Legislation approved by the 2010 General Assembly creates a new framework for virtual schools and online instruction designed to expand options for students while ensuring quality and alignment with the commonwealth’s academic standards.

The Code of Virginia allows school divisions to offer online instruction to students in multiple school divisions by entering into a contract with any private organization, educational institution, or nonprofit virtual school organization that has been approved by the superintendent of public instruction to operate as a multidivision online provider.

A virtual school or online program enrolling fewer than 10 percent of its students from outside the sponsoring school division or consortia of divisions is not required to secure approval as a multidivision online provider.

Criteria for approving and monitoring multidivision online providers were approved by the Board of Education on November 18, 2010. These criteria and processes are designed to ensure that Virginia students receive high quality educational services and that instruction and courses offered by multidivision online providers are aligned with the Standards of Learning and presented by highly qualified teachers.

Students who need more complex learning opportunities are able to find these options within a differentiated classroom.

Advanced learners prefer and benefit from instruction that includes; a faster pace of learning, greater independence in study and thought, and increased complexity and depth in subject content. Therefore, in such classrooms students with high learning capacity are likely to feel more challenged, to meet with success and growth, and to be called upon to develop higher level study skills.

Differentiation is a framework for thinking about good teaching for all students. Teaching strategies for differentiating instruction are based on best practices in education. Teachers respond to the needs of all learners in different ways rather than teaching students as though all learners are alike.

Overview

Every classroom is made up of students with diverse strengths, backgrounds, and ways of learning. Teachers must understand and respond to their students’ unique learning needs in order to deliver instruction that will challenge all learners.

What is Differentiation?

Differentiation is a teaching philosophy based on the premise that teachers should adapt instruction to student differences. Rather than simply “teaching to the middle”, teachers are tailoring their instruction to provide multiple avenues for students to make sense of ideas. Through diversifying instruction, teachers can better meet students’ varying readiness levels, learning preferences, and interests.

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

There is no recipe for differentiation. Helping all students succeed in their learning is an enormous task that requires teachers to have a strong knowledge of both learning theory and research-based teaching strategies. Teachers can adjust the presentation of curricula through addressing individual learning styles and multiple intelligences. Many of these differentiated instructional techniques are based on current brain-based research.

Meeting Students Where They Are

Differentiation must be a refinement of, not a substitute for, high-quality curriculum and instruction. The intent of differentiating instruction is to maximize each student’s growth by making connections between the curriculum and their interest and experiences. Teachers facilitate learning and individual success by modifying instruction and assisting in the learning process.

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For great supporting links, go to the VA DOE site: English as a Second Language (ESL) Instruction

Best Practices of Technology Integration in Michigan Site

Electronic Practice Assessment Tools ePats

Standards of Learning Resources VADOE

Virtual Virginia Online Courses for HS Students

The Virginia GED program

Virginia Graduation Requirements

The Virginia School Report Card

Senior Year Plus

Please use the links above to navigate to some interesting instructional web resources.

If you can’t find it, please send me an e-mail, and I will try my best to help.

Thanks for visiting!