The document discusses recommendations for improving virtual school programs. It recommends that the Department of Education 1) implement a quality assurance team to ensure national standards are met, 2) create virtual school-specific policies instead of just applying brick and mortar policies, and 3) clearly state the organization's purpose, goals, and objectives. Regular program evaluations and student-centered, relevant course content are also suggested. The focus is on meeting 21st century learning needs through virtual and blended models.

2. Current Virtual
Consultancy
Common Issues
School Status
Presentation
Content
Recommendations Implementation

3. Combination of virtual
and brick and mortar
Credit recovery
Advanced courses
Traditional teaching methods
Self-paced and self-taught
Minimal choices

4. Common Issues
and Criteria
Organizational
Structure
Policies and Regulatory
Environment
Vision and Mission
Instructional Design
Program Evaluation

5. Virtual School
Model
High-level
credit earning
options such as
Partnerships AP and Dual-
with state Credit
universities
Innovative
Ideas
Department of Education should implement a quality
assurance team that ensures iNACOL National Standards
for Quality Online Programs (Pape & Wicks, 2009).

6. Policies and
Regulations
Equal access
for all students
Global
approach
21st Century
literacies
Department of Education should create policy specifically
geared towards virtual schools, and not just apply brick
and mortar school policy (Rice, 2006).

7. Vision and
Mission
Begins the
operational
Foundation of framework
day-to-day
operations
iNACOLs first
institutional
standard
Department of Education should state the purpose of the
organization clearly and concisely explaining what it is,
who it serves, and what it does (Pape & Wicks, 2009).

8. Instructional
Design
Process of Team approach
creating
instructional
materials and
delivery
Expertise is
needed
Department of Education should create student-centered
courses that incorporate 21st Century literacies and
inviting, necessary, and applicable content.

9. Program
Evaluation
Ongoing
process
Concrete and
visible plan
Aligned with
state/national
standards
The Department of Education should plan for evaluations
to be on a regular cycle (Barbour & Reeves, 2008) to
improve in critical areas of the virtual school.

10. More Opportunities Meet
Student Needs…
Source: http://youtu.be/71As3Dxv9vM

11. Implementation Plan: How To Move
Education into the 21st Century
Vision
University
Evaluation
Partnerships
Instructional
Funding
Design
Staffing