Virtual Schooling A Proposed Program for Professional Development
 U.S. Department of Educa3on’s “Na3onal Educa3on Technology Plan”
promotes virtual schooling as a means for mee3ng NCLB requirements Development Considera:ons
 Most Virtual School teachers are not ESE trained
 Increasing numbers of ESE students are enrolling in virtual school
programs
 Virtual Schools are required to accommodate ESE students
 VS teachers have reduced access to support staff such as resource
teachers, speech/physical/occupa3onal therapists, audiologists, mobility/
Braille specialists, diagnos3cians, staffing/placement specialists
 Nearly 20% of FLVS students are “at risk” students seeking credit recovery
Objec:ves for this PD Course
Topics Covered in this PD Course Upon comple:ng this unit of instruc:on,
par:cipa:ng virtual school teachers:
 Introduc3on to Special Educa3on: Terminology,  Will be able to iden3fy common characteris3cs
The Law, & How It Applies to You of students with high and low incidence
 Students with Learning Disabili3es disabili3es likely to enroll in a virtual school
 Students with ADD/ADHD, and Other Mild  Will be able to iden3fy common interven3ons
Emo3onal and Behavioral Disabili3es and/or accommoda3ons for students with a
 Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing variety of disabili3es
 Students with Visual Impairments  Will demonstrate the ability to modify a lesson
 Students with Physical Disabili3es and Other or instruc3onal ac3vity to accommodate a
Graphics from: Watson & Ryan (2006). Keeping pace with K‐12 Health Impairments student with a specific disability
online learning: A review of state‐level policy and prac3ce.
North American Council for Online Learning, Vienna, VA.  Applica3on and Summary  Will be able to iden3fy resources for loca3ng
 Addi3onal Technology Resources informa3on or assistance in accommoda3ng the
needs of students with disabili3es
Moodle Module Screen Capture
Special Educa:on in the U.S.
13.6% of all students served in the U.S. have a disability (2006‐2007)
Moving Forward
 Currently under review by experts in online learning,
professional development, and special educa3on in
prepara3on for a pilot study.