learning statewide.
Legislation passed in 2013 provided for additional teacher resources and introduced bring your own device (BYOD) legislation for SY 2014–15.Digital programs
Eleven fully online charter schools served 7,172 students statewide in SY 2013–14, an increase of 8%.
In addition, several fully online single-district programs and other providers offer supplemental courses statewide.404 The largest fully online schools are Oregon Connections Academy with 3,405 students, Oregon Virtual Academy with 1,682 students, and Clackamas Web Academy with 436 students in SY 2013–14.405 ORVSD is a statewide network that provides a free Moodle-based platform of lesson plans, course content, online professional development, and Google Applications for Education support. ORVSD serves roughly 270 schools. Course content is from a variety of providers, including the National Repository of Online Courses (NROC) and others; open educational resources are utilized. ORVSD is funded through a legislative appropriation made to the Oregon Department of Education (ODE).406
404 ODE Online Schools; retrieved July 26, 2014; http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?id=334
405 ODE Fall Membership Reports 2013–14; retrieved July 27, 2014; http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?=3225
406 What is ORVSD?; Retrieved July 27, 2014; http://oregonteaches.org/?page_id=1581
There are several
NONE SOME SOME MOST MOST MOST
Availability
Does this state have…
Y NStudent choice for publicly funded fully online schools?
Student choice for publicly funded supplemental online courses?
SVS or another publicly funded option for private / homeschool students?
Prior public school attendance requirement for online schools?
Online caps by class, school, district, or statewide?
PD requirement for online teachers?
State approval process for online providers?
State approval process for online courses?
Online learning requirement for students?
End-of-course exams?
Separate state reporting of online course enrollments?
Oregon
DIGITAL LEARNING STATE SNAPSHOT
11 fully online charter schools served 7,172 students statewide in SY 2013–14.
OSU Extension, Portland State University Independent Study, and Chemeketa Community College Early College offer dual credit early college programs for high school students.
State policies
Oregon passed a series of education reform bills in 2012 designed to align the state public education system from pre-kindergarten through college; several 2013 initiatives resulted.
HB2426 (2013)407 required that, effective SY 2014–15, each district school board “adopt policies for the use of personal electronic devices in the schools of the school district” to “support academic activities and independent communications.”
HB3232408 and HB3233,409 passed in July 2013, were designed to “help turn around under-performing schools and improve student outcomes statewide.”410 This included establishing the Network for Quality Teaching and Learning, which receives $33 million every two years411 in addition to one-time grant money of
almost $13 million. The network provides teacher networking, face-to-face professional development, and guidance in course development in line with Common Core standards; the first grants to school districts were distributed in 2014.
The Task Force on Virtual School Governance made recommendations in December 2011 on new governance standards for online schools.412 This resulted in HB2301413 (2011), which allowed students to enroll in virtual charter schools without approval of the school district where the student resides. However, if more than 3% of the students who reside in the district are enrolled in virtual charter schools not sponsored by the district, then the student must receive permission from the district. While that permission is not guaranteed, the student can appeal to the state board of education. Up to 5% of a virtual charter school’s instructional hours may be taught by teachers who are not licensed in Oregon.
407 HB2426 (2013); retrieved July 30, 2014; https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2013R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB2426
408 HB3232 (2013); retrieved July 30, 2014; https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2013R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB3232
409 HB3233 (2013); retrieved July 30, 2014; https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2013R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB3233
410 Strategic Initiatives; retrieved July 24, 2014; http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/page/?id=3958
411 HB2506 (2013); retrieved July 30, 2014; https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2013R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB2506
412 Joint Interim Task Force on Virtual School Governance Report; retrieved July 24, 2014; http://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/ORLEG/2011/12/14/
file_attachments/74680/JVSG_Report_Full_Final.pdf
413 HB2301 (2011); retrieved July 30, 2014; https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2011R1/Downloads/MeasureDocument/HB2301/Enrolled
Pennsylvania had 14 cyber charter schools
414that served 36,596 students in grades K–12 in SY 2013–14, a 5% annual increase from SY 2012–13.
A growing number of districts, independent units (IU), and consortia are providing online courses for area students in an attempt to draw enrollments back from cyber charters. However, these programs do not report to the state, so it is unclear how many there are or how many students they serve. The state does not have a state virtual school.Digital programs
Cyber charters have dominated K–12 fully online options in Pennsylvania since SusQ-Cyber Charter School first opened in 1998. Enrollments have grown steadily, and Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, with 10,389 students, is one of the largest online schools in the country. In addition, Agora Cyber Charter served 9,490 students, and Commonwealth Connections Academy served 8,037 students in SY 2013–14.415 One cyber charter surrendered its charter at the end of SY 2012–13; applications from six new cyber charter schools were denied.416 Further enrollment details for cyber charters are available at http://kpk12.com/states/.
Districts have responded to what they see as funding “lost” to cyber charters (due to decreasing student enrollments) by opening their own online academies to bring students back to the district. IUs are also opening cyber programs for students in their regions. These programs typically offer supplemental or
414 2013–2014 Cyber Charter Schools Listing; retrieved June 28, 2014; http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/charter_schools/7356
415 Cyber charter enrollment numbers obtained from Public School Enrollment Reports; retrieved July 28, 2014; http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/
community/enrollment/7407/public_school_enrollment_reports/620541
416 2013 Cyber Charter School Application Decisions; retrieved August 8, 2014; http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/charter_
schools/7356/2013_cyber_charter_school_application_decisions/1704290
A growing number of district-based programs are available to students as an alternative to cyber charters.
Availability of online learning options
SUPPLEMENTAL FULLY ONLINE
K-5 (ES) 6-8 (MS) 9-12 (HS) K-5 (ES) 6-8 (MS) 9-12 (HS)
NONE NONE SOME ALL ALL ALL
Availability
Does this state have…
Y NStudent choice for publicly funded fully online schools?
Student choice for publicly funded supplemental online courses?
SVS or another publicly funded option for private / homeschool students?
Prior public school attendance requirement for online schools?
Online caps by class, school, district, or statewide?
PD requirement for online teachers?
State approval process for online providers?
State approval process for online courses?
Online learning requirement for students?
End-of-course exams?
Separate state reporting of online course enrollments?
Pennsylvania
DIGITAL LEARNING STATE SNAPSHOT
Pennsylvania had 14 cyber charter schools serving 36,596 students in grades K–12 in SY 2013–14, a
5% annual increase.
In 10 subjects.
146
3
PROFILESBlended Schools Network (BSN) works with many school districts in the state (169 out of 500 school districts as of SY 2012–13), providing a range of supplemental, blended, and technology-enhanced programs. The Pennsylvania Hybrid Learning Institute (PA HLI) is an independent group of educators advocating for the adoption of blended learning in Pennsylvania schools; it currently supports 70 schools.
Supported by ARIN Intermediate Unit 28 (Regional Education Service Agency), several elementary schools working with PA HLI have piloted blended math programs for 2nd and 3rd graders.