Welcome to the Digital Learning Plan (DLP) monthly newsletter
This newsletter will explore the Wyoming DLP, its goals, and suggested strategies to ensure equitable access to opportunities and success in postsecondary, career, and civic life.
DIGITAL LEARNING PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Use of Space and Time
This month's newsletter is focused around the DLP Future Ready Framework gear Use of Time and Space is highlighted. The goals of this gear are:
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- Flexible learning; anytime, anywhere.
- New pedagogy, schedules, and learning environment for personalized learning.
- Competency-based learning.
- Strategies for providing extended time for projects and collaboration.
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Virtual 307 is the virtual education programming provided by Wyoming school districts to K-12 students across the state. The state statutes and rules around virtual education provide districts with multiple options in delivering those opportunities. Districts can chose to implement any of the following virtual education program options:
- Part-time - students take one or two classes to supplement their course load.
- Full-time - more than 50% of the student's course load is virtual education.
- Vendor Curriculum - the virtual education courses are purchased from a vendor.
- District Developed - the virtual education courses are developed by teachers in the school district.
- District Agreements - districts can enter concurrent enrollment agreements and purchase part-time or full-time courses for their students from a district that has an approved program.
Virtual Education Program Structure
School districts interested in providing a virtual education program complete an application submitted to the WDE for review and approval. In determining the program delivery, districts can opt to provide the opportunity to students within their district only, to students in a regional area, or to students statewide. School districts can also choose to provide any of the programming options listed in the bullets above including combinations of all or some of them. Districts also select the grade levels that will be served and if students will be on, or off, campus for virtual education classes. No matter what type of programming is selected, all courses have to be approved by the WDE and all virtual education teachers must be Wyoming certified.
There are multiple virtual education vendors that have worked with Wyoming school districts to obtain course approval and teacher certification. Once courses are approved, they remain approved unless the standards change or the course content is changed. Each year, school districts elect whether or not to renew their virtual education program approval depending on the needs of students in the district. |
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Virtual Education Agreements
Each school district determines whether or not they will allow students to participate in the virtual education within or outside the district. When counselors, students, or families see virtual education courses listed on Virtual 307 they may be interested in, they can communicate this interest through a pre-registration form on the website. The message sent from the form goes to the school district Virtual Education Coordinators located at the district offering the course, as well as the district where the student is located. Each district has the discretion to agree or disagree with the potential enrollment.
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When districts do enter agreements, the district with the primary enrollment maintains the funding for the student, even for full-time participation, and pays the district offering the virtual education for the class or classes. The school district providing the virtual education reports the classes as concurrent enrollments and transfers grade and other information to the school with the primary enrollment. |
These agreements greatly benefit students who are looking for part-time courses to supplement their Hathaway Success Curriculum goals, meet scheduling challenges, or who would like to still participate in their school of residence for one or two classes while they receive most of their education through virtual education offerings.
Virtual Education Participation
The recurring theme in Wyoming virtual education opportunities is flexibility. When students participate in virtual education classes, there are a variety of ways districts can track their participation as an attendance equivalent. This includes documentation provided by the learning management system the class is in, the virtual education teacher, or even seat time attendance is allowed when students are participating in these classes while on campus. |
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Students can even finish classes before the end of the term and school districts are able to collect the average daily membership for early completion. Again, each of these options are up to school districts to determine.
Virtual 307 Website
The Virtual 307 website houses all of the information about virtual education programming in Wyoming. The site includes a searchable database of the approved classes, the school district programs available, frequently asked questions, and policy information. The approved courses and programs are updated the beginning of August prior to the start of the school year. Visit Virtual307.com for more information, or contact Lori Thilmany at 307.777.7418 or lori.thilmany@wyo.gov.
Stay Tuned
Next month’s Digital Learning Plan Newsletter will focus on state initiatives focus on Personalized Professional Learning.
For more information on the Wyoming Digital Learning Plan or the Future Ready Framework, contact Robin Grandpre at 307-777-5315 or robin.grandpre1@wyo.gov.
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