Guide to Federal Disability Rights Law Updated Regulations

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Free Webinar: Federal Disability Rights Law – What to Do Right Now & How to Prepare for Tomorrow’s Challenges As you may be aware, a new federal rule concerning disability access for digital content will soon impact state and local governmental entities, including school districts, charter schools, and public colleges and universities. While this rule comes into effect in the next 2-3 years, you already have obligations to ensure your digital programs, services, and activities are accessible to individuals with disabilities. In this webinar, two of the nation’s foremost experts will discuss your existing responsibilities under Section 504 and Title II while also providing insights into what to expect from the upcoming regulations. The session leaders are: Mary Lou Mobley and Judith Risch, Co-Leads of the National Digital Accessibility Team at the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education Mary F. Rice, Associate Professor of Literacy at the University of New Mexico Don’t miss this “Bite-Sized Learning” webinar on June 12 from 12-1pm CDT titled “Federal Disability Rights Law – What to Do Right Now & How to Prepare for Tomorrow’s Challenges.” Please note that this session will not be recorded, so be sure to attend live. Register now to reserve your spot for this informative webinar on ensuring equal digital access for all learners. More Details and Sign Up

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MAY 2024 Updates from Michigan Virtual

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This May, we’re excited to enhance your educational journey with new opportunities. Dive into our Competency-Based Algebra 1 Pilot Program, explore over 150 summer courses, and get a head start with early enrollment for fall. Discover unique courses on Abbott Elementary, Holocaust education, and AI’s impact in education. Administrators, our consulting services offer strategic insights to help you lead effectively.   Join us as we continue to transform learning experiences, providing flexible, high-quality education across Michigan. Let’s make this a summer of growth and learning!

STUDENT LEARNING SERVICES

Unlock Your Student Summer Potential Are you ready to embark on a journey of summer learning? We offer over 150 courses that cover a wide range of subjects, from English Language Arts to Science courses. Our courses are designed to be flexible and self-paced, and are delivered by certified Michigan teachers to ensure a high-quality learning experience. Learn More

Secure Your Students’ Fall Success with Early Enrollment Ensure your success for the upcoming school year by enrolling early in Michigan Virtual’s Fall program. With over 200 certified courses, including AP classes and a wide range of elective options, you can get a head start on your academic plans. Plan ahead and enroll for the Fall program today. Learn More

Explore our new Competency-Based (CBE) Algebra 1 Pilot Tailored for high school credit, this innovative course focuses on mastery and personalized learning, aligning with Michigan’s educational standards. Schools can benefit from up to 60 free seats and flexible assessment opportunities, enhancing math education effectively. Join us in advancing your curriculum with this dynamic approach!  Learn More

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING SERVICES

Abbott Elementary Dive into the world of Abbott Elementary in a unique study that combines the fun of a book club with the insights of your favorite TV show. Engage in thought-provoking discussions, connect episodes with real classroom experiences, and share innovative teaching strategies Learn More

Online Teaching and Learning: Course Content Are you as confident in creating quality online experiences as you are in engaging students in person? This course will guide you through creating engaging online experiences by mastering content validation, alignment with assessments and objectives, and essential content management skills. Learn More

Remembering the Holocaust In this course, we’ll explore why oral testimony and primary source artifacts are crucial when teaching about the Holocaust. You’ll also explore different Holocaust resources, determine which ones work best for your classroom, and learn how to use them to help students really connect with history. Learn More

Michigan Virtual LEARNING RESEARCH INSTITUTE (MVLRI)

Understanding Educator Roles: AI Support and Implications Explore AI’s transformative impact on education. From streamlining administrative tasks to enhancing student assessment, you can learn how AI empowers educators to optimize teaching and support student learning. Learn More

Ignite Your EdTech Journey: Register for the Innovation BootCamp! Registration is open and completely FREE for the Michigan Virtual EdTech Innovation Bootcamp. Refine your EdTech idea, earn 20 SCECH credits, and gear up for our upcoming Pitch Contest. Don’t miss this opportunity to shape the future of education! Learn More

Snap Up Your Spot: Enroll Your Child in Smartphone Photography Capture stunning moments with our new Smartphone Photography enrichment course. Learn photography basics, master composition, and explore special effects–all using your phone’s camera. Enroll your child in this asynchronous micro-course for just $15! Learn More

CONSULTING SERVICES

Are you exploring ways to align your digital learning initiatives with the broader goals and visions of your school community? A compelling “why” behind your initiatives can drive engagement and lead to sustainable, impactful changes. Our consulting team would love to help you brainstorm a path forward with transformational leaders who’ve been in your shoes! Learn more about how we can help!

Michigan Virtual, 920 Municipal Way, Lansing, Michigan 48917

DLC June Opportunities and Events 🌟

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Dive into Summer: Your June Events Opportunities! We’re excited to kick off June by sharing some thrilling updates and upcoming opportunities from the Digital Learning Collaborative with you. We couldn’t wait to present a lineup of enriching community gatherings and events designed to foster collaboration, learning, and growth within our vibrant community! As we transition into the summer season, please note that we’ll be taking a break from our monthly webinar series and look forward to jumping back in with the 24-25 school year! Are you interested in connecting with your fellow digital learning enthusiasts and expanding your professional network? The DLC offers six distinct Communities that host meet-ups regularly throughout the year. Best of all, it’s all about professional development and it’s absolutely free! We have several options available for June – RSVP to them today! Elementary Community When: Tuesday June 4 at 3ET This group is a space for elementary online teachers and leaders to connect, learn, share, and collaborate. We’re excited to bring people together to engage in synchronous and asynchronous relevant topics and to break down the silos we are experiencing. Policy Community When: Wednesday June 5 at 3ET If you like roller coasters this is the group for you! In the always changing, always uncertain, who knows what legislators are going to do era of policy this group is sure to be exciting! You don’t need to be an expert to join the DLC Policy Protectors Community. We will use this space to hear from peers across the country on wins, concerns, and strategies to deploy when the unexpected pops up. New Member Orientation When: Wednesday June 12 at 6pm ET Whether you’re a new member eager to dive in or a seasoned participant looking to make the most of your membership, this webinar will help you unlock the full potential of your Digital Learning Collaborative membership! Join us for an interactive walkthrough of our Membership Portal, your gateway to a world of educational resources and collaboration opportunities. Design & Refine – Attendance in the Virtual Setting: Don’t Force Fit a Square Peg in a Round Hole When: Tuesday June 18 at 3ET When the Best Practices Design & Refine Community members are asked, “What Keeps You Up at Night?” attendance is often at the top of the list! Join the June Best Practices meeting for an in-depth discussion around how virtual schools and programs in our network are tackling this issue with creative solutions. Georgia State Community Meet Up When: Wednesday June 19 at 2ET A collaborative community of online learning leaders designed to support Georgia’s online and blended learning programs. Hybrid Community When: Wednesday June 19 at 3ET The K-12 Hybrid Schools in Action team is thrilled to invite you to a community gathering where we will spotlight the innovative practices, remarkable achievements, and heartwarming stories from this past year. As we draw the curtain on another eventful school year, it’s time to pause, reflect, and celebrate the journey of learning, growth, and resilience that our students, educators, and communities have experienced. Join us as we engage in thoughtful discussions about the challenges overcome, lessons learned, and the resilience demonstrated by our community. Early Bird Registration is Open!  The Digital Learningpalooza 2024 is going to take your digital learning experience to a whole new level. Mark your calendars for October, because it’s not just another conference. It’s a concert of innovation, education, and entertainment, all wrapped up into one unforgettable online event. What are you waiting for? You can only snag the Early Bird rate until May 31!  Register Now! Questions? We’re here to help. Email us at DLC@evergreenedgroup.com View email in browser Evergreen Education Group · 700 Main Ave Ste E · Durango, CO 81301-5437 · USA

NCVPS E-lert for May 16, 2024 (Download Early Start Final Grades by COB Today!)

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May 16, 2024 Greetings, everyone. We have updates for Early Start final grades, summer registration, our district survey, and our NCVPS in-Real-Time program. Check out all the updates in This Week at NCVPS and our End-of-Semester Guide. See all the details below, and please forward this e-lert to any stakeholders who may need it. They can subscribe to the e-lert here. This Week at NCVPS Early Start Final Grade Reports Please be sure to export your Early Start Spring 2024 and Early Start Year Long Final grades promptly this Thursday, May 16th. The FINAL GRADE REPORT will be temporarily closed Friday afternoon, May 17th through Wednesday, May 22 so teachers can submit Standard Start Final Grades to the report. District Survey Our district survey is for school-level stakeholders. Please share with your ELAs, lab facilitators, classroom co-teachers, and other school personnel involved with NCVPS at your school. Access the survey here. Summer Contact Information Needed Districts and schools registering students for summer classes need to complete our NCVPS Summer 2024 ELA Contact Information form. NCVPS needs the contact information for each school that registers students for Summer 2024 classes. Students registered for summer classes will need to know who the contact is, as well. Students can drop through our 10th day of class, but they need to know who to contact at the school or district level so they can be dropped. Districts may elect to have just one contact for the entire district over the summer. Presently, you may not have any students enrolled in NCVPS summer courses, but if your school does enroll students in the coming weeks for Summer 2024, we will need this information. If districts have their school-level ELA contact information in an Excel document, they can copy and paste that into the contact box on the link above. Summer ESSER Funding – Registration Deductions Explained Each district and charter school has special ESSER funding for summer school. You will see summer enrollments deducted from your standard 2024-2025 allotment total; however, we will add those ESSER-funded enrollments back into your district or charter school’s account after summer enrollment has concluded. (See the full details on ESSER funding in the section below.) NCVPS in Real Time (IRT) In-Real Time (IRT is the synchronous class delivery program for North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS). The program model is a whole-class, middle school course, with required synchronous sessions with a NCVPS teacher. The IRT pilot for 8th-grade core instruction began in the Fall 2023 with selected schools. Course offerings were in 8th Grade ELA, Math, Social Studies, and Science. Currently, these course offerings have now been expanded to the 7th grade for the 2024-2025 academic year as a pilot for this grade level. Additionally, IRT will continue to be offered for 8th grade in all core content areas for the 2024-2025 academic year through our catalog. The high school Math 1 course has been added as a course offering for the program. This program is designed to support instruction by providing a certified NCVPS teacher to work alongside a substitute or beginning teacher to provide quality instruction for students. For more information about the program please complete this interest form. We will be hosting an informational webinar on June 5th at 10 a.m. and June 6th at 2 p.m. To attend, please register for one of the events here: June 5th at 10 a.m. June 6th at 2 p.m. Learn more about our IRT program in this video: End-of-Semester Guide Following these steps will help with the success of your students and help you have grades prepared for your final report cards. Timeline Students will not be able to submit assignments after the last day of class! Mark these dates on your calendar for the close of Fall 2023 classes: Last Day of Early Start Classes: May 3, 2024 Final Grades Posted for Early Start Classes: May 16, 2024 Last Day of Standard Start Classes: May 10, 2024 Final Grades Posted for Standard Start Classes: May 23, 2024 EOC and CTE Testing Schools must administer all EOC and CTE state tests. (Note: Some CTE courses do not have a state test.) Schools will also need to average the EOC and CTE scores into the grades that we post for those courses. If you’ve not already made arrangements with your school’s testing coordinator, please do that right away. Exam Exemptions NCVirtual teachers are expected to give final exams or final projects in non-EOC courses and CTE courses that require teacher-made exams. If your district has a policy to exempt seniors (or others) from final exams, here is the NCVirtual process. Notify your students and the NCVirtual teachers that your students will not take the final exam based on your district’s or charter school’s policy. On the NCVirtual final grade report, we report three grades: Classwork (80%), Final Exam (20%), Final Grade. If you notify our teachers about the exam exemptions, they will enter “EX” (exemption) for the exam grade. The classwork grade will then be used for the final grade. If you have students with exam exemptions and have not notified our teachers, only use the Classwork grade for the final grade. You will not record our Final Exam grade and the Final Grade for exempted students. In addition, schools may recalculate the final overall grade by adjusting the weighting of the final exam/project to align with local policies. Grades Our final grade report will show the weighted course work grade (80% ) and the final exam grade (20%) and final grade. EOC and CTE courses will only show the one marking period grades. Schools will need to calculate in the EOC and CTE state test grades. Follow this link to see what the final grade report will look like. NCVPS Grading Policies You will want to be aware of our grading policy and how we weight grades, especially for state-tested courses where you will need to calculate the final grade once you receive your test scores. Review our Grades Quick Reference Guide to see how we calculate grades. Report Cards and Transcripts Schools must enter grades into PowerSchool. Be sure the data manager has access to the grade report and understands our grade calculations. Be sure to examine the spreadsheet closely to find the final grade. This will be essential when your data manager enters NCVPS grades into PowerSchool to avoid data entry errors. Middle School Reporting Middle schools should ensure that they use the NCVPS course codes so that their students can receive high school credit for the courses that they take with us. You can find course codes in our catalog, or in the second column of any grade report. NCAA Eligibility Center Please see our “Reporting NCVPS Classes On Transcripts for the NCAA” quick reference guide here. There are some essential reporting steps to take to ensure a student’s NCAA eligibility. Grade Questions If you have questions about a student’s grade, you should send those directly to the student’s teacher or submit a help ticket to the Virtual Support Center. Extensions We are able to grant a five-day extension for fall and spring courses and a three-day extension for summer courses. These extensions do not require approval from our Instructional Directors. Instead, schools will work directly with the NCVPS teacher for the extension. If a longer extension is required, the teacher will work with the Instructional Director on a case-by-case basis. Edvantage Tutoring + Recent Highlights Edvantage Tutoring Edvantage Tutoring, as part of North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS), is in the midst of another great semester, continuing to tutor students across NC. The semester is moving right along and exam time will be here soon! Consider allowing your students to participate in Edvantage for tutoring as they prepare for exams! NCVPS Edvantage Tutoring is offered in the following curriculum areas: • 7th & 8th Grade ELA • 7th & 8th Grade Math • 7th & 8th Grade Science • 8th Grade Math I • High School Math I • High School Math III • High School Biology • High School Chemistry *An asynchronous Writing Lab is offered Tutoring for the Spring is available Monday-Thursday, 4:00 PM-7:30 PM nightly through May 23rd. Daytime tutoring is also available per school/district request and may be utilized for students who are in ISS, suspended, homebound, absent, and/or working from home, McKinney-Vento, athletes needing extra support, etc. There is a flat fee of $35/hour for tutoring. And, all tutoring slots are available in 30-minute increments. Please take a few moments to complete the NCVPS Edvantage Tutoring: Districts/Schools Partnership form to sign-up. You may also send an email to learn more! Professional Development Our Digital Transition webinar series shares best practices for supporting students learning online. Participants leave with a toolkit of resources to bring to your face-to-face classroom into the virtual world. Programming Spotlights Please join us on May 21 for “Finance, this time it’s personal”. All are invited! If you haven’t been able to register yet, there is still time: https://ncvps.org/digital-transition/ Level Up with NCVPS NCVPS has four programs that will enhance your professional educational journey! North Carolina teachers have been transforming teaching and learning by engaging with our developmental and transformational programs. We aim to help educators bring innovation to their classrooms, schools, and districts. Let NCVPS help you elevate your work and campus. Start by choosing the program that’s right for you! Professional Development Courses Our Professional Development courses sharpen teaching skills. Courses are offered in a self-paced format. Digital Transition Webinar Series Navigate the shift to online and hybrid teaching digital with our Digital Transition Webinar series. Partnership Course Program In our Partnership Course Program, we provide the online courses and your district or school provides the teacher. Virtual Schools Network If you are part of a local virtual academy, join our Virtual Schools Network for resource-sharing and collaboration. Current Reporting What Grades Are Currently Posted? May 16 – Final Grades Posted for Early Start Spring Block and Early Start Yearlong Classes in the Registration System What’s Next on the Schedule? May 23- Final Grades Posted for Standard Start Spring Block and Standard Start Yearlong Classes in the Registration System Progress Report Action Steps What should your action steps be with our progress reports? We’re glad you asked! Visit our Progress Report Action Steps page for all the details. A Snapshot of NCVPS Grading Guidelines See our Snapshot of NCVPS Grading Guidelines for a quick overview of NCVPS’s grading and testing policies and procedures. Please note that NCVPS teachers must adhere to the NCVPS grading guidelines, practices, and procedures which can be found in our Grading and Testing Quick Reference Guide. NCVPS teachers cannot adjust their NCVPS grading guidelines, practices, and procedures based on a local school’s or district’s policy. Reporting Overview See our Grades and Testing Quick Reference Guide for an overview of our reporting. We have details on our Student Status (No-Show) Reports, Progress Reports, Final Grade Reports, and how we calculate grades. News Archive Reserve and Flexible Funds Requests Co-Teaching/Blended Course for Our Classroom Teachers NCVPS In-Real-Time Pilot AP Join Codes No-Show Reporting CTE Internships  OCS Enrollments – Adding a Second Classroom Teacher TOT2 (Teacher Online Training) Registration Is Open Did you miss an e-lert? Check out our previous news items and updates below. School Support Links 2023-2024 Guide Grade Reporting Office Hours Edvantage Tutoring Home and Private Schools ELA Orientation Student Life Get Involved! NCVPS offers many ways students can participate in extra-curricular activities. Check out our Culture Cafe series, the iWorkNC speaker series, our various clubs, and free tutoring! See our Student Life page for details. Connecting with Parents As virtual learning has become a part of everyday learning for most families across North Carolina, many parents, guardians, and mentors continue to struggle with how to support their online learners in blended and online classes. To provide resources and strategies for how to support not only our NCVPS students, but all online learners in North Carolina, NCVPS has created two Supporting Online Students (SOS) video courses in Canvas. Both courses are free, open to the public, and do not require login credentials. Please share both links with your educational communities and parent networks.  Supporting Students – All NC The first course, Supporting Online Students – All NC, is general in nature and is designed for parents, guardians, and mentors of any student who is participating in a blended or online course or is enrolled in a fully online program regardless of school or grade level. Supporting Students – NCVPS The second course, Supporting Online Students – NCVPS, is specific to NCVPS and includes specific examples, demonstrations, and resources for NC Virtual parents, guardians, and mentors. Get Our Apps! NCVPS has a mobile app, and Canvas has two mobile apps and a web portal. What does each one do? We’re glad you asked! Here you go: NCVPS App: Stay connected with what’s happening at NCVPS. Think of these as “front office” notifications. Canvas Apps and Web Portal: Connect with a student’s course, see grades, due dates, pacing guides, and message the teacher. Check out the guide on our Mobile Apps page to see when and where it’s best to use each app or portal. Mobile Apps Thank you, everyone! Your North Carolina students appreciate your dedication and hard work! {View as Webpage} | Subscribe

North Carolina Virtual Public School | 343 E. Six Forks Road, Suite 130, Raleigh, NC 27609

[Final Reminder] EPIT Panel Discussion – An Exploration of Distance/Virtual Learning in New Zealand

Note that this discussion hosted by the Education Partnership and Innovation Trust In New Zealand, which I will be a part of, is scheduled for tomorrow.

Online Panel Discussion

An Exploration of Distance/Virtual Learning in New Zealand 

A conversation with Professor Michael Barbour, Touro University California, US and Derek Wenmoth, Futuremakers, Wellington

Friday, 17 May 2024

8:30 am-9:30 am

Book your ticket

Michael visited New Zealand, during March and April 2024, undertaking a national survey of, and interviews with, primary and secondary distance learning organisations. His research will look to identify trends found within the data collected from the distance learning providers and make recommendations to allow for a rational growth of primary and secondary virtual learning in New Zealand.

The COVID-19 pandemic showed that distance/virtual learning within the school sector was possible, but it also highlighted much of the inequity within the system. It is important to understand distance/virtual learning prior to the pandemic, the specific impact the pandemic had, and how it has emerged post-pandemic.  A critical part of the research is to examine the potential of distance/virtual learning to ensure equity of access and opportunity for our Māori students, and those not living in major urban areas.

This discussion will focus on what has been ascertained so far and what trends are beginning to be seen; and postulates on how elearning and distance education, when delivered well, can address many of the inequity barriers to obtaining an education.

ABOUT

Professor Michael Barbour is Director of Faculty Development & Professor of Instructional Design, College of Education and Health Sciences, and Fellow for the Center for Innovative Learning and Teaching, Touro University California.  Michael’s research has focused on K-12 online teaching and learning. His research agenda is aimed at improving the design and delivery of these online learning opportunities to enable all students, particularly those in rural areas, the opportunity for success.

Originally from Newfoundland, Canada and now based in Vacaville California, Michael previously served as the Director of Doctoral Studies for the Isabelle Farrington College of Education and an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut.  He was also a teacher at Discovery Collegiate for four years, during which he served as a classroom teacher, web-based distance education teacher and held district-level positions.

Derek Wenmoth is founder of Futuremakers, a consultancy established in 2019, working extensively with educators across all areas of the education sector as they seek to prepare students for their future. He also consults with policy makers and government agencies in NZ and internationally regarding the future directions of educational policy and practice.

Derek has been a teacher, principal, teacher educator, distance educator, e-learning specialist and education policy adviser. In 2013 he co-founded Tātai Aho Rau CORE Education, a not-for-profit education research and development organisation based in Ōtautahi Christchurch. In recognition of his work, Derek was designated one of 2008’s “Global Six” by the George Lucas Educational Foundation that recognises individuals making a difference in education.

For more information, visit https://www.epit.org.nz/event/an-exploration-of-distance-virtual-learning-in-new-zealand