www.triowolfcreek.com This report uses data collected over the period of 7/1/2010 through 6/30/2011 TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report respectfully submitted: October 1, 2011 to the Minnesota Department of Education and our authorizing agent of Chisago Lakes Public Schools. TABLE OF CONTENTS School Mission Statement......................................................................................................4 Operational Performance .......................................................................................................4 Authorizer Information ..........................................................................................................6 Finances .................................................................................................................................7 Student Enrollment ................................................................................................................9 Student Attrition.....................................................................................................................9 Staff Information ....................................................................................................................11 Management/Administration .................................................................................................12 Governance ............................................................................................................................13 Academic Program (Innovative Practices) ............................................................................15 Areas for Improvement/Program Challenges ........................................................................16 Accountability Data ...............................................................................................................17 Future Plans ...........................................................................................................................18 October 2011 Page 2 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report Appendix Information Financial statements including budget and fiscal statements Admissions documents including application and OLL policy MDE report card (page 1) Nonprofit status October 2011 Page 3 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report I. SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School’s mission is to provide students with a personalized, rigorous, technology based, and flexible high school education emphasizing accountability, higher-level thinking, and communication skills to prepare students for the future. Our mission is reviewed annually for accuracy at the board of directors’ retreat. At this time all members of the board reviewed and analyzed our adherence to the mission statement. Several changes did occur from our previous mission statement. In addition to our mission driving decision-making at our school, we use our motto of “Learning Any-time-Anywhere" to help ensure that we are making quality online learning opportunities available for all students who attend our charter school. SCHOOL PHILOSOPHY/Operational Practices Our school is based on a “small community” school philosophy. The maximum number of students at full capacity will be 200 students. Our philosophy includes the belief that each student, even if they have not been successful in a traditional school setting, will make significant progress with us. This progress will be led by one caring individual who helps them in academic, as well as, non-academic areas of their lives. This caring individual is called a Learning Manager and is the center of the model on which we base our educational program. Learning Managers use what is referred to as and IGP (Individual Graduation Plan) to help students gain credits, create Basic Skills Testing (BST) and MCA II score goals, create shortterm and long-term goals and to think about their future. Our small school philosophy is shown in our student-to-teacher ratio of twenty-five students per Learning Manager. We believe that small numbers allow each Learning Manager to build a long-lasting relationship with each of their students. We also believe that each student must begin to make progress from where they begin, and that progress will be self-paced for each individual. Some of our former students have seen their graduation dates pass where others graduate early. We work with each student on an individual basis, starting from where they came from and taking them to where they want to go. Our school philosophy is embedded in day-to-day interactions with students, parents, staff, and the community; as well as being evident in all working documents for our school. Our philosophy is reflected by the governing body of our school board in all financial decisions. We work with the larger online learning community in the state and across the nation to help ensure that we are providing research based educational practices for our students. Our charter school is a member of both MNOLA Minnesota Online Learning Alliance (MNOLA) and National Online Learning Alliance (NACOL). We pride ourselves on being one of the first online learning programs in the state and one of the most respected. We are not the largest October 2011 Page 4 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report online learning program, nor do we enroll the most students but we feel that we truly touch each student who enrolls with us. HISTORY TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning was established in 1996 and was first a part of the public school system in the Chisago Lakes School District. From the beginning, the program was focused on using innovative ways to teach students by leveraging the latest technology. We were one of the first online learning programs in the state of Minnesota and continue to be a leader in online learning policy innovations in the state. Our first three years we were a part of Chisago Lakes Schools. We operated with the distinction of being executed by a state grant called TRIO (Technology Regional Integration Organization). When the grant ended we were a “school within a school program” for Chisago Lakes for several years. It became apparent that working within the confines of the public school was a hindrance at times. Eventually the decision to become a charter school became clear. In 2002 we officially opened as a charter school sponsored by Chisago Lakes Schools. This sponsoring arrangement was very beneficial to the Wolf Creek Charter School as we first began as a charter school entity. Our charter school has experienced a sponsoring relationship unlike many sponsor relationships in the state. For example, our sponsor has aided us by providing invaluable financial, as well as, leadership consultation while still allowing us to be an autonomous entity. We have evolved from an alternative program into a highly successful charter school. In addition, we have expanded from a handful of students to serving over one hundred students during a school year. For additional information on school history please see Appendix Pages. CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR SCHOOL TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning is an online learning high school serving grades 9-12. Students entering our program understand that approximately 80% of their work will be completed at a distance from a physical school building. We are the only hybrid online high school in the state of Minnesota and feel that we are producing quality online curriculum for students while still allowing them flexibility. Many high school students in full-time online schools lack motivation to get the work completed completely online at a distance so our hybrid model has students working 20% of the time in our lab space for more structure and support. The other work is independent and can be completed from home. This work can be completed using a variety of materials including a personal computer with internet access, educational websites and online curriculum, etc. Most students complete their work at their home but other students may complete work at a public library or other location. The other 20% of their school work is completed in our school which is often referred to as the “Computer Lab”. In the computer lab setting, students find opportunities to socialize with other students, as well as, meet face-to-face with Learning Managers. Our self-paced philosophy is evident in the flexibility of our course outlines. We do not have assignments due on a daily basis but rather on a weekly basis. Some students desire to work late at night, while other students may work on the weekends but take Monday morning off for October 2011 Page 5 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report personal reasons. If the student is able to complete his/her schoolwork and still schedule time for other responsibilities then TRIO Wolf Creek may be the program for them. We offer weekly deadlines and consequences for not completing work on a weekly basis which many students need. But, we also offer the flexibility that many students crave. For some students the flexibility of our program is highly motivating. Some students would rather see the entire course outline instead of just one assignment at a time handed out by a teacher on a daily basis. Some students are able to complete work at a faster pace than they were able to complete at a traditional high school. Most students find our curriculum easy to understand and highly motivating. Students in our program must be independent and self-motivated. When we encounter a student who does not possess these qualifications, their Learning Manager will work with them to personalize the course outlines to accommodate their needs. These students may require weekly or even daily goals. Each student works on an individual plan to meet their individual goals. Weekly monitoring by parents is also crucial to student success. Parent involvement is essential for success as an online learner even in the high school grades. We try to involve parents in a variety of ways through communication at conference meetings, open houses, newsletters, charter school board and committee meetings, telephone and e-mail communications. ACCREDIATION: CITA and NCA We are accredited by both Commission on International and Trans-regional Accreditation (CITA) and North Central Accreditation (NCA). We have reviewed our accountability with both accrediting institutions per their specifications on the review cycle for continued accreditation. We have both accountability documents available for review on our website at triowolfcreek.com. We are the only accredited online high school in the state of Minnesota and are proud of the efforts that this accreditation process took. We are held accountable on a yearly basis by supplying information to both organizations to continue our accreditation. MN Department of Education Certification We are also a certified provider of online learning courses in the state of Minnesota as designated by the Minnesota Department of Education. II. AUTHORIZER INFORMATION Authorizer Name: Chisago Lakes Area Schools ISD #2144 Authorizer Liaison: Heide Miller hmiller@chisagolakes.k12.mn.us or 651-213-2010 Contract expiration June 30, 2016 Chisago Lakes Schools is an approved authorizer through a rigorous MDE process. They currently only authorizer our charter school and provide a great deal of oversight. They attend monthly board meetings and stay in close contact with school policies via the board minute and meetings. These board meetings with 100% attendance from the authorizer liaison in the 10-11 October 2011 Page 6 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report school year represents our #1 communication tool with the authorizer. An annual interview with staff and students occurs in May of each year and constant reporting via documents such as this annual report are provided on a monthly basis to the authorizer. Our sponsor Chisago Lakes School ISD #2144 has been supportive of all of our efforts as a charter school. This three year charter with our sponsoring agent was renewed on July 1, 2011 when it expired. Chisago Lakes Schools did complete a rigorous process with MDE to become a certified authorizer and takes this responsibility very seriously. All necessary information on our sponsor agreement was submitted to MDE in a timely manner. We have a very close relationship with our sponsoring agent due to the fact that we contract with them for specific services which include: Business services Payroll services Technology services Special Education services-including Director and School Psychologist All legislative requirements were fulfilled to contract with our authorizer as laid out in the 2009 changes to the charter school law when the services contract expired on July 1, 2011. All documents on adherence are available from the charter school director for review purposes upon written request. SCHOOL FINANCE Business Manager Heide Miller (651)213-2010 hmiller@chisagolakes.k12.mn.us Chisago Lakes Area Schools 13750 Lake Blvd. Lindstrom MN 55045 Wolf Creek maintains a healthy fund balance and has shown to have a track record of superior fiscal management. Please see fiscal documents located in the appendix of this report from more detail on financial matters. October 2011 Page 7 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report AUDIT INFORMATION In the finance section of this document you will find a current budget and fiscal statements for review. Due to the Excel format of these documents you will see them as additional documents accompanying this document. ABDO, EICK & MEYERS, LLP Certified Public Accountants & Consultants 5201 Eden Avenue, Suite 370 Edina, Minnesota 55436 952.715.3017 Direct Line 952.835.9090 Phone 952.835.3261 Fax www.aemcpas.com Audit comments not yet available as audit is still being conducted as of September 27, 2011. October 2011 Page 8 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report III. ENROLLMENT/ATTRITION Number of Students Enrolled - Grades 9th 10th 11th 12th Total 2007-08** 2008-09 Total # served all year 2009-2010 2010-2011 14 17 52 61 144 18 31 50 130 229 16 37 48 201 302 22 35 57 158 272 The trend at Wolf Creek is that we continue to serve a large number of students each year, who are highly mobile. In most years our ADM projections are only raising slightly due to the fact that many students attend for only a quarter or two. These attendance fluctuations are due to a variety of factors. Some examples include students who only need a few credits to graduate or who attend due to a medical condition that needs only a few quarters to alleviate it. Our purpose for these students is to serve them for a short period of time and allow them to return to a more traditional setting at some point. The vast majority of students at Wolf Creek do not complete all 4 years of high school with us or complete all coursework with us and we feel that is an advantage for students to experience both traditional and online methods in their high school careers. We feel strongly that we continue to serve a need in our rural community of Chisago Lakes and at-large across the state of Minnesota to offer accredited online availability for all students in need of course work, even if that need is only for a short period of time. Attrition Rates: As stated above attrition rates are very difficult to calculate based on the fact that many students come to Wolf Creek for a short period of time or for only a few courses needed at that time. Using the calculation of students who were with us as of Oct 1st 2010 and still with us on the last day of school in June of 2011 that number leads us to an attrition rate of the following: Rate 64%. State rate of students transferring out of district 31% Supplemental Services: We are one of the few charter schools that are offering online supplemental services and so we are reporting the supplemental numbers here. Supplemental enrollment means that a student is enrolled in a different Minnesota school district and is taking only a few courses at Wolf Creek to supplement their schedule. Students may be enrolling in this option to supplement a PSEO schedule or to work around a scheduling conflict in a bricks and mortar school. Other reasons October 2011 Page 9 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report include needed an abbreviated schedule in a bricks and mortar school due to medical reasons or after school activities, or being able to fulfill outside obligations such as being a teen parent. One reason for this decline is the legislative changes that allowed supplemental students to only take 50% of their enrolled credits with a certified OLL provider. In previous years many supplemental students took more courses with us and were still considered supplemental students. For more information see the OLL Annual report we submitted to MDE in July of this year. SUPPLEMENTAL STUDENT NUMBERS 2005-06 100 courses provided on a supplemental basis 2006-07 130 courses provided on a supplemental basis 2007-08 43 courses provided on a supplemental basis 2008-09 66 courses provided on a supplemental basis 2009-10 83 Courses provided on a supplemental basis 2010-11 84 courses provided on a supplemental basis Admissions Data We did not have a waiting list for the 2010-2011 school year and application materials can be found in the appendix section of this document. Demographics Criteria Eligible for Free/Reduced Lunch Student Percentage (based on 2007 data) 20.6% (combined) English Language Learners 0% Special Education Students At-Risk Students 11.7% 71%-75% * *As is evident from our data we serve a large at-risk population that includes pregnant and parenting teens. We provide a teen parenting class and support. This data was gathered using MN statute definitions for the Charter School Facilities grant in 2008. Free and reduced populations increased slightly from the previous year in eligibility. This is due to more students coming to lab to participate in the lunch program and the state of the economy for all families in Minnesota. Serving an at-risk population who at times will have more flexible work condition may also indicate that these populations are the first laid off in some situations. We continue to work to have all students, whether they take lunch at school or not, complete the paperwork so that good data can be used for title funding and other purposes. October 2011 Report Page 10 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report IV. TEACHING STAFF INFORMATION Licensed teachers 2009-2010 Name File # Assignment 11-12 Status* Social Studies Years at TWC 9 Tracy Quarnstrom Director Brenda Swanson Dean of Students 349108 348443 Life Sciences 9 R Laura Welciek 1/2011-6/2011 Returning employee from past employment. Cassie Gaede 415697 Math 3 R 426261 Social Studies 4 Kelly Legg 419415 Special Education 4 NR 8/2010 NR 8/2010 406560 Language Arts 5 Stacy Bender Jessie Shores 12/1/2010-6/2011 434328 Language Arts 1 R Michelle Lange 12/15/2010-4/1/2011 424570 Social Studies 1 NR 4/1/2011 Life Sciences 4 R R Lindsay Jarombek 437249 R NR 12/2010 Sandra Flint Emily Stull 421010 426852 Mathematics Visual Art 6 4 Becki Olseen Hanna Coleman 444919 435602 2 1 R R R Dave Thomas 426714 Social Studies Chemistry Physics Special Education 1 NR *R = Return; NR = Not Return October 2011 Report Page 11 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report Please note that non-returning staff are noted with a start date or resignation date and were not employed with Wolf Creek for the entire term of the date of the annual report. Staff that chose to not renew at-will contracts were noted as having full employment during the dates of employment. Calculate the licensed teacher percentage turnover rate: 2009-2010: [Non-returning teachers/total teachers X 100] = 30% Trends in Staff turnover We had some staff turnover in the 2010-2011 school year. Higher turnover rates this year are attributed to the following: three resignations due to promotions at other schools due to advanced degrees and turn-over in enrollment numbers that lead to hiring of more staff during the year. It should also be noted that several employees show resigned in August were also counted in our turnover rate for last year inadvertently so that rate was higher than normal for last year and is a duplicate count. All employees who left were given an opportunity to participate in an exit survey and all expressed that they enjoyed their time at Wolf Creek and the working conditions and promotions in other online institutions took them to new opportunities. Wolf Creek is well aware that continuity in staff is important for students and online program success and we are striving for that at all times. Wolf Creek continues to hard to implement mentor programs and to create written staff manuals in the past years for a better retention program at our charter school. It is acknowledged that it is difficult to retain staff when we are known as a highly reputable school and other online schools attempt to take staff from us on a regular basis, especially startup online schools. Management and Administration Tracy L Quarnstrom is the Director of the Wolf Creek Online High School and has been the director since the opening of the school in June of 2002. The continuity of leadership in the charter school has led to amazing results for the school. Tracy does hold both a Minnesota K12 principal license and a superintendent licensure, both obtained from Hamline University. It is the belief of the charter school that the knowledge obtained with these degrees has greatly benefitted the charter school in many ways. Professional Development Plan for Charter School Director is not required due to Director Tracy L Quarnstrom having a superintendent licensure with the state of Minnesota. Please consult file folder number349108 Brenda A Swanson also a founding charter board member has served as the Dean of Students with the charter school also since its opening in June of 2002. October 2011 Report Page 12 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report Both of these people in the staff chart above teach in the school and hold valid teaching licensure. Location for file folder numbers and other needed information is found in above staff information chart. Looking at other charter schools and turnover rates in the administration makes this a unique situation in this charter school environment. V. GOVERNANCE Our school board is made up of ten members. Each board member is referred to as a director of our school board. Along with board membership the following officers are elected at the annual meeting each year from among those duly elected directors Chair Vice-Chair Clerk/Treasurer Our annual meeting for this year was held on September 14, 2010. At that time, some of the following positions were up for election; others will be up for election this year on the rotating schedule. Board of Education Members - Beginning on 9/14/2010. For information on positions from 7/1/2010-9/14/2010 please consult our previous annual report. Board Member Board Position Election Date Date Seated Term Length Mark Anderson Member Community at Large rep Member Teacher rep Sept 14, 2010 Sept 14, 2010 1 year position Sept 15, 2009 Sep 15, 2009 2 year position-Vice Chair Sept 14, 2010 Sept 14, 2010 2 year position Sandra Flint Lindsay Jarombek Member Teacher rep Terri Kraiter Member Parent rep Becki Olseen Member Teacher rep Karen Paul Member Parent rep October 2011 Report Sept 14, 2010 Sept 14, 2010 1 year position Sept 14, 2010 Sept 14, 2010 2 year position Sept 14, 2010 Sept 14, 2010 Page 13 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report Sheryl Palmquist Brenda Swanson Jeff Vitali Lisa Frost Member Community at large ( can be staff overlap position) Secretary Treasurer Teacher rep Member Chair Community at large ( nonstaff-nonparent) position 1 community at –large position (staff or parent eligible) 1 year position-resigned effective May 2011 Sept 14, 2010 Sept 14, 2010 2 year position Sept 15, 2009 Sep 15, 2009 2 year position-Secretary/treasurer Sept 14, 2010 Sept 14, 2010 2 year position=Chair Sept 16, 2010 Sept 16, 2010 1 year position Note: We only began collecting new board contact information in the format that MDE requires as of our election in September 2010 a full Excel sheet of other information is included as an addendum to this report. The 2010-11 board election was certified on September 14, 2010 It is important to note that after changes to the 2009 Charter School Law that the board of directors at Wolf Creek chose to no longer hold a teacher majority and also added some position in order to be in full compliance with the new law. School board attendance for the 2010-2011 school year was 83%. Based on school board minutes we were missing very few members in any meetings. We only meet once a month and for a period of approximately 2 hours in duration. Even though some members were excused from meetings for required board trainings or other needed school business these absences were noted as absences in our data pull. Of 105 attendance data points, 95 points were present-points and 20 points were absent-points which equals 83% attendance for the board from the period of July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011. Wolf Creek’s board is highly committed to attending and participating in meetings and they are thanked for their commitment to Wolf Creek in this manner. October 2011 Report Page 14 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report VI. ACADEMIC PROGRAM (INCLUDING INNOVATIVE PRACTICES) OLD DATA-NEW DATA NOT YET PUBLIC AND AVAILABLE In addition in our Quality Compensation goal of reading the following was true: According to the School Report Card, the percentage of grade 10 students passing the GRAD portion increased from 65.21% in 2010 to 81.81% in 2011. Innovative Practices Section TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School is the only certified NCAA, CITA, and NCA online school in Minnesota. We are the only hybrid high school option and continue to be a school where there are no MDE errors or omissions. Our work is innovative in nature (even though it has not changed since 2002) because as an online entity we don’t feel that online learning should encompass 100% of the school day for all students. We believe that some students can learn 100% online while others may need to come to campus for part of the week to be successful in the online arena. Based on the OLL audit conducted by the legislative auditors and release in September of 2011 it appears that full-time online students continue to not complete work or perform as well as peers who are engaged in traditional course work only part of their day or part of their week-which again leads to the need to replicate this hybrid model for other online schools. The audit cited the areas of mathematics and course completion as areas for concern for online students. October 2011 Report Page 15 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report In addition to our online components we have worked to increase options in our face to face components including adding an artist in residence with online features and a gardening/horticulture class. We are working to offer the best in hands on face to face components while in lab and best in multimedia components for students when they work off campus on the computer. This is the nature of our innovative practices. We want to be the best hybrid online experience in MN and that is not easy and does not allow for huge enrollment numbers but it does allow us to show true progress in this area. VII PROGRAM CHALLENGES Our largest challenge is mobility of students. We have students who start with us and we take a considerable amount of time in preparing credit checks and requesting records. After that they participate in a startup meeting called IGP( Individual Graduation Plan) with their Learning Manager. After that some students stay with us only a short period of time such as a week and it is discouraging for all of us to put so much work into the process. Another area of concern for at-risk students continues to be the completion rate of courses and amount of time that students are committed to working productively as online learners. Using the hybrid model and finding a balance between requiring students to come into lab and allowing them the flexibility of online learning is always a challenge. It is the belief at Wolf Creek that this is not only a challenge for us but for all OLL providers. Again this was mentioned in the OLL audit as an issue and based on INACOL data is an issue nationwide for online learners. At some point in the future it is our hope that MDE will form a task force to investigate this challenge as online options grow in the state of Minnesota. See report at www.inacol.org October 2011 Report Page 16 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report VIII. ACCOUNTABILITY DATA ACCOUNTABILITY MEASURES ACADEMIC and NONACADEMIC GOALS FOR 2010-2011 SCHOOL YEAR Academic Goals Goals Results for 2009-10 Success will be measured scores on the MCA II’s and other standardized testing 66% of students will meet the proficient goal in reading grad or retest We met and exceeded this goal based on MDE prelim data. Final data not yet available. Percent of students who meet the graduation credit requirements 75% of seniors (by credit definition) will meet this goal. 41% using TWC credit definition 66% using state report card. Indicators of Success and Data Source Goals Results for 2009-10 A. Be active participants in the IGP process. Percent of students who complete OTIS credit for all 4 terms. Or the number total terms enrolled. 75% will meet the goal 75% of students are completing this goal at this time, with minor fluctuations in LM numbersthis is an average B. Have a post-secondary plan. Percent of students with a post-secondary plan in place as evidenced by report of LM data. 100% of those on target to graduate will meet the goal. 50% of students currently meet this goal based on LM input on survey data. A. Demonstrate proficiency in reading, writing, and math across the curriculum. Our focus for 2009-2010 was on reading through Q comp. The other goals were met when AYP was met. B. Meet TWCs graduation credit requirements by June of 2010 in order to participate in graduation. Non-Academic Goals October 2011 Report Indicators of Success and Data Source* Page 17 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report Remarks on Academic Goals A. We are proud of the preliminary data that shows us meeting and exceeding this goal. We would like our new goal here to be consistent with our Q comp goal for reading tests when approved by MDE in the fall of 2011. B. Wolf Creek’s graduation rate is calculated using our data and also state report card data. We continue to strive to reach our goal of consistently reaching 75% graduation rate for our at-risk and highly mobile youth each and every year. Remarks on Non-Academic Goals A. Be active participants in IGP Plan. This goal is important to use and one goal we strive to improve each and every year. B. Please also see the Post-Secondary plan student/parent survey data for input from parents on how Wolf Creek is implementing post-secondary plans. We would like to change our goal for the 2011-2012 school year in this area to be a goal of 75% student completion and participation in post-secondary plans as reported by LMs on a survey document. This will allow us to incrementally work to 100% over the next 5 years. A. FUTURE PLANS The longevity of Wolf Creek as a small and reputable online school is shown in our history document - attached in Excel format. Our future plans include the ability to expand to another 50 students but still remain a small online community. We are hoping to expand our enrollment in grades 9-10 instead of always having a large number of graduating seniors which we need to replace with new students via marketing each and every year. We would hope to add a few more teachers and even possibly a lab monitor full time to help with supervision in the lab/campus setting. One note from our June 2010 student and parent surveys was a request to see more lab hours available on campus and that is something our school board is currently investigating at this time. We will continue to strive to be seen as the most reputable and accountable online entity in the state of Minnesota for years to come. October 2011 Report Page 18 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report Parent and Student Survey Data In May of 2010 Wolf Creek conducted an extensive parent and student survey using surveymonkey.com The results in their entirety are available from the charter school director. Here are a few highlights: Parent participation 49 parent responses Student participation 78 student responses October 2011 Report Page 19 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report When asked to describe the best thing about Wolf Creek in an open ended questions here are a sampling of responses: The pace, the teachers, and the learning managers have all contributed to my sons staying in school. They all have helped him succeed. flexible learning It allows her to work around her schedule Flexibility online availability she went at her own pace. communication with parents one on one help friendly, patient learning managers ability to work at own pace Accessibility for students who cant make it to a regular class in school. The personal attention received from a learning manager that really knows ones child as a result of being with them throughout each year is so helpful. There isn't that required get to know the kid time period that can take quite a while. It is very beneficial! And helpful not just academically, but also personally too! Small community Having the website giving all the information out for all to read It is another avenue for a person to attend school. It fits in your daily schedule. You can do it whenever you want. I LOVE the communication - and the ability as a parent to view percentages, assignments that are outstanding, deadlines, etc. Flexibility.Tiime to do schoolwork independently at home. independence good communication skills Flexibility They seem to be very intelligent teachers who are helping our kids to succeed in there future.. Flexible schedule helps with my child’s needs and the one on one help the LMs gives him safe, friendly, and supportive environment. It is flexible and everyone is understanding to student problems. We are very thankful that Wolf Creek is a option for students that are not able to attend public school due to missing a lot of time for chronic health issues . Sonya would love to be with her friends at her public school but is not able to do that and that holds a lot of stress for Sonya. The convenience of online. Learning Manager model hands on teachers, one on one, flexibility Organized classes, flexible, great teachers! October 2011 Report Page 20 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report October 2011 Report Page 21 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report When asked to describe the best thing about Wolf Creek in an open ended questions here are a sampling of responses: The atmosphere at the campus. Understanding you dont have to be in school everyday I got to see my friends I can do homework at my own time, a schedule that works for me. The teachers The best thing about wolf creek is that you can come in whenever its best for you. Their flexibility and I like some of the course options. The people. The flexibility of it. The time management Working at your own pace and have the LM there if you need them. It allows me to get work done in a way that works better for me than traditional school. Flexibility The staff are very respectful and nice and want to see every stuff succeed, which makes me enjoy being on campus! The fact that you have independence and you can work on school at somewhat your own pace. The freedom to work by yourself and to be able to take a break and walk away. EVERYTHING!!! I LOVE IT SO MUCH!!! The best thing about Wolf Creek is that its laid back, there's no clicks, and people can do their own things! The flexible hours of the program i have freedom freedom that i don't have to leave the comfort of my home Being able to work at home. you can do your assignments at your own pace. the flexibility You can do things at your own pace without feeling stupid or behind. The learning managers The Independence, trust, & freedom of personal motivation Flexibility, caring teachers, helpful and structured environment for learning only two days a week Working on my own pace October 2011 Report Page 22 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability TRIO Wolf Creek Distance Learning Charter School #4095 2010-2011 Student Accountability Report I like lab because it gets kind of boring at home. That it's online. And it allows me to work hours during the day at work. LM's-Learning Managers=teacher One on one. The flexibility. moodle assignments can sometimes be fun i guess The flexible hours and helpful staff. i like going for walks and im excited for the boat trip the help. i can get as much help as i need That it is online its more of a work at your own pace I like how flexible it is. Getting to sleep in. Its on my time. And im learning more now then before..i can concentrate more at home then in the class room. My teacher and flexible schedule and her help The best thing about Wolf Creek is the open schedule with learning, and the motivation that is given to you to succeed. Thank you for taking the time to read our annual reports. Please report errors to the charter school director Tracy L Quarnstrom at tquarnstrom@chisagolakes.k12.mn.us Direct questions on this document to the same email. October 2011 Report Page 23 of 23 2010-2011 Student Accountability