Course Providers

Apex Learning ®

Email: support@apexlearning.com
Telephone: 800.453.1454 (Pacific time)

Organization Statement/Pedagogy:
Specifically designed to provide quality distance learning opportunities for secondary students, Apex Learning Online Courses offer a proven alternative to the traditional model of a teacher in a classroom with students. All students deserve the same high quality of instruction that students receive from a great classroom teacher. Apex Learning brings that high-quality classroom experience to the online world, combining superior teachers, engaging content, a fully customized online learning environment, and a high level of service to support student success.

The comprehensive online content is rich with interactivity and actively engages students in learning as they read, listen, discuss, inquire, watch, explore, manipulate objects and data, and write. And to be certain students are achieving, each online course includes a comprehensive approach to assessment with formative assessments that provide feedback to students and teachers; summative assessments that include both open-ended (teacher-scored) and objective (computer-scored) instruments; and diagnostic assessments that create individualized learning paths for students.

Curriculum Alignments:
Each Apex Learning Online Course is developed by experienced instructional designers and subject matter experts and aligned to state and national standards. All Apex Learning courses align to National Standards outlined by the academic organization for each discipline. For example, Math courses align to the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics standards.

AP Audit:
Advanced Placement courses have all received approval from the College Board to display the AP designation. In addition, the AP courses align to the scope and sequence outlined by the College Board.

Accreditation:
Apex Learning is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools.

Instructor Certification:
All Apex Learning teachers meet the "highly qualified" requirements as defined by the "No Child Left Behind" federal education law. Apex Learning teachers are certified to teach high school and have an average of seventeen years of classroom teaching experience and four years of online teaching experience. All Apex Learning teachers regularly participate in professional development in online teaching strategies and best practices, and their performance is closely monitored on an ongoing basis.

Courseware Platform:
Apex Learning courses are made accessible by a richly customized platform designed and implemented by Apex Learning.

Course Offerings:
The DLC currently offers all of Apex Learning's AP and standard level courses in foreign languages, language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and technology.

Aventa Learning

Email: helpdesk@aventaschool.com
Telephone: 800.594.5504 (Pacific time)

Organization Statement/Pedagogy:
Aventa Learning is a leading provider of K-12 education technology with highly engaging and educationally sound content.

Aventa Learning believes that the value of education technology comes with the optimal use of that technology. Adoption by a targeted set of users—whether they are students, teachers, or administrators-is a critical variable to realizing return on investment. And at the heart of adoption is well-designed education technology. A deep understanding of K-12 pedagogy, as well as the human factors associated with online technology, is integrated into all disciplines and all phases of Aventa's project work.

Curriculum Alignments:
Aventa Learning curriculum offers rich content that has been carefully designed to meet nationally accepted standards applicable for each subject area. Aventa Learning has also aligned our courses to standards in each state. Specific reports documenting course alignment to Washington State Standards can be found at www.aventalearning.com/cis/washington.html.

Accreditation:
Aventa Learning is accredited by Northwest Association of Accredited Schools (NAAC) and the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). Aventa's program has also been approved by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

Instructor Certification:
Aventa Learning teachers are certified to teach their subject areas at the high school level and meet the highly qualified teacher requirements. Aventa Learning has a required teacher training and evaluation program to make sure that teachers fully understand and follow best practices in online education. Staff development sessions are conducted periodically throughout the year to enhance teacher effectiveness.

AP Audit:
During 2007 each of Aventa Learning's Advanced Placement courses underwent an audit by The College Board. Aventa is pleased to report that each of its 22 AP courses has been expressly authorized by The College Board for the 2007-08 school year.

Courseware Platform:
Aventa Learning courses are made accessible by Blackboard.

Course Offerings:
The DLC currently offers Aventa's AP, standard, and credit recovery level courses in the arts, business, foreign language, mathematics, science, social studies, and technology subject areas.

Internet Academy

Email: registrar@iacademy.org
Telephone: 253.945.2230 (Pacific time)
Fax: 253.945.2233

Organization Statement/Pedagogy:
Serving students online since 1996, Internet Academy (IA) is one of the leading pioneers in online education. IA is a program located in the Federal Way School District, which utilizes Federal Way teachers who are Washington State certified to provide online instruction to students in grades K–12. IA provides traditional core and elective classes in a nontraditional manner through our online learning platform. IA's courses are designed to meet Washington State goals through standards-based learning.

Online learning through the Internet Academy appeals to a wide variety of students. Students take courses in order to complete requirements for graduation, to access courses that may not be available at their resident school, to pursue special interests and talents while remaining on schedule for graduation, and to continue to participate in a home school setting. IA's mission is to provide innovative and challenging academic experiences to students anywhere, anytime through the use of leading technology.

Curriculum Alignments:
Internet Academy (IA) courses, created by Federal Way School District teachers within their area of expertise, align with Washington State curriculum standards or national standards as outlined by the academic organization for the discipline. For example our Personal Finance courses were developed using the National Standard by the JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. IA also offers a series of OSPI approved Career and Technical Education courses taught by CTE certificated teachers. These CTE classes are built to meet both the current OSPI approved CTE curriculum frameworks and the Occupational Skills graduation requirements in Washington. Internet Academy uses Apex curriculum for its health, math, and world history courses. Apex curriculum is aligned with Washington State standards as well as national standards.

Accreditation:
The Northwest Association of Accredited Schools accredits Federal Way Internet Academy. Core courses are also approved and accredited by NCAA. All core classes are approved through the NCAA Clearing House.

Instructor Certification:
Internet Academy teachers are all Federal Way Education Association members and hold valid Washington State teaching certificates. All IA teachers are assigned courses within the teacher's endorsed areas. In addition, Internet Academy teachers all meet the definition of "high qualified" as required by the NCLB Act.

Courseware Platform:
All Internet Academy courses are delivered over the Internet; course assignments and correspondence are delivered using Angel Learning Platform. This platform provides assessment and feedback tools plus an internal closed email system.

Course Offerings:
The DLC currently features IA's core classes in English, history, mathematics, and science and several elective courses. CTE courses which help students meet occupational skills requirements in Washington State include: Business law 1 & 2, Web Design 1 & 2, Digital Communication Tools, Careers in Motion, and Visual Communication all taught by a CTE credentialed teacher.

Spokane Virtual Learning

Email: svl@spokaneschools.org
Telephone: 509.354.5654 and 509.354.7266

Organization Statement/Pedagogy:
SVL believes in providing an environment where skillful e-instructors personalize instruction to support learning for all students and provide experiences that allow them to hypothesize, predict, manipulate objects, pose questions, research, investigate, imagine, and invent. For the SVL faculty, creating and delivering student-centered, inquiry-based, interactive instruction is the goal. Using formative assessment, instructors determine understanding of concepts. With high-quality feedback, instructors support the learning process and encourage learner success.

Curriculum Alignments:
SVL curriculum aligns with Washington curriculum standards and expectations. Using ASCD's Understanding by Design as a course development model, instructors frame the learning in essential questions and enduring understandings. Each course is reviewed by SVL Coordinator and Spokane Public Schools curriculum department. SVL teachers attend AP summer institutes and/or serve as College Board consultants; these experts align SVL's AP courses to the scope and sequence outlined by the College Board.

Accreditation:
SVL, as a program of Spokane Public Schools, is accredited by Northwest Association of Accredited Schools.

Instructor Certification:
In order to meet Highly Qualified Teacher requirements of SVL, teachers must hold a Washington State teaching certificate and be endorsed in the content areas they are teaching.

AP Audit:
Through the AP Audit process, College Board has approved SVL's Advanced Placement courses and allowed SVL to use the Advanced Placement designation on student transcripts.

Courseware Platform:
SVL uses Blackboard Academic Suite to deliver interactive learning options.

Course Offerings:
The DLC offers SVL's WASL prep classes, which are aligned to Washington standards and are offered at various times during the year to help students prepare for taking or retaking the 10th grade WASL.

UW Extension

Email: onlinelearning@ese.washington.edu
Telephone: 206.543.2350 or 800.543.2320; 206.543.0898 (TTY) (Pacific time)
Fax: 206.543.0887

Organization Statement/Pedagogy:
UW Extension programs are open to all, and most programs do not require examination scores or other advanced credentials for admittance. In addition, many UW Extension programs and courses offer academic credits that can be applied toward degrees. Distance learning formats also offer flexibility to busy students who wish to pursue educational opportunities at their own pace and locations.

Some students in UW Extension programs are working adults, with a bachelor's or other advanced degree, who have also been out of school for a while. However, many of the courses are at the undergraduate level.

Course Offerings:
The DLC offers courses, in a variety of disciplines, that the UW Extension has identified as appropriate for advanced high school students. ESL courses designed for students with somewhat advanced English skills who are about to enter college or the business world are also offered. All of the Extension courses the DLC offers are intended for undergraduates, and students are expected to work at the undergraduate level and complete all the work assigned.

Most UW Extension courses include approximately one quarter's worth of undergraduate work. Although the Extension program requires students to complete their course work within six months, the DLC offers these courses by semester. It is recommended that students treat their UW Extension courses the same as their other online courses and complete them within one semester.

Virtual High School

Email: Contact Center
Telephone: 978.897.1900 (Eastern time)
Fax: 978.897.9839

Organization Statement/Pedagogy:
Virtual High School (VHS) is one of the first online course providers in the United States. Established by the Concord Consortium and Hudson Public Schools in 1996, VHS is a nonprofit organization serving students across the United States as well as internationally. Students taking VHS courses expand their learning by studying with students and teachers from around the world. Classes are limited to twenty-five students so that one-on-one interactions between students and teachers are maximized.

VHS is committed to quality course design, online education standards and pedagogy, student assessment, and quality teacher professional development. VHS believes that good education continues to be about the relationship between teachers and students as well as collaboration among students in whole class and group discussions. VHS is for all students, not just those who are academically motivated.

Curriculum Alignments:
Courses are mapped to National Content Standards and are created following strict instructional design standards.

Accreditation:
Virtual High School is currently pursuing accreditation by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (CSS-MS).

Instructor Certification:
Virtual High School courses are taught by Highly Qualified Teachers as required by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. VHS teachers are highly qualified. All VHS teachers go through a rigorous graduate-level training program before teaching with VHS. All VHS instructors are certified within the disciplines they teach. Over 85 percent of VHS instructors have master's degrees or higher.

Courseware Platform:
All VHS courses are in Blackboard.

Course Offerings:
VHS offers a variety of engaging and creative courses appropriate for a general high school population.

Apex Learning, the Apex Learning logo, ClassTools, and Beyond Books are registered trademarks of Apex Learning Inc.