Joint Committee Committee on Joint Education (02/08/2012)

Final
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING

COMMITTEE ON JOINT EDUCATION

Date:	02/08/2012	ATTENDANCE

Time:	09:04 AM to 09:53 AM	Beezley
		Hamner
Place:	HCR 0112	Heath
		Holbert
This Meeting was called to order by		Hudak
	Representative Massey	Johnston
		Joshi
This Report was prepared by		Kerr A.
	Jennifer Thomsen	King K.
		Murray
		Peniston
		Ramirez
		Renfroe
		Schafer S.
		Solano
		Spence
		Summers
		Todd
		Bacon
		Massey
		X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call

Bills Addressed:		Action Taken:
Presentation on On-line and Blended Learning		-

09:04 AM -- Presentation on On-line and Blended Learning

Tony Lewis, Executive Director of the Donnell-Kay Foundation, and Amy Anderson, Assistant Commissioner of Innovation and Choice at the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), came to the table to make a presentation on on-line and blended learning. They provided a number of handouts (Attachments A through E). Ms. Anderson began by providing information about the Expanded Learning Opportunities Commission (ELO). She discussed the importance of customized learning experiences for students. She noted that the recommendations of the ELO are being implemented in partnership with the Colorado Legacy Foundation, and that a strategic plan would be available in March.

09:09 AM

Ms. Anderson provided an overview of the on-line learning landscape in Colorado, saying about two percent of students in the state are currently attending school on-line. She talked about providing access to a blended learning model, which would give students access to supplemental learning options on-line. She talked about the types of full-time on-line learning options, including single-district and multi-district on-line programs. Ms. Anderson discussed how districts are working together to provide on-line options to students. Next, Ms. Anderson discussed issues of quality of full-time on-line programs in state. She noted that she is committed to researching, in partnership with the University of Colorado Denver (UCD), the characteristics of students in on-line schools in order to learn how to better serve the population that attends school on-line. She also discussed efforts to develop a strategy to better serve students in rural school districts. She said the CDE has ramped up the certification of on-line schools on the front end to make sure that the schools are high quality.

09:14 AM

Mr. Lewis provided information about his organization, which is focused on education in Colorado. He said on-line education presents an exciting opportunity for the state. He said technology is a tool that can enhance the learning process, but does not replace a teacher or a curriculum. Mr. Lewis talked about the diverse population of students that may be reached through an on-line education program. He said full-time on-line is not a good option for most students, but a blended model will reach students that might not otherwise be reached. Mr. Lewis said blended learning models are a tool to engage students. He commented that on-line learning is a new movement, and the state, districts, and schools are still figuring it out. He said they are working on how to create the right environment for learning to take hold. Mr. Lewis said it is important that there are not too many barriers that keep teachers from doing this work, and he said policy makers can create the right environment for this work.

09:21 AM

Mr. Lewis continued his presentation, referring to Digital Learning Now, a report by the Foundation for Excellence in Education (Attachment B, also available on-line at http://www.excelined.org/Docs/Digital%20Learning%20Now%20Report%20FINAL.pdf). Mr. Lewis, in the context of Colorado's low score in that report, discussed the challenges around implementing on-line and blended learning policies in local control states. He noted that the Donnell-Kay Foundation is working with CDE and the Legacy Foundation to provide information to the field about blended learning.

09:24 AM

Ms. Anderson said there is room within existing policies to do a lot of the work identified by the ELO. She talked about current opportunities for blended learning.

Representative Massey commented on the presentation, talking about challenges faced by rural school districts such as his. He noted that blended and distance learning programs are great for these districts. He spoke about the Flex Academy model in California. Representative Massey also spoke about the Khan Academy, encouraging committee members to make themselves familiar with it. He talked about how these models work for students, saying it is the wave of the future.

09:29 AM

Representative Ramirez asked for further information about the blended learning study conducted by Donnell-Kay (Attachment A, also available on-line at http://www.dkfoundation.org/PDF/BlendedLearning-BestOfBothWorlds-Feb2011.pdf). Mr. Lewis responded, and noted that Salman Khan of the Khan Academy would be in Colorado in May.

Senator Johnston commented on the most at-risk students and how they might be served in alternative school settings, discussing the range of needs in those environments. He commented that a blended environment may work well in these settings. Ms. Anderson responded to Senator Johnston's comments, saying the study being done with UCD will drill down on this issue. Representative Massey commented on these issues as well. Mr. Lewis discussed how alternative education campuses are rated, talking about the difficulty in finding a balance in those ratings, given the understanding that they serve a population of students with difficult circumstances.

09:35 AM

Senator Bacon asked how on-line models can be effective in schools; and stated that a more robust counselor/advisor group is necessary to get the information out to the field. Mr. Lewis responded, saying policy makers need to set an environment that will allow educators to embrace on-line and blended learning. He said it is important to let teachers know about these options. Representative Massey commented on this issue, talking about possible cost-savings of blended and on-line learning programs. Representative Todd said blended and on-line learning is a tool that gives students who do not want to be in a school setting an option for credit recovery. She said she hopes information is being gathered from districts about what they are doing and what is working for students. Ms. Anderson responded to Representative Todd's comments, talking about how schools and districts are being incentivized to innovate. She also discussed partnerships between the Aurora School District and community partners.

09:43 AM

Representative Peniston commented that blended learning is the best of both worlds, and said that the presentation identified a key dilemma in educating kids -- how to best serve all students, including those who are challenged and challenging. Representative Holbert talked about the importance of mentors or teachers in on-line learning. He also commented on what the future might hold in terms of technology. Mr. Lewis responded, agreeing that human contact is critical. He also discussed how technology is providing new opportunities for students, providing the example of students connecting with climbers on Mount Everest via Skype. Ms. Anderson commented as well, saying the teacher is key in an on-line or blended environment. She said this is possible in a high-quality on-line environment. She discussed the transforming role of the teacher, and discussed different learning and teaching models.

09:51 AM

Senator Hudak commented on the ELO report, noting the broadband connectivity issues that pose a challenge in some areas of the state. She also commented on the need for an effort to teach existing teachers, using a blended learning model, to modernize their teaching methods. Ms. Anderson responded, saying these issues are being studied, and professional development is being developed.

09:53 AM

The committee adjourned.