1. iNACOL VIRTUAL SCHOOL SYMPOSIUM NOVEMBER 15, 2010 Online on the Frontline: Successfully Launching an Online Program in a Public School District

2. Intended Audience Public School District Leadership District Administrators School Principals Teachers Counselors Education Technologists Board of Education Members

3. Panelists and Perspectives Kurt LeVasseur Director for Career & Technical Ed & Online Learning Boulder Valley School District Nick Vanderpol Assistant Director for Online Learning Boulder Valley School District Clif Harald, Principal First Flatiron Consulting, LLC Boulder Universal Student

4. Where do you start? At the Top! SuperintendentAssistant SuperintendentsChief Academic OfficerCurriculum DirectorInstructional Technology DirectorPrincipalsBoard of Education

5. Why start at the top? Key Takeaway #1: Starting an online program or school is a major initiative.  Leadership commitment is necessary Launch Momentum Overcoming Obstacles Perseverance

6. How to Start? Key Takeaway #2: Start Small!  Why Start Small?  Remember Key Takeaway #1: Starting an online program or school is a major initiative!

7. What does starting small mean? Key Takeaway #3: Think pilot, trial, experiment, test.  Contain by: grade level school(s) courses (credit recovery, AP, regular semester) students (number or learning need)  BVSD Pilot: 50 high school students, 7 high schools, mainly credit recovery

8. How do you get student buy-in? Key Takeaway #4: Create excitement about the initiative, believe in your students, success will follow.  Use the basic concepts of economics, marketing and business.  Make the personal pitch, “I’ve been thinking that this would be a very good fit for you.”

9. Student Support Key Takeaway #5: Believe in your students and let them know that you’re excited about them and they’ll respond.  Quick hits, quick facts  Let’s get started!  Peer training  Public praise and recognition

10. Building an Online Culture Key Takeaway #6: Think Grassroots!  Be bold, we’re experimenting with something new  Don’t promise that this is the most amazing thing ever, it just works  Celebrate success stories  Keep public record  Talk about it in every conversation  Use your parent volunteers

11. Define Your District Needs! Key Takeaway #7: Decide on & focus on one main area before expanding.  Obtain input about direction of online programming to decide if focus should be credit recovery, blended model, hybrid model regular semester courses, or full online school.

12. Details are Important! Key Takeaway #8: Include others in your process.  Stakeholder Group: Curriculum and Instruction, Counselors, IT (many facets), Special Education, Enrollment office, Principals, Registrars, 504 Office, Teachers, Board of Education, Business Services, Cabinet and Community.

13. Obstacles to Define Before Jumping. Key Takeaway # 9: Do not become overwhelmed. How will you: support students? Mentors, coaches, teachers support students on IEP’s? support FRL students? report grades on transcripts and who will do it? tie into SIS? support 504 students? support talented and gifted students? define when and who pays for student courses beyond ADA/Oct Count? define what content to use and which vendor? develop online course equivalents to your district curriculum? enroll students from your district schools? obtain NCAA approval for courses? eligibility for athletes in season? define administrative transfers into the online program for high risk students? develop a website with course demos and FAQ section? work with vendor and their teachers and help desk? count student attendance? train others to work with the online program like counselors? define your calendar year? define a completer? handle student and parent questions? work with schools to support online labs? distribute laptops? Internet connection? Will you? refund money to paying students? bill the schools for the online courses? Better include treasurers in this conversation and business office. develop a refund policy? charge for online courses? How much? How is payment accepted and processed? define if a student is on track in your online course? identify appropriate students for the online courses? ensure that students’ work is authentic? complete state mandated testing?

14. Financial Leveraging Key Takeaway #10: Do not anticipate a profit.  Content and providers are expensive to start but give you valuable insight into being successful.  BYOC