the virtual lab to recover credit through GAVS and PLATO. In both years, however, these very same students struggled to compete the necessary elective credit needed (a total of 4 elective credits are required). Some even tried to complete elective credits online, but many of the nonacademic electives are not available virtually. While our overall graduation rate did increase by nearly 4% in the 2014 graduation year, Centennial still had many students off-track to graduate as reflected in our graduation rate of 83%. All credit recovery students who did not graduate on-time could have benefitted from our proposal to create a General Education Study Skills elective whose academic focus is virtual/online learning skills. With more than 200 students currently enrolled in the credit recovery program (sophomores, juniors, and seniors combined) we have many students who not only need the benefits of credit recovery but are already putting forth the necessary classtime to master the virtual learning environment. Project Outcomes Short-Term Goals Long-Term Outcomes Increase in Centennial’s graduation rate Reduce the number of credit deficient, retained students Meeting the district’s overall graduation goal of 90% on-time by 2017 Offer elective credit to students enrolled in the virtual lab credit recovery program. Increased confidence in students to complete virtual classes Support for online students in our ever changing web 2.0 world Increase in graduation rate A robust elective offering of general study skills that focus on the virtual learner Customized/personalized learning for all students Increase students’ exposure to academic, credit-earning, experience-based learning activities. Waiver(s) Requested 5) List any waivers from state law, regulation, and/or rule required to implement the concept. (Facilitators will 2|Page State Law O.C.G.A. § 20-2-151(b) which defines the number of hours of instructional time for all educational programs. 8/14/2014 Request for Flexibility 2014-15 Proposal identify the specific laws, regulations, and/or rules requiring exemption.) 6) List any flexibility from Fulton Board Policy IHF (8) which defines minimum clock hours of instruction for one unit of credit – 150 per semester. County Schools’ policy required to implement the concept. (Facilitators will identify the specific Fulton County Schools policies requiring exemptions.) Impact on Students and Families, Personnel, Departments, Processes, and Schools 7) List any impact of the concept on the following: Students and families; Personnel; The school schedule; Transportation; School nutrition; Teaching, learning, and assessment; Other schools; and Any other area not addressed above. 8) Please use the budget template on the next page to provide the estimated costs of the proposed concept. In the space to the right, please identify, to the extent possible, how you plan to modify your school budget to cover additional costs. If applicable, identify external funding sources. 3|Page Students and families – Positive impact: students are able to earn credit for virtual learning study skills they are acquiring while enrolled in a credit recovery online course at school such as GAVS or PLATO. Personnel – Positive impact: an opportunity for staff to teach a study skills elective The school schedule – Maximizes time in the lab – no change to physical schedule. Transportation – N/A School nutrition – N/A Teaching, learning, and assessment – The General Study Skills elective would need a supplemented written curriculum around best practices in Virtual Learning. Budget There would be no cost anticipated, unless we have to budget for an additional teaching allocation. We are planning to have our Graduation Coach be the teacher of record and our Virtual Learning Instructor supervise. 8/14/2014 Request for Flexibility 2014-15 Proposal INSTRUCTIONS: Please enter the expected costs of your concept for the applicable school year(s). To calculate the totals for the Amount Budgeted columns, highlight the entire table, and press F9. You may customize the budget items. SCHOOL NAME: <Insert School Year> <Insert School Year> Budget Item Item Description Amount Proposed Funding Amount Proposed Funding Amount Proposed Funding Notes (Include quantities Budgeted* Source(s)** Budgeted* Source(s)** Budgeted* Source(s)** if applicable) Teacher(s) 0 0 0 Paraprofessional(s) 0 0 0 Support Staff 0 0 0 Additional Pay (certified)/Overtime (non-certified) Equipment 0 0 0 0 0 0 Supplies/Materials 0 0 0 Professional Development Independent Contractor(s) Transportation 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Supplements 0 0 0 Other Professional Services Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 Other 0 0 0 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 GRAND TOTALS *When determining the Amount Budgeted for personnel costs, the principal should consult with the Learning Community Human Resources Director. **For the Proposed Funding Source(s), please indicate which of the following funding sources you intend to use: General Fund, Student Activities Fund, School Foundation/PTA, FCS Seed Fund, Grants, or Other (please specify the source). 4|Page 8/11/2014