by Michael Van Beek - Michigan Virtual University

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Virtual Learning in Michigan’s Schools 14served 540 students — three times as many as it did the previous year. The schoolhad a waiting list of 150. 57Washtenaw, Livingston and Genesee intermediate school districts also havecountywide multi-district programs. These ISDs all use a program developed byWidening Advancements for Youth, a newly formed nonprofit that specializesin “re-engaging” students who have dropped out or are at risk of dropping out.It uses virtual learning to enable these students to earn a high school diplomawithout needing to attend school on a daily basis. 5857 Schultz, “At-Risk StudentsEmbrace Online Learning atMetro Detroit Cyber School,”The Detroit News, Jan. 20,2010, goo.gl/awD4O (accessedJan. 20, 2010); LoriHiggins, “Cyber High SchoolProgram Reaches at-RiskEven though the coordination of these WAY programs is managed by the ISDs, Wayne County Teens,” DetroitFree Press, April 2, 2010,the state aid for the students who enroll in the programs is received by thegoo.gl/XK28e (accessed Aprilstudents’ local districts. This mitigates the concern that individual districts might 12, 2010).have about “losing out” on potential state funding for students who enroll in the 58 “Frequently Asked Questions”(Widening Advance-WAY program. 59ments for Youth, 2011),http://www.wayprogramA major multi-district virtual program is the Genesee Network for Education .net/way_faqs.php (accessedTelecommunications, known as “GenNET.” GenNET, established in 2001, Jan. 11, 2011). 2011does not directly supply virtual instruction, but instead grants access to virtual59 Executive Directorcourses from a host of other providers. 60 Beth Baker, WideningThe courses were originally available Advancement for Youths,only to students in the Genesee Intermediate School District, but due to a recent telephone correspondencewith Michael Van Beek,decision by Michigan Superintendent of Public Instruction Michael Flanagan, Jan. 10, 2011.they are now available to students across the state. 6160 Thomas Svitkovich andBeverly Know-Pipes, “Gen-The courses are approved by GenNET and offered by institutions likeNET — Academic Optionsfor Schools: A Report to theNorthwestern University, Brigham Young University and the University of House Education Committee”(Genesee IntermediateNebraska-Lincoln. Other course providers are private companies like LincolnInteractive, Aventa Learning and K12 Inc. 62 School District, 2009).GenNET ensures that all of its61 Thomas Svitkovich,providers are accredited, and it independently monitors the instructional quality Beverly Knox-Pipes, andof each course. 63 Although the instruction is delivered full-time online, students Debra Hartman, “GeneseeCounty’s Seat Timeare often supervised by teachers at their own schools, and this supervision may Waiver Briefing” (Geneseeinclude some facilitated learning.Intermediate School District,2009), goo.gl/goQAy(accessed Jan. 14, 2011).GenNET’s model enables it to offer a wider array of programs than MVS. In the62 For a list of teacher-led2009-2010 school year, GenNET carried 900 different courses, whereas MVS online course providersprovided only about 270. 64 Although GenNET had about one-third the course through GenNET, see:“Teacher-Led Onlineenrollments of MVS, the GenNET program is growing rapidly. Course enrollments Course Providers” (Geneseemore than doubled from the 2008-2009 to the 2009-2010 school year, surpassing Intermediate School District,4,000. 65 2010), goo.gl/ncaaH(accessed Jan. 14, 2011).64 “A Report to the Legislature” (Michigan Virtual University, 2009), 2, goo.gl/iTXT5(accessed April 10, 2010); “Online Courses Catalog” (Genesee Intermediate School District, 2010),http://gennetonline.geneseeisd.org/course_catalog.asp (accessed Jan. 14, 2011).65 Thomas Svitkovich, Lisa Hagel, and John Schantz, “A Seat Time Waiver for You: Genesee County’sSeat Time Waiver Goes Statewide” (paper presented at the Michigan Association of SchoolAdministrators, Detroit, Mich., http://www.michiganedusource.org/Conferences/mw10/GenNet.ppt(accessed April 1, 2010).63 Superintendent ThomasSvitkovich, Genesee IntermediateSchool District andBeverly Knox-Pipes, AssistantSuperintendent, GeneseeIntermediate School District,telephone correspondencewith Michael Van Beek,Feb. 15, 2010.Mackinac Center for Public Policy
Virtual Learning in Michigan’s Schools 15Funding for GenNET’s services comes primarily from the districts whosestudents enroll in the courses. These districts pay the course fees out of theirper-pupil foundation allowances. GenNET also receives funds from the GeneseeIntermediate School District and has received a $165,000 grant from the MichiganAssociation of Intermediate School Administrators. 66GenNET CostsLike some of the single-district online programs, GenNET probably benefitsfrom overhead expenditures made by the Genesee Intermediate School Districtfor its traditional programs. Thus, the total cost of the GenNET program canonly be estimated.The GenNET courses cost students less on average than those provided by MVS,even though GenNET does not receive an annual state appropriation. Based onGenNET’s 2010 catalog, the average cost for a semester- or trimester-long coursewas $264.34.* This would make the average full-time cost of taking six courses persemester through GenNET only $3,172 per year, or less than half of the 2008-2009 statewide average of $6,571 per-pupil instructional costs. 67One reason GenNET may be able to offer less expensive courses than MVS is thatGenNET purchases its courses from large-scale providers who must competewith programs around the country to sell their services to schools. Since MVSdesigns and builds some of its own courses, it may need to charge more percourse to cover its expenses. The GenNET approach — facilitating access andensuring quality of courses provided by third parties — may promise the greatestcost-savings potential for districts and taxpayers.Virtual Charter SchoolsThe state’s two virtual charter schools † are the most recent type of virtual learningin Michigan. They opened for the first time in the 2010-2011 school year.Michigan Connections Academy is authorized under a charter with Ferris StateUniversity and run by Baltimore-based Connections Academy, a for-profit virtualcharter school management company. 68 Michigan Virtual Charter Academy ischartered by Grand Valley State University and managed by K12 Inc., a companysimilar to Connections Academy. 69The schools have central buildings in Okemos and Grand Rapids, respectively.Students may attend special events there or use the equipment to access theircoursework, but their regular attendance is not required. The two schools usea mixture of computer-based, Internet-based, remote teacher online, blendedlearning and facilitated virtual learning, and they generate the majority of their* Author’s calculations basedon: “Online Courses Catalog”(Genesee Intermediate SchoolDistrict, 2010), goo.gl/pwsFJ(accessed Jan. 14, 2011). The differencebetween the semester andtrimester courses offered throughGenNET lies in how long the studentchooses to take in completingthe course; the number of coursecredits is the same for both.† Charter schools are publicschools that have their ownboard of directors and are authorizedto receive state money bypublic universities, intermediateschool districts, local schooldistricts or community colleges.These “authorizers” hold thecharter schools accountablethrough performance-based contracts.Charter schools must alsomeet state-defined criteria in orderto receive public funds. Theymay not charge tuition or denyany student admission if space isavailable. MCL § 380.501 et seq.66 Thomas Svitkovich andBeverly Knox-Pipes, “GeneseeIntermediate School DistrictThree-Year TechnologyPlan, July 2008 – June 2011”(Genesee Intermediate SchoolDistrict, 2008), goo.gl/Hcn1c(accessed Jan. 26, 2011);Thomas Svitkovich, telephonecorrespondence with MichaelVan Beek, Feb. 15, 2010.67 “Michigan School DistrictRevenue and ExpenditureReport: Statewide Total, 2008-2009” (Mackinac Center forPublic Policy), goo.gl/OlDJ9(accessed Jan. 5, 2011).68 “Connections AcademyPublic Cyber School Comes toMichigan — Approved to Openfor 2010-2011 School Year,”eSchool News, June 1, 2010,goo.gl/qwhVy (accessed June 1,2010).69 Dave Murray, “GVSUTrustees Approve MichiganVirtual Charter Academy,”Grand Rapids Press, April 30,2010, goo.gl/g9Y0S (accessedApril 30, 2010).Mackinac Center for Public Policy
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