2015-16 Annual Report

Insight School of Ohio (ISOH) is an online community school (eSchool) serving students in grades 6 through 12. Insight School of Ohio announced publically on July 2, 2014 that the new online public school was approved by the Ohio Department of Education to begin serving students in the 2013-14 school year. The school offers students an innovative education through engaging digital learning experiences and individualized instruction. As a public school, ISOH is open to all eligible students in the state; however its emphasis is on serving academically at-risk students who have struggled in traditional schools. The school's instructional model and academic strategies focus on putting every student on a path to earning their high school diploma. Insight School of Ohio is governed by the Buckeye Urban Education Solutions (BUES), a non-profit board comprised of Ohio parents and community leaders. BUES is responsible for establishing the school's policies and overseeing its academic, operational and financial performance. Aaron Ockerman, Chairman of BUES, said, "We're very pleased our school received approval from the Ohio Department of Education and we are excited about offering a unique public education program in Ohio to help reach students where they are. We believe our school will make a difference, especially for struggling students. Our school will use high quality digital learning programs and skilled teachers to effectively deliver individualized instruction that meets students’ needs, and gives them confidence to succeed." The school is authorized by the Buckeye Community Hope Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that sponsors over 50 community public schools throughout Ohio. The organization's mission is to create and support new opportunities in housing, education and community outreach for seniors, struggling families, underserved students and misdirected youth. Teachers at Insight School of Ohio provide instruction through digital learning technology and interact with students regularly. They also meet with students at locations across the state for one-on-one or small group instruction, remediation and interventions, testing and assessment, and school activities. The teachers utilize the award-winning curriculum and tools provided by K12 Inc. the nation's largest provider of proprietary curriculum and online education programs to help the individual learner. Students receive an Individualized Learning Plan (ILP) that fits each learner's unique strengths, weaknesses, learning styles and aptitudes. Each student’s ILP maps out a multi-year personalized learning strategy through a collaborative team process between the student, parent, teachers, guidance counselor, and advisor. Insight School of Ohio’s vision is for each student to achieve their personal best in an environment that eliminates barriers to learning and tailors education to a student’s goals and abilities, helping to graduate college and career ready.

Dear Parents, Students and Stakeholders: As head of Insight School of Ohio, I'm pleased to tell you about our school's mission and purpose. While we accept students of all ability levels in grades 6–12, our school has special strengths in helping students who are struggling—for various reasons—in their education. A struggling student may be one who has failed certain courses, is bored or turned-off by school, misses school days, feels unsafe at school, or perhaps has received suspensions or been left back. Many factors can contribute to these struggles. Among them are learning issues, behavior issues, bullying, or a lack of effective alternatives at their school. Insight School of Ohio offers a fresh start, with a different model that can set up a student for success. Our approach is not to judge students or families but to help them in ways that work. Insight School of Ohio enables student to go to school from the safety of home, where they can focus on their studies without distractions; without peer pressure; and with the help of excellent state-certified teachers and a caring Family Support Team to provide support. Daily structure and lessons are provided through a stimulating online school environment, where peers meet together and learning progress can truly happen. It has never been more important for students to finish high school. High school dropouts have an unemployment rate that is 50% worse than high school graduates. And, once a student succeeds in completing high school, he or she can consider moving on to other post-secondary schooling options: from community college to vocational programs to a four-year college. We're proud of the team of professionals and the entire program we've put together for deserving Ohio students. We have impressive ways to individualize learning for your student, as well as provide social and emotional support. Each day I look forward to serving the staff and students of this remarkably supportive school that can help turn struggle into success for every learner. Sincerely,

Amanda Conley Head of School

Demographics

Special Education

21%

General Education

79%

Learning Accommodations

Male49%Female

51%

Gender

Yes51%

No49%

Economically Disadvantaged

African American

19%

Caucasian77%

Hispanic3%

Asian1%

Ethnicity

Enrollment Related Services Provided

Based on Identified areas of Needs • Virtual and face-to-face speech

therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy

• Virtual behavior modification, social skills, counseling

Resident District

82%

Home School

8%

Community School

4%

Private School

4%

Virtual School

1%

Not in School

1%

School Report Card

Unique Modified Block Scheduling for High Schoolers Block scheduling is an effective tool used to help students gain a greater focus on lessons and mastering objectives.

Block scheduling allows students to concentrate on fewer courses at a time in a condensed schedule (typically a nine week period). By spending more time on each subject, students can focus their efforts on fewer subject areas, without having to jump from subject to subject every day. And because more time is spent on a subject, often coursework can be worked on during an extended class session and real-time coursework help can be offered.

At Insight School of Ohio, block scheduling is offered in high school science, social studies and electives courses.

Family and Student Engagement Family Academic Support Team (FAST)

The FASTeam at Insight School of Ohio is dedicated to helping students overcome obstacles, such as academic, social, emotional, medical, and other issues. FAST offers wrap-around support to students, adding additional resources when needed.

ISOH believes in a strengths-based approach in connecting with our students and families. We believe that students and families have the abilities, talents, and resources to overcome challenges. The potential for growth of our students is unknown; every student has the possibility to succeed in school and life. The FASTeam works with our families, using a strengths-based approach, to guide them to take control of their own learning and lives in meaningful and sustainable ways.

One way that FAST works with families is to proactively engage them with the school. Our advisors work individually with new students to walk them through the onboarding process, personalizing the process to make sure that our students are ready to succeed out of the gate. Our guidance counselors have developed a comprehensive college and career guidance program that includes monthly newsletters, all-school assemblies with important information, and college visits. Our students have visited the campus of several institutions, such as The Ohio State University, Cleveland State University, and Wright State University. Also, the Family Engagement Coordinator communicates important school information to families via our monthly school newsletter and social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram.

FAST also utilizes a referral system to help students and families when challenges to their academic success arise. Any staff member who becomes aware of an issue or challenge can fill out a referral form. The referrals are reviewed and then assigned to the team member who can best assist the student. Students can be referred to FAST for many reasons; some of the more common ones are: homelessness, teen parenting, financial difficulties, attendance/truancy issues, and lack of progress in courses.

The FAST members can offer many types of support to students. The types of support include: connecting students to community or school resources, counseling, education on school and attendance policies, creating a personalized plan to get the student back on track with courses, and regularly checking in through phone calls, emails, and texts.

Response to Intervention (RTI)

Insight School of Ohio uses the Response to Intervention program to provide targeted assistance to general education students identified as struggling in ELA or Math. Students were identified through universal screening in Scantron. Students testing under the 25th percentile against national norms were identified for intervention. Students were tested at regular intervals, September, January and May. Identification was made in September and January. Students can test out of the program by demonstrating grade-level performance. For this reason some students participated in the program for periods ranging from 3-8 months.

Intervention is provided to students struggling in Reading through an evidence-based program called iReady. iReady adapts by the individual students and provides personalized student instruction based on skill gaps.

Intervention is provided to students struggling in Math through an evidence-based program called Aleks Math. Aleks provides targeted skill based instruction and practice individualized to each student’s skill gaps. Student growth is described through the chart below.

Insight School of Ohio Graduating Class of 2016 Insight School of Ohio honored its largest graduating class at a ceremony on Friday, June 3, at The Nationwide Hotel & Conference Center in Lewis Center, OH. About 100 students received their high school diploma as part of the Insight School of Ohio Class of 2016, which is approximately double the number of ISOH graduates in 2015. The graduates will be going on to attend colleges and universities such as Kent State, University of Cincinnati, Tri-C and Vantage. "I chose ISOH because the traditional school setting was overwhelming, and I was struggling to keep up in an environment that was not conducive to my learning," said Sterling Serrano-Pollock, a graduating ISOH senior. "In the virtual classroom I am free from distraction, and able to work at my own pace to meet my goals. The individualized education plan and support from my teachers allowed me to get back on track and graduate this spring." After graduation, Sterling plans to pursue a degree in clinical psychology from Lorain Community College. "Our teachers, administration and staff at Insight School of Ohio are extremely proud of all that the Class of 2016 has accomplished," said Amanda Conley, Head of School at Insight School of Ohio. "Our seniors have pushed themselves to meet their goals, despite personal and academic challenges of all kinds. These graduates are a shining example of the success that can be achieved with a strong work ethic, the right tools and support." Julie Wilkes, a motivational speaker and award winning fitness instructor who has spoken at the US Chamber of Commerce, US Department of Defense and The White House, spoke to the ISOH Class of 2016 at the graduation ceremony. Julie, who was given a life expectancy of 12 years after being diagnosed with a heart condition, shared her thoughts on overcoming life's obstacles and the importance of working toward one's fullest potential.

Who we are Board Members: Aaron Ockerman, President Brian Keith Ellen Cahill, Ph.D. Eric Hausen Jason Bland Staff: Mahailey Albain, ELA Dan Arman, ELA Laura Back, Sp.Ed Matt Beck, FSL Wendy Blair-Myers Sp. Ed Missy Bolden, FRC Danielle Bornhorst, Math Norm Cattell, Advisor Amanda Chapdelaine, S.S. Amanda Conley, Head of School Louise Cowell, Related Services Angie Day, RTI Colleen Duncan, ELA Aisha Esfahani, RTI Sarah Estep, Admin. Assistant Shannon Flood, Math Adam Fox, Sp. Ed Manager Eric Germann, Sp.Ed Scott Geyer, Compliance Erin Gibbons, ELA Patrick Gioffre, Science Dennis Greer, S. S. Becky Grimes, Counselor Mindy Grude, Science Michael Gunder, Science Josh Hann, FSL Cassandra Hannah, Registrar Kate Harkless, Academic Admin. Jamica Harper, Advisor Diane Harris, Math Wendie Hartman, Math Alana Ipock, Spanish Lauren Johnson-McElroy, Ops

Megan Kennedy, Science Suzanne Levering, Business Tina Marteney, English Samantha McConnaughey, RTI Colleen Meier, Math Megan Miller, Sp. Ed Wayne Moore, English Amber Palmer, FAST Admin Regina Parks, Math Kevin Peyton, Math Phil Powers, RTI Daniel Recker, Advisor Karen Recker, Advisor Chris Rehl, Credit Recovery Devin Reed, FSL Rhonda Renker, RTI Whitney Reynolds, S.S Jessica Rippey, ELA Philip Rogers, Science Christie Ross, Counselor Lena Ruck, Sp. Ed. Tressa Russo, S.S. Chelsea Ryder, Science Michelle Sanders, Sp. Ed. Elizabeth Sliger, RTI Remi Smith, Math Emily Spangler, PE Eileen Speller, Sp. Ed Candace Stevens, Advisor Amanda Strater, S.S. Leanne Suttles, Sp. Ed Caryn Tanner, Sp. Ed. Britney Terrell, Advisor Marla Terrell, Health Jennifer Thill, Advisor Erica Trapp, Fine Art Norine Tuck-Ringwalt, Sp.Ed Stacy Urbas, ELA Shanna Wayble, Sp. Ed. Rachel Wright, Sp. Ed Jessica Yeager, Counselor

Financial Data Sources of School Revenue

State Funding $ 8,629,509 92.9% Federal Grants $ 603,451 6.5% Other Miscellaneous $ 60,410 0.6% Total Revenue $ 9,293,370 100.0%

Expenses

Salaries $ 2,453,048 26.4% Fringe Benefits $ 637,021 6.9% Purchased Services $ 5,801,229 62.4% Materials and Supplies $ 362,512 3.9% Other Expenses $ 39,560 0.4% Total Expenses $ 9,293,370 100.0%

Surplus/(Deficit) $ 0

* Amounts included in this report are unaudited and subject to change.

Expenditures Related to Classroom Instruction Teacher Salaries, Benefits & Education-Related Expenses

$ 2,742,267 35.3%

Student On-Line Curriculum $ 2,177,097 28.0% Student Computers, Internet and Technology $ 1,427,041 18.4% Student Instructional Materials $ 824,002 10.6% Pupil Support Salaries, Benefits & Education-Related Expenses

$ 316,514 4.1%

Special Education Services $ 286,895 3.6% Total Expenditures for Classroom Instruction $ 7,773,816 100.0%

% Classroom Instruction Expenditures to Total Expenditures

83.6%

ISOH is a Community eSchool, which is funded by public sources and independently operated by a board of trustees under a charter granted by the Ohio Department of Education on July 1, 2013.

ISOH is managed by K12, inc. and authorized by Buckeye Urban Education Solutions.

Sponsor’s Legal Compliance Assessment Ohio Revised Code (ORC) 3314.03(D)(2) specifies that the sponsor of the school must “monitor and evaluate the academic and fiscal performance and the organization and operation of the community school on at least an annual basis.” Buckeye Community Hope Foundation (BCHF) bases its evaluation of school performance on each of the State required indicators and performance measures listed in the charter contract. BCHF monitors the performance of the community school thru attendance at board meetings, bi-monthly visits to the school, monthly reviews of financial reports and quarterly reviews of academic progress reports along with a number of other reports relative to the schools performance. Buckeye Community Hope Foundation served as the sponsor for Insight School of Ohio during the 2015-2016 school year, and found the school substantially compliant with the rules and regulations governing community schools. All community school sponsors are required to submit a written report of the evaluation results of the school’s academic, financial, and organization performance as well as the school’s legal compliance to the Ohio Department of Education and make the report available to parents of students enrolled in the community school. As such, an Annual Report regarding the performance of this school and other schools under the sponsorship of Buckeye Community Hope Foundation will be posted on our website www.buckeyehope.org, no later than November 30, 2016. ISOH Anti-discrimination Policy ISOH does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national origin, that any person(s) be excluded from participating in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination. ISOH does not discriminate on the basis of sex, that any person(s) be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity for which ISOH is responsible. Additionally, no otherwise qualified handicapped person(s) shall, solely by reason of handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity for which ISOH is responsible.