1. February 27, 2017 Kenneth Klau Director, Office of Digital Learning
TEC Connections Academy Commonwealth Virtual School Student Demographics and Enrollment Trends,
February 27, 2017
Kenneth Klau
Director, Office of Digital Learning

2. Goal of this presentation
Respond to the Board’s February 2016 request to further understand the demographics of students enrolled in public virtual schools*
What is unique about the virtual school population?
Why do families enroll their children in virtual schools?
What is the mobility rate of the virtual schools?
Why do families leave virtual schools?
Within the broader context of the Commissioner’s recommendation to renew TECCA’s certificate for 5 years
Based on a request originally made by the board 1 year ago when it voted, with reservations, to renew the certificate for GCVS for 3 years and maintain probation
Using data collected by the Department as well as data provided by the school
* Using data from the TEC Connections Academy Commonwealth Virtual School (TECCA)
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

3. Virtual school students possess a collection of unique characteristics
More likely to..
Have a history of low achievement
Have repeated a grade
Have a history of low attendance
Have a history of being suspended from school
Have a history of truancy
More likely to be economically disadvantaged
Fast-growing population of students with disabilities
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

4. Most families enroll their children because of general dissatisfaction with their local public school, they seek more flexibility, or they seek greater involvement with their child’s learning
Percent
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

5. Virtual school students are highly mobile
43.9 % were enrolled all year
26.8% moved in during the year
29.2% moved out during the year
48.4% enrolled in-state public schools
23.5% unknown
9.3% enrolled in non-diploma programs
7.6% entered home schooling
6.8% moved out of state
4.2% other (private school, diploma program, job corps, graduated
CMVS have the highest mobility rates of any school in the Commonwealth
Low-income CMVS students are more likely to be mobile; the difference is statistically significant from non low-income CMVS students
530 remained enrolled all year
179 only enrolled in October
99 only enrolled between October and March
75 only enrolled in March
286 only enrolled between March and June
38 only enrolled in June
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

6. Most families leave virtual schooling because they desired a more traditional setting or due to insufficient support at home
Percent
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education