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Flexible and Extended Learning Update - Jan. 5, 2012

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The proposal for Flexible and Extended Learning Opportunities would expand the suite of educational opportunities for ACPS high school students. The purpose of the proposal is to create flexible, non-traditional 21st Century learning environments in ACPS that support, extend and develop a more complete continuum of services to better meet the needs of students from recovery to acceleration and that:

• inspire and reengage students not motivated, challenged, or find it difficult to achieve in a large traditional high school,
• eliminate gaps in achievement between White/Asian and Black/Hispanic subgroups in ACPS to support a focus on academic excellence for all learners,
• decrease the high school dropout rates for Hispanic, Black, and English Language Learner students in ACPS,
• reduce discipline and improve the systems designed to modify behavior, and
• transition and integrate students in the Adult Learning Program ages 15-22 who are interested in achieving a high school diploma to continue their education through TCW.

Satellite Campuses will provide an academic program that leads to a Standard or Advanced Studies diploma in preparation for post-secondary education or career development. The satellite campuses will provide flexible hours of operation and locations to accommodate non-traditional student schedules. The hours of operation will vary by site and could range Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Locations are currently being investigated in three areas: West Side, Old Town and Arlandria.

Satellite campus students will access a curriculum which provides a course selection approved by the Virginia Department of Education and supported by ACPS' Office of Curriculum & Instruction. Courses will be blended in nature, combining 21st century online learning that is student paced with facilitated instruction as well as direct instruction opportunities. Students taking courses at ACPS Satellite Campuses will remain T.C. Williams High School students and will as be able to participate in CTE learning options, after-school sports and extracurricular activities on T.C. Williams' campus. Mentors, support staff, project based and experiential learning opportunities will also be integrated to allow the students to gain academically, socially, emotionally and physically.

Satellite teacher/facilitators providing direct and facilitated instruction will be endorsed in specific content areas, Special Education, and/or English Language Learner Education. K12 endorsed teachers skilled in supporting a blended learning environment will be at each location. A support services team including a social worker, counselors, and a psychologist will be available to provide needed wrap-around services.

Measures of Success

Satellite Campuses will quantify success through the following measures: (1) students who successfully complete credit recovery courses; (2) increase in the percentage of students who are at-risk for dropping out of school that obtain a Standard or Advanced Studies diploma; (3) decrease in the dropout rate for Black, Hispanic, and English Language Learners; (4) increase in the number of Standard and Advanced diploma issued to students aged 19-22 years in the city of Alexandria; and (5) increase in graduation rates and reduction in dropout rates for ACPS.

Tentative Timeline for Flexible and Extended Learning Opportunities Transition

• December 2011 - February 2012: Brief Board and community on concept and get input from community
• February 2012 - Pending Board review and approval
• February - June, 2012 - explore small satellite pilot at Quaker Lane Campus; secure learning sites and develop prototype for satellites with identified partners
• July 1, 2012 - Launch standalone satellites for 2012-2013 school year