1. NEBRASKA EDUCATIONAL VIRTUAL ACADEMY

2. NEVA’s Purpose “The Good Life” Maintaining our rural lifestyle without sacrificing educational opportunity for our students We can Live Small and Play Big

3. The Past 1999-2009 Western Nebraska Distance Learning Consortium formed in 1999 20 school districts in ESU #13 all participating as equal members (one district = one vote) Coordination and participation fees divided equally ESU #13 has run an alternative ed program (VALTS) for over ten years.

4. 2005-2006 DL has worked wonderfully, but there are times when more flexibility is needed. We found and liked a system that had many of the components we saw in the NEVA hybrid. –80% online –20% Skype, DL, cell phone (they have our numbers), land line, Instant Messaging, email, site coordinator, personal teacher visits

5. 2006 - 2007 Pilot Summer –Algebra and American History 14 students between Garden County and VALTS Partnership with WNCC/ESU 13 –42,600 sq ft facility–$3.5 million –ESU 11,000 sq ft $875,000 –¾ owned by WNCC, ¼ owned by ESU

6. 2007-2008 Construction starts at WNCC Decision to add two staff members was made- ESU would fund 08-09 Funding becomes consortium responsibility in 09-10 The six VALTS Supts. approved the concept of merging NEVA and VALTS

7. 2007-2008 –NEVA’s first delivery philosophy is born (Not buying products, but creating courses based on Nebraska Academic Standards, and infusing 21st Century Skills) –7 courses identified by ESU schools and created by NEVA staff English 9 and English 10 Algebra 1 Physical Science and Biology US History and World History –Moodle-NROC

8. Phase I: Fall 2008 Construction completed Nov. 2008 7 courses up and running, involving: –9 school districts –41 students District Site Visits

9. Phase II: Spring 2009 7 courses (with mixture of 1 st & 2 nd semester offerings) 8 school districts 36 students Planning Stage: Using District input Phase 3 & 4 course offerings Identification & capacity building (training) adjunct faculty

10. Phase III: Summer 2009 - Commitment to offer 4 – one semester courses (from each core area) - 8 school districts - 45 students - Strengthen WNCC relationship - Design and build two new courses - College Calculus & College Physics - Expand resource base with training in module design and social authoring concepts

11. WHAT WE LEARNED Re-phasing to deal with: –OUR FORMAT – consistent look –Modules vs Courses –District Curriculum Needs –Technology Issues Internet Bandwidth Schools’ Network Idiosyncrasies Student Computers Idiosyncrasies Network Security/CIPA regulations/eRate/email –Sustainability FTE’s: COURSE DEVELOPMENT, INSTRUCTION

12. Funding Sustainability Summer, 2007-Summer, 2009 – ESU funds pilot project Fall, 2009 and beyond: Funding becomes consortium responsibility. Fee structure similar to current DL consortium

13. Phase IV: Fall, 2009 Implementation Stage –Offerings according to district needs from the existing 7 courses, additional courses & modules Planning Stage –Course Creation according to district needs and funds available

14. Where do we go from here? Learning opportunities for students Professional Development Statewide Networking 21 st Century Learning Skills Global Community Continuation of “The Good Life”

15. What questions do you have for us? Contact Info –Kirk Begley (kbegley@esu13.org)kbegley@esu13.org –Craig Hicks (chicks@esu13.org)chicks@esu13.org –Julie Schaff (jschaff@esu13.org)jschaff@esu13.org –BJ Peters (bpeters@esu13.org)bpeters@esu13.org –Jeff West (jeffwest@esu13.org)jeffwest@esu13.org