OPEN HOUSE October 16, 2013

Topics for Discussion !  How does it work? !  The unique aspects of the school !  The teachers !  The program !  The student population !  The governance structure !  Application

What is Pivot Charter School !  CA public charter school authorized by Mountain Empire !  Provides an online curriculum with site based offerings at

Resource Centers !  Students can be “virtual” if they are independent and can get

work done with support of online teachers !  Can come to site based programs

! Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 9-12 ! Tuesday Thursday 12:30 -3:00 at Boys and Girls Club in Oroville ! Writing workshops, Algebra, tutoring

How does it work? !  Local CA credentialed teachers provide daily oversight, motivation,

academic guidance and onsite support = Educational Coordinators (ECs)

!  Students get passwords and log in to curriculum sites and classes open

!  Instruction and assessment includes research, essay writing, multiple choice assessments, short answer assessments, video conferencing, animation, labs…

!  The system shows hourly/daily student progress in each class !  Online teachers chat, email, whiteboard or call students to assist

with instruction and/or students come to the Resource Centers !  Parent portal to “see” everything a student is doing, completion rates,

grades, assessments etc… its like getting a report card every day.

How does it work?

Hybrid/Blended Model !  Online curriculum to allow for individualized program

supported by local teachers at the site !  Individualized pacing of courses. E.g. 2 for 21 days or 1 for 42

days ! Can move fast or take it a little slower

!  Site based offerings such as tutoring, reading, small group instruction, CAHSEE prep ! Drama and theatre classes, community service class, math classes,

focus classes !  CA highly qualified teachers as “case managers” or educational

coordinators in addition to online class instructors (ECs) !  “Resource center” site for school functions, administration, as

well as academic support

Educational Coordinators !  “local” teachers that care a great deal about students !  Call, email, text, classmail, students daily if needed !  Students must chat with teachers, use classmail, oovoo or check

in daily !  EC job is to get online and “watch” kids’ progress

!  “get in the heads” of the students to see what is working, where they struggle and provide support

!  Create field trips and service learning !  Hold conferences to support student success !  Document attendance !  Work on site with students

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Unique Aspects of the School !  “Readers” (text to speech) to read content to students !  Dictionary, thesaurus and translators (12 languages) built in to

the system with a hover of the mouse !  15+ Advanced Placement classes !  Unique electives such as music theory, Chinese, anthropology,

graphic arts, current events !  Rigorous and standards based curriculum with significant levels

of student support and assistance !  Free college courses available through community college dual

enrollment and online for free through DeVry University !  Credit recovery !  Early graduation options

This shows your progress in the course.

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Student Population !  Students in need of increased class offerings such as a

multitude of interesting and unique electives and Advanced Placement courses as well as multiple foreign languages (German, Mandarin, Spanish, French)

!  Students missing credits and need to catch up !  Students who have scheduling conflicts with traditional

schools and have outside interests that demand their time !  Students not comfortable in a large

traditional school ! Accelerated learners who want to graduate early or with college credits after high school

What Does the Pivot Student Do? !  Contacts EC daily by e-mail, chat, phone or text message !  Answers EC and teachers' communications promptly !  Logs on to the AAI system every school day !  Asks for help online or at the Resource Center when needed !  Completes at least 3 assignments a day (or can eventually be

withdrawn from program) !  Asks for resets on assignments that receive a grade less than a C !  Checks on his/her own progress daily !  Remembers to do Community Service !  Comes to the site for program times !  Follows all Resource Center rules !  Is polite and courteous to all teachers and classmates.

Governance !  Charter schools authorized by school districts !  Roads Education Organization is a not for profit corporation

whose mission is to develop, implement and oversee strong educational options

!  Board members are volunteers and have backgrounds in education, finance, government, public service and business

!  They assume all responsibility and liability for the Pivot Charter Schools

!  Executive Director oversees all four Pivot Charter Schools !  San Diego, Butte, Riverside, Sonoma and all contiguous counties to

these counties !  Local lead teachers and ECs handle day to day operations

Application Process !  Complete application and return with required documents to the

site !  Proof of residency !  Signed application !  Some form of grade or transcripts

!  If student has an IEP the process can take a little longer as an IEP meeting may need to be held for change in program placement

!  Meet with teacher to create master agreement !  Sign master agreement !  Classes will be opened

Pivot Charter School Summary !  PCS is a unique structured blended learning program; the best of

educational worlds !  PCS is a highly accountable, standards based academic program !  Students receive A LOT of caring, individualized attention !  PCS meets the needs of many different learners including English

Learners, students who are behind in credits or who want to accelerate their high school career or students for whom traditional school is not working

!  PCS offers a flexible and dynamic education