Enabling Homebound Students to Achieve

Springfield Public Schools

Springfield, MA
 

Introduction/Overview
Organizational Change
Budget & Finance
Professional Development
Technology Infrastructure
Outcomes
Evaluation
Contact Information
 

Introduction/Overview

The Springfield Public School District currently provides services to homebound students who must be out of school for a variety of reasons, including but not limited to, severe medical needs. District data shows that on any given day, 75 to 100 students have homebound status, requiring that instruction be delivered to them in a nontraditional format. Pursuant to Massachusetts law, this service is provided for a minimum of 14 days and a maximum of 1 year. Highly qualified teachers are currently contracted to provide this service; however, it is very costly. Also, it can be difficult to provide specialists for each subject area due to lack of availability of teachers in those areas. The difficulty in providing subject area specialists in all areas, as well as the severe financial situation in which the district currently finds itself, are in direct conflict with a firm commitment to provide every student with the support necessary to achieve high academic success in all areas, including but certainly not limited to MCAS high-stakes testing.

Dr. Joseph P. Burke, Superintendent of the Springfield Public Schools, requested that the Technology Department find a way to use technology to address the instructional needs of students who are homebound. The project, Enabling the Homebound Students to Achieve, was therefore designed to afford homebound students the opportunity to succeed academically in a nontraditional, nonthreatening, supportive environment. As a result of this project, homebound students will have access to the same high-quality, rigorous, standards-based curriculum that in-school students have. Moreover, the curriculum will be taught, monitored, and assessed online by content area specialists. This project differs from other online efforts in that the curriculum, including assessments, is being recreated as 4- to 6-week online course modules that follow the Springfield Public Schools Academic Scope and Sequence documents. Thus, instructional materials will be available as units, instead of semester- or yearlong courses.

Through a partnership with the EdTech Leaders Online project of Education Development Center, Inc., the teachers involved are being supported as they design the online coursework modules (October through December 2004) and begin delivering them to students (starting in February 2005).

Organizational Change

This project supports Springfield’s goal of creating and maintaining a “Culture of Achievement,” which ensures the delivery of educational experiences in which all learners achieve success. The initial student participants are being selected by a subgroup of the project planning committee. It is anticipated that as more modules are created and available for student use, staff dedicated to online mentoring of homebound students will be required.

Budget & Finance

This project is initially funded by a $200,000, fiscal year 2005 Enhancing Educational Through Technology (Title IID) competitive grant, with some additional funding from the district’s Title IID entitlement grant. Additional grant funding is anticipated. As the project continues, the district plans to provide funding through its regular budgeting process.

Professional Development

Professional development is being provided by the EdTech Leaders Online project of Education Development Center, Inc., through its online course entitled Designing Virtual Courses for K–12 Students. Through this semester-long, graduate-level course, 17 Springfield participants have been trained to design and deliver online courses for homebound students from grade 8 and/or 9. Participants were guided through the process of defining course goals, readings, activities, discussion questions, alignment to state and national standards, assessment, and strategies for building a learning community. During the course, participants examined theories of online learning and exemplary curriculum development, as well as strategies for creating and running effective online courses that address the specific needs of their audiences.

In addition to the online course, each teacher participated in ongoing study group sessions that were facilitated by Donna Boivin, the Director of Technology. These sessions monitored and supported the implementation of the project activities. Participants will also attend workshops to understand the implications of universally designed coursework and the importance of assistive technology for all learners. These professional development activities will provide training to educators to help every student, regardless of race, ethnicity, income, geographical location, or disability, to access the online curriculum modules.

Followup activities will include ongoing study groups focused on the development and implementation of the project’s online courses, in both the design and facilitation mode.

Technology Infrastructure

This project uses Dell laptops for both teachers and students. The courses will be accessed via broadband cable Internet service. Although design is taking place using one online learning delivery system, three different delivery systems, including Massachusetts’ Virtual Education Space (VES), will be piloted in order to find the most instructionally sound, cost-effective method of delivering online coursework.

Outcomes

Using this strategy to instruct homebound students will enable them to keep pace with their onsite counterparts, providing for a smooth, successful transition when they return to school. As more of the curriculum becomes available online, its use will be expanded until finally all curriculum in all academic areas is available online to all learners. Ultimately, any teacher who believes that his/her students would benefit from its use will have the ability to assign online modules.

Evaluation

This project began in October 2004 and is being reviewed and adjusted on an ongoing basis. Evaluation results will be available at the end of years 1 and 2 of the grant cycle. Work on this project will continue, as will evaluation and necessary adjustments, after the grant ends. The Springfield Public Schools is always pleased to share its successful strategies with any interested district.

Contact Information

Donna Boivin
boivind@sps.springfield.ma.us
413-787-7125