GAVS news [Vol. 2, Issue 1 (Mar. 2008)]

GAVS News

SCHEDULE OF CLASSES
Summer 2008 Session Start Dates:
June 2--June 16
Session End Date: July 18
Registration Dates: Public School Students
Only February 1--June 11
All Students May 1--June 11
School Approval Date: June 13
Fall 2008 Session Start Dates: Main Session/Session1 August 4--Sept. 15 Mini-Session/Session 2
October 13
Session End Date: Both Sessions 1 & 2
December 12
Registration Dates: Public School Students
Only Main Session/Session 1
February 1--Sept. 10 Mini-Session/Session 2
February 1--Oct. 8
All Students Main Session/Session 1
May 1--Sept. 10 Mini-Session/Session 2
May 1--Oct. 8
School Approval Date: Main Session/Session 1
September 12 Mini-Session/Session 2
October 10
*Registration for Spring 2009 is now also open for
public school students.

www.GAVirtualSchool.org
March 2008

Volume 2, Issue 1

GAVS Students Score Well on Fall EOCTs

Georgia Virtual School (GAVS) students scored well on Fall 2007 End-of-Course Tests (EOCTs), meeting or exceeding state averages in all eight core subjects.
The EOCTs align with Georgia curriculum standards and include assessment of specific content knowledge and skills. They are designed to identify strengths and areas of need in learning.

As with face-to-face schools, GAVS uses EOCT scores to drive curriculum and instructional decisions.
The following graph reflects both state averages and GAVS averages on each of the eight subject exams.

Fall 2007
Algebra I Geometry Physical Science

GAVS % Pass 2007 57% 92% 83%

GA % Pass 2007
57% 61% 62%

Biology

57%

57%

U.S. History

75%

48%

Economics

100%

63%

9th Lit./Comp.

80%

67%

American Lit./

88%

80%

Comp.

Schools Embrace Credit Recovery Program

Created by the Division of School and Leader Quality and GAVS, the credit recovery program offers 17 courses, free of charge, to all Georgia public high schools.
Enrollment in the credit recovery program has currently reached over 6,700 students with Clayton County having the highest enrollment with over 1,700 students.
Schools are implementing credit recovery courses in a variety of ways, including after school programs, intersession programs, independent study, summer

school, and instructional focus time during the school day.
Students can only enroll in one credit recovery course at a time, but there is no limit to the total number of courses a student can take.
To participate, each school must assign a credit recovery facilitator and adhere to the following policies:

Agree to use the course for credit recovery only, not first time credit.
Agree to post a second grade for the course on each student's transcript.
Provide EOCTs for appropriate courses.
Require the completion of post tests for each unit in the course.
For more information on the credit recovery program, including a listing of current courses, visit www.gavirtualschool.org.

GAVS Quick Facts
This spring, GAVS has 4527 segments of enrollment.
World languages has the highest enrollment with 860 segments. Math has the second highest enrollment with 668 segments.
135 Georgia school districts are participating in GAVS this spring.
Over 100 schools are currently using the middle school technology assessment with over 25,275 students.

Middle School Courses Offered for the First Time
Middle school courses in math and language arts will be offered starting Summer 2008. Science, world language, and CTAE courses will be added Fall 2008.
Middle school courses will be scheduled on quarters and offered as part of our tuition program.
Registration for summer and fall courses beings March 20. Information concerning Summer and quarter start dates is below and more information can be found at www.gavirtualschool.org.
Summer 2008 Start Date: June 2 or June 9
End Date: July 18
Fall 2008 --1st Quarter Start Date: August 11 or August 18
End Date: October 10
Fall 2008--2nd Quarter Start Date: October 13 or October 20
End Date: December 12
Spring 2009 --3rd Quarter Start Date: January 5 or January 12
End Date: March 8
Spring 2009--4th Quarter Start Date: March 9 or March 16
End Date: May 8

Middle School Math Remediation Resource Provides Pubic Schools with GPS Content
With the implementation of the new GPS for math, GAVS developed a middle school math remediation resource to help public schools serve students who are not at the appropriate math mastery level. The material in this resource covers math standards for 6th, 7th, and 8th grades so that instruction can be individualized to meet specific student needs. Schools are also using this tool for transfer students to ensure mastery of content.
Interested schools and teachers should send an email to moodle1@gavirtualschool.org requesting access. Please include the school name and district in the request.
Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools

Free Advanced Placement Exam Reviews Offered this Spring

In order to help Georgia students more thoroughly prepare for the AP exams this spring, GAVS is offering free Advanced Placement practice exams to Georgia students in the following courses:
Macroeconomics Computer Science A Psychology U.S. Government U.S. History Language and Composition Physics B Chemistry Calculus AB World History
Each practice exam provides background information concerning the test, including time limits for each section, and a full list of

vocabulary terms students should know. In addition, students have the ability to take a full practice exam and receive detailed feedback on answer choices.
Non-GAVS students can register for these practice exams beginning March 15 by going to www.gavirtualschool.org. Practice exams will become available April 10. While these practice exams are free of charge to students, there are a limited amount of seats available, and registration is on a first come, first serve basis.
GAVS students enrolled in these courses will have access to the practices exams through their GAVS courses.