Robin Beavers

EDTC650

Assignment 2

10/29/2013

Virtual School Presentation

OHIO BUCKEYE SCHOOL

FOR ONLINE SUCCESS (BOSS)

Table of Contents

Background

School Mission and Vision

Organizational Structure

Regulatory Environment

Curriculum

Students

Website Evaluations of Effectiveness (Students & Parents)

References

Background

Buckeye School for Online Success (BOSS) is tuition free charter

school open to Ohio students from Kindergarten through 12th grade.

BOSS was founded in 2003, in East Liverpool, Ohio by a group of

forward thinking individuals who were looking to provide educational

options for Ohio students.

Administrators, teachers and parents wanted a flexible, safe at home

environment with choices of curriculum, activities, and other options

for students grades K-12.

BOSS’ first graduating class was a mere 15 students in 2005. Since

then BOSS has grown and serviced thousands of families.

School Mission and Vision

Mission

“The Buckeye Online School for Success is dedicated to educating all students in its diverse population by offering academic choices to meet their individual needs. Our school is committed to preparing lifelong learners and productive citizens through collaboration with staff, families, and communities utilizing cutting edge technology” (BOSS, 2013).

Vision

“Guided by the highest expectations, the

Buckeye Online School for Success will serve as

the foundation for the future of our students. As

a center for educational and technological

innovation BOSS promotes 21st century

learning and we are the connecting link

between students, parents, staff, and

community”(BOSS, 2013).

Regulatory Environment

To ensure that students pass the mandatory

state testing (Ohio Board of Education,

2010) BOSS Curriculums align with

several educational standards including;

Common Core Standards,

the New Ohio Department of Education

Standards,

Ohio Graduation Tests (OGT) and

Race to the Top.

Organizational Structure

http://www.go2boss.com/#!administration/csk1

BOSS Virtual Classroom (VC) runs

real-time classes with live

instructors utilizing the Amvonet

Virtual Classroom and the Internet.

As suggested (Watson, 2007) BOSS’

VC A offers a flexible multimedia

experience for both students and

teachers.

Synchronous instruction, as well as

independent work allow interaction

with the teacher as well as

classmates by spoken, written, and

auditory communication.

Technology

Curriculum

Keeping in mind Ohio state standards BOSS offers courses that promote

progression of content from grade to grade(Ohio State Standards, 2011).

Boss offers three Curriculum programs for its students.

BOSS Primary -classes are for students grades K-5. Classes are presented in PowerPoint

presentation and submitted via BOSS’ LMS. Students have access to a teacher facilitator to assist

them in navigating the courses. Students meet periodically throughout the 18 week semester with

the teacher. A parent guide is included in each course to help parents or guardians navigate through

the lessons with the child.

BOSS Virtual Classroom- runs real-time classes

with live instructors utilizing the Amvonet

Virtual Class Room and the Internet.

BOSS Independent- for the self-reliant

learner in grades 6-12. Classes are presented

in PowerPoint presentation and submitted via

BOSS’ LMS. Students have access to a teacher

facilitator to assist them in navigating the

courses. Students meet periodically

throughout the 18 week semester with the

teacher.

Assessment

BOSS classes meet several hours a week for

instruction and have independent

assignments, tests, and quizzes on course

content to complete on non-instructional

days.

Students According to BOSS, there are currently 1,624 students enrolled in grades

K-12. BOSS students are 53.4% female. The largest ethnic group of the 1624

students at BOSS is White at 87.6%. This is followed by African American

(5.2 %), mixed students of two or more ethnicities (4.6 %), Hispanic (1.9 %),

Indian (0.5 %) and Asian (0.2 %) (FINDTHEDATA.org ,2012).

Student Demographics

One of the hopes for virtual schools is to reach the disadvantaged &

special needs students who struggle with traditional schools

(Watson,2010). BOSS’ student population appears to serve these

potential “at risk” students.

Student Performance

As with many virtual schools, BOSS’ academic performance is somewhat

below normal (Miron, Urschel, & University of Colorado at Boulder,

2012).

According to the Ohio Department of Education, BOSS is classified

as Continuous Improvement. This classification means that BOSS has not met the

following achievement benchmarks:

•75% (or more) of students earned a score of proficient or above in

achievement tests

•85% (or more) of students received a score of proficient or higher on the

Ohio Graduation Test

•Meeting or exceeding the 90% state requirement for 4-year graduation rates

•Meeting or exceeding the 93% state requirement for attendance rate

(FINDTHEDATA.org, 2012)

Student Services ,

Activities & Support Each student is given a

computer, printer and

appropriate software

and also receives

Internet Provider

reimbursements.

Often an inconvenience

for online students

(Watson, 2010) BOSS

promises that students

will not have to travel

more than one hour to

find a test facility.

Student Services ,

Activities & Support • Tuition-free, public school

• Computer

• Internet reimbursement

• Highly Qualified Teachers

• Safe learning environment

• Curriculum aligned to Common Core

• Live online classes

• Online self-directed curriculum

• Special Education

• Response to Intervention (RTI) program

• Guidance Counselor

• Earn a high school diploma

• Graduation ceremony

• Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)

• National Honor Society (NHS)

• College and Career Readiness program

• Tutoring and support services

• Field trips

It takes commitment to offer students the

same services available to brick and mortar

counterparts(Watson, 2010).

BOSS offers its students many of the same

support, activities and social opportunities

that traditional schools do.

Including a dedicated Special Education

Department, guidance counseling, tutoring,

and social clubs like National Honor Society

and outings

One of online school’s missions is to serve the

Each student is given a computer, printer and appropriate software and also receives

Internet Provider reimbursements.

Often an inconvenience for online students (Watson, 2010) BOSS promises that

students will not have to travel more than one hour to find a test facility.

http://students.go2boss.com/

This screenshot shows the uncluttered interface and easy access to the student portal

where students can find links to the services they need including the LMS, email,

guidance, contact information and other resources.

http://www.ohioeschoolcoalition.org/press-releases/back-to-

the-school-of-my-choice/

References Buckeye Online School for Success. (2013). Buckeye Online School for Success - Tuition Free

Public K-12 Online School. Buckeye Online School for Success - Tuition Free Public K-12 Online School.

Retrieved from http://www.go2boss.com/

McFarlane, D. A. (2011). A Comparison of Organizational Structure and Pedagogical Approach:

Online versus Face-to-face. Journal Of Educators Online, 8(1), 1-43.

Ohio Department of Education. (n.d.). Ohio's Statewide Testing: OGT. Ohio's Statewide Testing:

OGT. Retrieved from http://ogt.success-ode-state-oh-us.info/

Ohio Department of Education. (2010, June). Introduction to Ohio’s New Learning

Standards. New Learning Standards. Retrieved from

http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Academic-Content-Standards/New-Learning-Standards

Buckeye School of Online Success. (2012). Buckeye Online School for Success - Tuition Free

Public K-12 Online School. Buckeye Online School for Success - Tuition Free Public K-12 Online School.

Retrieved from http://www.go2boss.com/

References

Miron, G., Urschel, J. L., & University of Colorado at Boulder, N. (2012). Understanding and

Improving Full-Time Virtual Schools: A Study of Student Characteristics, School Finance, and

School Performance in Schools Operated by K12 Inc. [with Appendices]. National Education

Policy Center

Watson, J. F., & North American Council for Online, L. (2007). A National Primer on K-12

Online Learning. North American Council For Online Learning,

FINDTHEDATA.ORG. (2012). Buckeye OnLine School for Success. Find the Data. Retrieved

from http://ohio-schools.findthedata.org/l/86/Buckeye-OnLine-School-for-Success

Website Evaluation