GAVS news [Vol. 1, Issue 3 (May 2007)]

GAVS News

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
Summer 2007
Session Start Dates: June 1--June 18
Session End Date: July 20
Registration Dates: Feb. 1--June 15
Fall 2007
Session Start Dates: Main Session/Session1
August 6--Sept. 10 Mini-Session/Session 2
October 15
Session End Date: Both Sessions 1 & 2
December 14
Registration Dates: Public School Students
Only Feb. 1--May 31
All Students June 1--Sept. 7
Spring 2008
Session Start Dates: Main Session/Session1
Jan. 7--Feb. 11 Mini-Session/Session 2
March 10
Session End Date: Both Sessions 1 & 2
May 9
Registration Dates: Public School Students
Only Feb. 1--May 31
All Students June 1--Feb. 8

www.GAVirtualSchool.org
May 2007

Volume 1, Issue 3

Free AP Practice Exams Offered to Georgia Students
concerning the test, including time limits for each section, and a full list of vocabulary terms they should know. In addition, students have the ability to take a full practice exam and receive detailed feedback on their answer choices.

Students can choose to take up to eight practice AP practice exams, providing a full practice test and relevant information for exam preparation.
In order to help Georgia students more thoroughly prepare for the AP exams this spring, Georgia Virtual School (GAVS) developed and offered free AP practice exams in the following courses: Macroeconomics, Computer Science A, Psychology, U.S. Government, U.S. History, and Language and Composition. Each practice exam gives students background information

Each exam was developed by GAVS teachers. Students can register for these practice exams from April--May 2007. The exams are free of charge to students; however, there are a limited number of seats available, and registration is on a first come, first serve basis.
GAVS plans to expand its practice exam offerings for the 2007-08 school year to include reviews for the following courses: Calculus AB, Statistics, Biology, World History, Physics B, and Literature and Composition.

GAVS Collaborates with Office of School Improvement to Provide Credit Recovery Courses

In collaboration with the Office of School Improvement, Georgia Virtual School (GAVS) is developing and will be offering a series of credit recovery courses free to schools. To be eligible for a credit recovery course, students must have previously failed the course.
The first course, Algebra I, will be available in June 2007 but will have limited

enrollment. The Office of School Improvement will be prioritizing applications for this course with graduating seniors receiving top priority, followed by juniors.
Physical Science will be available beginning August 2007, and 14 additional courses will be available January 2008.
In order to participate in the

credit recovery course program, schools must assign a local school facilitator for the course who will receive training on its implementation and monitoring.
More information concerning credit recovery courses can be found on the GAVS website, www.GAVirtualSchool.org, under Credit Recovery.

GAVS Quick Facts
This spring, GAVS is serving 1807 unique students in 2792 segments of enrollment.
Social Studies is the highest enrolled department for Spring 2007 with 502 unique students in 698 segments of enrollment. Math is the second highest with 390 unique students in 564 segments of enrollment.
At this time, 347 unique students are enrolled in 477 AP practice exams.

GAVS Develops Middle School Math Remediation Course
GAVS, in collaboration with the Georgia Department of Education's Office of Curriculum and Instruction, is developing a comprehensive middle school math remediation course for local schools. This course will contain content covering the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade math Georgia Performance Standards (GPS) and be designed to use as a tool for remediation or instructional individualization. Schools may also choose to use this with transfer students, allowing them to catch up on required skills they may have missed. The purpose of this course will be to prepare students to advance to ninth grade math.
This course will be available beginning August 1. For more information, visit GAVS' website at www.GAVirtualSchool.org.

College Board Authorizes GAVS Courses

GAVS offers students the opportunity to gain credit for courses not offered at their local school. Students have the ability to take courses any where, from any Internet-connected computer. Courses are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools

GAVS has gained College Board approval for the following AP courses:
Physics B Calculus AB Statistics French Language World History European History U.S. Government Human Geography Psychology Macroeconomics Computer Science A
The College Board is requiring all schools that offer advanced placement courses to submit

curriculum to be reviewed for each advance placement course offered. Courses that pass the audit will be able to be labeled AP for the 2007-08 school year.
The purpose of the audit is to ensure that courses are collegelevel. College and university faculty and qualified secondary instructors set expectations and review curriculum to ensure that it meets or exceeds these standards.
GAVS will continue to submit curriculum for review and plans to have all curriculum approved for the 2007-08 school year.