GAVS news [Vol. 1, Issue 5 (Nov. 2007)]

GAVS News

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
Fall 2007 EOCTs for home and private school students:
December 6
Session End Date: Both Sessions 1 & 2
December 14
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, 2007 --Feb. 8,
2008 All Students June 1--Feb. 8, 2008
School Approval Deadline:
Main Session/Session 1 September 7
Mini-Session/Session 2 March 7
GAVS offers students rigorous courses, in a
variety of pacing models, taught by
highly qualified, certified teachers.

www.GAVirtualSchool.org
November 2007

Volume 1, Issue 5

GAVS Develops Middle School Technology Assessment

In collaboration with GADOE Technology Services Title II-D Program, Georgia Virtual School (GAVS) is currently developing three middle school technology assessments, consisting of 60 questions each, to help schools measure the technology literacy of their 8th graders.
In order to comply with the six ISTE standards and the proposed Technology Across the Curriculum standards, all 8th graders in Georgia are required to take a technology

assessment in order to measure their level of technology literacy. Students must demonstrate proficiency in all six ISTE standards in order to pass the technology assessment.
Currently, schools are able to choose which assessment they use to test students' technology literacy. There is a cost involved for many of these tests, but the tests offered through GAVS will be free of charge to public schools. In addition, by developing more than one technology literacy test, GAVS will give schools the opportunity to either pre-test students or offer various groups of students different tests.
The middle school technology assessments will be available through the Online Assessment System beginning December 1, 2007. Information concerning the tests will be available on the GAVS website, www.gavirtualschool.org, at the beginning of November.

GAVS' Summer End-of-Course Test Scores Exceed State Averages

Summer 2007 found Georgia Virtual School (GAVS) students performing exceptionally well on End-ofCourse Tests (EOCTs), exceeding state averages in all eight core subject areas.
Mandated to improve teaching and learning throughout the state of Georgia, EOCTs are aligned with Georgia curriculum standards. They provide diagnostic information to help students and schools identify areas of need.

As with face-to-face schools, GAVS also uses tests results to shape curriculum and instructional decisions. The following table illustrates GAVS' Summer 2007 pass rates and the state's Summer 2007 pass rates.
GAVS continues to improve its curriculum in all subject areas and aspires to develop additional resources for EOCT preparation for all Georgia students.

Summer GAVS % GA % 2007 Pass 2007 Pass 2007

Algebra I

86%

50%

Geometry 79%

49%

Physical

71%

49%

Science

Biology

93%

37%

U.S. History 89%

57%

Economics

75%

38%

9th Lit./

94%

50%

Comp.

American

89%

65%

Lit./Comp.

GAVS Quick Facts
This fall, GAVS has 3258 segments of enrollment. Social studies has the highest enrollment with 515
students in 716 segments of enrollment. World languages has the second highest with 469 students in 685 segments of enrollment. 149 Georgia school districts participate in GAVS.
GAVS has 172 certified, trained teachers.

Credit Recovery Courses Now Available
This August, Georgia Virtual School (GAVS), in conjunction with GADOE's Division of Teacher and School Quality, made Algebra I and Physical Science credit recovery available to all Georgia public schools, free of charge. Credit recovery courses are offered specifically to students who have previously been unsuccessful in a course.
GAVS plans to roll out fifteen more credit recovery courses in January 2008. Systems must agree to the following guidelines to use the program:
Schools must assign a credit recovery facilitator who completes online training.
Students must complete the unit post-test for each unit in the course.
Schools will transcribe a second course grade to reflect the credit recovery score.
If an End-of-Course Test is required for a course, the student must take the EOCT at the end of the credit recovery course, regardless of whether they took it or not in the past.
More information about the credit recovery program can be found at www.gavirtualschool.org. Schools needed facilitator/ monitor accounts can request access to registration by completing the account request form online.

GAVS Offers First Student Clubs
With enrollment significantly increasing each semester, GAVS continues to find new ways to build online learning communities for its students and teachers. One of the latest services GAVS is offering to students is the opportunity for them to participate in various teacher-led clubs. The following marks the clubs that are available for student participation this fall: Book Club Club Veg Fitness Club Journalism Club Spanish Club Students, parents, and facilitators can learn more about these clubs through their GAVS home page.
Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools

Middle School Math Remediation Course Offered Free to Georgia Public Schools

Georgia Virtual School (GAVS), in conjunction with the GADOE's Division of Teacher and School Quality, has developed and is offering a middle school remediation course free of charge to public schools and teachers.
With the implementation of the new math Georgia Performance Standards, schools need a plan for those students transferring in and/ or those students who are not at the mastery level in 8th grade. The middle school math remediation course is a resource for teachers to use to assist students with acquiring the math skills they need before entering high school. It covers math

standards for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades so that instruction can be
individualized to fit various student needs. Interested schools and teachers should send an email to moodle1@gavirtualschool.org to request access to the course including their school name and district in the email request.