Collegial Collaboration in a

Competitive Environment

http://coloradocyberschools.org/
Panel Introductions
 Sarah Ault- Colorado Connections Academy
 Leanna Christians- Branson School Online
 Lori Cooney- Colorado Coalition of Cyberschool Families
 Heather O’Mara- HOPE Online Learning Academy Co-Op
 2001
 Established by the School Board of Branson School District RE-82

 Vision
 Lead innovation in education for the state of Colorado and
nationally to serve generations of young people.

 Population served
 Currently we serve 400 K-12 students statewide.

 Delivery Model
 Virtual teacher instruction both synchronous and asynchronous
delivered through the web in the home.

 Staff to student ratio

 1 Highly Qualified instructor to 24 students.
2002
Established as a full-time online contract school. Currently contracting
with Mapleton Public Schools.

Who we are
Connections Academy is a national provider of K-12 online education.
Colorado is one of 19 schools.

Population served
Currently we serve 1,400 K-12 students statewide.

Delivery Model
Virtual teacher instruction both synchronous and asynchronous delivered
through the web in the home. Majority of the teachers work from an
office in the Denver metro area.

Staff to student ratio

1 Highly Qualified instructor to 30 students.
 2005
◦ Established as a full-time online school
◦ Currently chartered by the Douglas County School District
 Vision
◦ Recognizing that all students learn differently, Hope Online students access their
online school at a Hope Online Learning Center where they are supported by
dedicated and experienced teachers and mentors.
 Students
◦ Hope Online currently serves 3,000 k-12 students at 50 Learning Centers statewide.
◦ 79% of students are minority and over 55% qualify for FRL.
 Delivery Model
◦ Students of Hope Online attend Learning Centers, operated by a variety of
community-based organizations.
◦ Hope Online students access standards-based curricula, receiving synchronous and
asynchronous instruction, in an adult-supported environment.
 Staff to Student Ratio
◦ 1 licensed teacher for every 100 students
◦ 1 qualified mentor for every 18 students
Cyberfamilies
 2004 established
 The Colorado Coalition of Cyberschool

Families is a group of dedicated parents who

have come together to be powerful and vocal
advocates for cyberschools and online
learning in Colorado.
 Protecting choice in public education.
CCA Members
 Branson School Online
 Colorado Connections Academy
 Colorado Virtual Academy (COVA)
 Guided Online Academic Learning Academy
(GOAL)
 Hope Online Learning Academy Co-Op (Hope
Online)
 Insight School
 Karval Online Education
 Monte Vista On-Line Academy
 Colorado Coalition of Cyberfamilies
 PACE
What we do
 The Colorado Cyberschools Association (CCA)
cooperatively assists cyberschools in providing a high-
quality education to online students by:
◦ sharing information about effective online education
and program management,
◦ promoting studies that improve the quality of online
programs,
◦ improving access to online programs,
◦ working with appropriate agencies to improve
enrollment and attendance processes, and
◦ collaborating to address geographic issues inherent
to online learning.
Why was CCA established?
 Pioneers in the advancement of online
education in the state of Colorado
 Information sharing & advocacy
 Identification, research & advancement of

best practices
 Leveraging common issues with decision

makers
What have we grown to be?
 Resource for members
 Resource for researchers
 Resource for families seeking educational

options
 Resource for those who want to really learn

about a variety of online educational models

Why choose collaboration?
Why not competition?
 Identify the student populations who are best
served by each school option.
 Recognize that families have the right to

choose the educational model that best fits

their student/family’s needs.
 Support families to choose the best academic

program for their students.

 Basic premise is that there are sufficient

students to be served by all members.

Shared activities
 Schools share best approaches for educating
state decision makers .
 Schools come together to provide

professional development for teachers.

 School leaders identify common obstacles

facing the families that they serve and look

for ways to address challenges together.
 Schools sponsor common activities for

families such as Red Ribbon Week and Day at

the Capitol.
What are the pitfalls?
 The organization is a volunteer organization.
 Officers are also leaders in their schools-

burnout.
 Dues are used to benefit families of member

schools.
 Requires significant effort and trust with a

focus on what is best for the students served

across the community of members.
 Benefits versus cost to members always in

review and must stay in balance.