New York’s New York’s State of Online LearningState of Online Learning

S/CDNThursday, March 3, 2011

Office of Educational Design and Technologyedtech@mail.nysed.gov

Lawrence M. Paska, Ph.D.Coordinator of Technology Policy

Office of Educational Design and TechnologyNew York State Education Department

John BrockAssociate in School Library Services

Office of Educational Design and TechnologyNew York State Education Department

Office of Educational Design and Technology

Awarding Units of Credit for Awarding Units of Credit for Online and Blended CoursesOnline and Blended Courses

The Commissioner of Education proposes The Commissioner of Education proposes to add a new section 100.5(d)(10) to the to add a new section 100.5(d)(10) to the Commissioner's Regulations to establish Commissioner's Regulations to establish criteria for earning credit for online or a criteria for earning credit for online or a combination of online and classroom-combination of online and classroom-based (blended) coursework.based (blended) coursework.

Draft 100.5(d)(10) Draft 100.5(d)(10) RegulationsRegulations

Published to the State Register

A Notice of Proposed Rule Making will bepublished in the State Register on March

2,2011. It is anticipated that the proposedamendment will be presented to the

Board ofRegents for adoption at their May 16-17,

2011meeting.

How to Comment

The text of the proposed amendment is included.

Comments may be submitted to John B.

King, Jr., Senior Deputy Commissioner of P-12 Education, NYSEDP12@mail.nysed.gov

Comments must be received by the State Education Department on or before April 18, 2011.

Policy Intent

To provide guidance

To offer new learning opportunities for students through online/blended instruction

To provide a foundation for implementing and evaluating online and blended courses as alternative pathways for students

Statewide Survey: Online Learning Needs Assessment

 

What do you think?

Is the inclusion of onlinelearning part of your school/district overall academic improvement plan?

Are students in your school/districttaking online classes to earn course credit, test preparation, make up/credit recovery,or remediation?

Results of the Online Learning Needs Assessment The four most common reasons to use onlinelearning:

1. Offer remediation or credit recovery courses

2. Provide expanded curriculum offerings

3. Address needs of homebound instruction

4. Increase graduation rates

Reasons for Student Enrollment

For content remediation

They were unsuccessful in traditional classroom environments

To take courses not offered at their local school.

To earn college credit in Advanced Placement (AP®) courses

Due to course scheduling conflicts

Why Students Do Not Participate in Online

Learning

State regulations do not address online courses

Students are unaware that online learning options exist

Lack of funding to cover the cost of online learning

Does your district limit the number of courses a student can take online?

How do we formulate a game plan?

Regents’ Statewide Learning Technology Plan

Goal # 4:

Provide policies, standards, and guidance on quality digital content development and delivery; accessibility; information literacy; and

ongoing, sustained professional development in pre-service and in-service education.

Regents’ Statewide Learning Technology Plan

Goal # 7:

Develop and/or revise Commissioner's Regulations and Department policies to

promote sustained support for the delivery of quality instruction for all

learners through digital means.

Regents’ Statewide Learning Technology Plan

Goal # 9:

Identify and/or develop incentives for the expansion of digital learning across USNY.

Regents’ Reform Agenda

Teacher Preparation & Effectiveness Curriculum & Professional Development Assessment Transform the Field of School Leader Preparation Early Childhood Raise Graduation Rates for At-Risk Students Replace Failing Schools Build a P-20 data system Transform NYSED

Current Regulations to Support Online

LearningA minimum of 10.5 credits (out of 22 required) under Part 100.5(d), each limited in scope:

Make Up Course Credit (allows additional credits)

Independent Study (3 credits in electives only)

X

Credit by Examination (6.5 credits where student must score an 85 and complete an associated project)

X marks the spot….

Solving for X … Updating the Board of Regents in policy and

practice (December 2010 and January 2011)

Determining next steps in policy and regulation (December 2010 and February 2011)

Engaging the field through regional forums (starting early 2011) and continued communications (ongoing)

Leveraging funding (starting with Race to the Top funding)

Next Steps for Online Learning

Create the Environment

Fill the Gaps

Race to the Top Funding

Sustainable Capacity

Credit for Online/Blended Courses

Part 100.5(d)(10)Proposed regulations discussed by the

Board of Regents (and revised for publication in the State Register, March

2, 2011):

(i) To receive credit, the student shall successfully complete a unit of study and demonstrate mastery of the learning outcomes for the subject, including passing the Regents examination in the subject or other assessment required for graduation, if applicable.

Credit for Online/Blended Courses Part 100.5(d)(10)

(b)The school district, charter school or registered nonpublic school shall ensure that:

(1) courses are aligned with the applicable New York State Learning Standards for the subject area;

(2) courses provide for documentation of student mastery of the learning outcomes for such subjects, including passing the Regents examination in the subject or other assessment required for graduation, if applicable;

Credit for Online/Blended Courses

Part 100.5(d)(10) (3) instruction is provided by or under the

direction and/or supervision of:(i) a certified teacher from the school district; or

(ii) a certified teacher from a board of cooperative educational services (BOCES) that contracts with the school district to provide instruction in the subject area where authorized pursuant to Education Law §1950; or

(iii) a certified teacher from a school district who provides instruction in the subject area under a shared service agreement; or

Credit for Online/Blended Courses Part 100.5(d)(10)

(4) in the case of a registered nonpublic school, a teacher of the subject area from a registered nonpublic school; or

(5) in the case of a charter school, a teacher of the subject area from a charter school

Credit for Online/Blended Courses

Part 100.5(d)(10) (4) courses include regular and substantive

interaction between the student and the teacher providing direction and/or supervision pursuant to subclause (3) of this clause; and

(5) instruction satisfies the unit of study and unit of credit requirements in section 100.1(a) and (b) of this Part

What is a unit of study and a unit of credit?

100.1 DefinitionsAs used in this Part: a. Unit of study means at least 180 minutes of instruction per

week throughout the school year, or the equivalent.

b. Unit of credit is earned by: 1. the mastery of the learning outcomes set forth in a New York State-developed or locally developed syllabus for a given high school subject, after a student has had the opportunity to complete a unit of study in the given subject matter area; or 2. pursuant to section 100.5(d)(1) of this Part, a passing score of at least 85 percent or its equivalent on a department-approved examination in a given high school subject without the completion of a unit of study, and the successful completion of either an oral examination or a special project.

Issues to Consider Course Alignment to NYS Learning

Standards Broadband Capacity and Access Standards for Online Courses iNACOL’s National Standards of Quality for

Online Courses Content Instructional Design Student Assessment Technology Course Evaluation and Management 21st Century Skills

Contracts for Instruction

The Department issued a July 29, 2009memorandum on contracts for

instruction inwhich it stated that school districts

cannotcontract with private entities to deliver

“coreeducational programming/instructionalservices” to students.

Contracts for Instruction

Q: Can school districts contract with nonprofit or other entities to provide distance oronline learning opportunities for students?

A: Yes, provided that the distance or onlinelearning program is used as a supplementaryor additional resource to assist a district’scertified teachers in delivering instruction.

Timetable for Implementation

A Notice of Proposed Rule Making in the State Register no later than March 2, 2011

Anticipated proposed amendment submitted to BOR for approval in May 2011

Effective date of June 8, 2011

An implementation date of July 1, 2011

Some NYSED Recommendations for Teaching and Learning

Online District-level committees to examine online learning policies

Ensure adherence to principles of universal design

Assess student needs and interests for online courses

Assess online program availability compared to student need

Create and adopt local district policy for online courses

Provide professional development opportunities

Develop a district process to evaluate online content

Use common evaluation standards, like iNACOL and ISTE

Communicate with parents on online learning

Evaluate district-created and vendor-purchased content

Menu for S/CDN Discussion

How do we build capacity for teachers?

What is the current status of online and blended learning in districts and across regions?

Can we developing possible tools for online and blended learning “regulatory compliance servicing”?

Other questions or concerns?

Web Links and Resources

National Education Technology Plan http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010

Regents’ Statewide Learning Technology Planhttp://www.p12.nysed.gov/edtech

NYS Online Learning Surveyhttp://www.lhric.org/distance_ed.cfm?subpage=764

iNACOL (International Association for K-12 OnlineLearning)http://www.inacol.org

THANK YOU!

Office of Educational Design and Technology

Phone: (518) 474-5283Fax: (518) 486-9070

E-Mail: edtech@mail.nysed.govWeb: www.p12.nysed.gov/technology