Issue | Background | Findings | Conclusions | Recommendations | Responses | Attachments Online And Virtual Classroom

Conclusions 2

• CL1 Page 5
  Online and virtual classroom learning may be cost-effective methods for enhancing and expanding the educational system and the education students receive. The limited number of teachers and the excellent online and virtual classroom programs now available demands that new methods and tools for teaching be utilized, and a new vision of education be cultivated. Some San Mateo County school districts experience a shortage of teachers, especially qualified math, science and/ or foreign language teachers. Neither the school districts in San Mateo County nor the County Office of Education are focused on virtual schools or online programs as a solution to the teacher shortage problem in math, science and foreign language. As a result, students in the district are being deprived of the expertise developed in web-based programming and the opportunity to take foreign language and other courses. Funds may have to be diverted from other programs to cover the startup costs associated with establishing web-based learning programs. Another source of funds may be from No Child Left Behind technology grants. There are successful web-based programs available to study and emulate, and there is expertise available in Silicon Valley to help set up technological infrastructure. In the short-term, with the availability of web-based courses, there is no longer an excuse for schools to have under-qualified teachers teaching any course. There is no excuse for science to be overlooked in elementary schools, and there is no excuse for schools to restrict language choice.
• CL2 Page 30
  “Online and virtual classroom learning may be cost-effective methods for enhancing and expanding the educational system and the education students receive. The limited number of teachers and the excellent online and virtual classroom programs now available demands that new methods and tools for teaching be utilized, and a new vision of education be cultivated.” District response: The extent to which an online classroom is cost-effective is based on a number of factors—not the least of which is the state of a district’s infrastructure (including labs and networks). A single, stand-alone virtual learning lab setting—staffed by a “highly qualified” and certificated staff member serving 30 students—would Page 5 – Cabrillo Response to Virtual Classroom Learning actually cost more to operate than a traditional classroom when you factor in on-line registration fees and equipment costs. We see the greatest advantage as being one of offering students highly specialized programs that could not be provided in a typical master schedule offered on a comprehensive high school setting. “Some San Mateo County school districts experience a shortage of teachers, especially qualified math, science and/ or foreign language teachers.” District response: While we generally concur with this finding, this conclusion also suggests a related challenge—finding online programs that are CA standards-based and taught by a teacher deemed to be “highly qualified” under current Federal rules and guidelines. “Neither the school districts in San Mateo County nor the County Office of Education are focused on virtual schools or online programs as a solution to the teacher shortage problem in math, science and foreign language. As a result, students in the district are being deprived of the expertise developed in web-based programming and the opportunity to take foreign language and other courses.” District response: While we generally concur with this finding, we remain concerned by the extent to which online courses are 1) taught by instructors deemed NCLB highly qualified and 2) aligned with approved state standards. Still another issue is the extent to which both the material covered and assessment strategies/grading systems are consistent with District practice. Funds may have to be diverted from other programs to cover the startup costs associated with establishing web-based learning programs. Another source of funds may be from No Child Left Behind technology grants. District response: We respectfully disagree with this finding. We are a revenue-limit district… and in a budget-reduction mode. Current EETT formula grant funding levels are minimal. Possible future funding sources might come from the state (some sort of next generation “Digital High School” grants) or from a local parcel tax measure. The notion of “diverting from other programs” is not feasible at this time. There are successful web-based programs available to study and emulate, and there is expertise available in Silicon Valley to help set up technological infrastructure. District response: We concur with this finding. Expertise would be a big help… but funding remains a larger roadblock. In the short-term, with the availability of web-based courses, there is no longer an excuse for schools to have under-qualified teachers teaching any course. There is no excuse for Page 6 – Cabrillo Response to Virtual Classroom Learning science to be overlooked in elementary schools, and there is no excuse for schools to restrict language choice. District response: We concur with this finding with the reservations noted.

No Responses Found 2

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