Las Virgenes school district embraces alternative forms of education
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

Part II of two parts

Alternative education opportunities continue to grow in the Las Virgenes Unified School District, including homeschooling, independent study and long distance learning. There's even a "virtual school" that will allow students to mix and match classes online in order to meet their specific needs.

Las Virgenes Board of Education president Terilyn Finders said alternative education fits in with the district's mission statement of helping children reach their fullest potential. She said the shift is also helpful to teachers.

"(Teachers) can do anything, but they can't do everything," Finders said.

Superintendent Sandra Smyser said she wants to offer families a broad array of options.

Several administrators presented an overview of their alternative education programs at a recent school study session. Jeannette Ober, principal at Indian Hills High School in Calabasas and head of the district's independent study program, said 148 students are participating in the coursework.

'Mix and match'

Online classes are gaining in popularity, according to Ober. Deborah Frank, an English teacher at Agoura High School, recently obtained a grant to explore online English classes, she said.

Some classes, Ober said, can't be offered online, but she'd like to "mix and match" as many courses as possible. Online classes will allow students to accelerate through some courses and take their time with others. Some online classes are taught in "real time," allowing direct interaction with online instructors.

Joe Nardo, assistant superintendent of education, said alternative education has changed significantly over the past three years. He has characterized virtual school as a 24-hour school environment or "school of continual learning."

The virtual school, which educators anticipate "opening" by fall, will have its own name, site council, principal and systems. Education will be delivered with greater flexibility in scheduling and resource use. Students could take courses at a traditional campus, attend a community college class and simultaneously complete an online course .

Currently, students enrolled in independent study must register through Agoura or Calabasas high schools. Once the virtual school is approved, it will be able to issue transcripts, staving off problems and confusion with college admissions officers, Smyser said.

"To say this is a trend is an understatement," Smyser said.

Administrators may face challenges.

Course-by-course reviews will be necessary to make sure some educational paths are approved by the University of California and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, an accreditation group.

Concurrent enrollment in high school and college is being explored. Students could get credit from both for some classes, and with hard work and determination could actually leave high school with two years of college under their belts, Smyser said.

Other possibilities include making classes available on Saturdays or conducting college classes in the afternoons at high schools.

"I'm interested in trying to open that door," Smyser said. "Community colleges are such a resource." She said that 20 years ago, acceptance into UCLA wasn't as difficult. Now some students with 4.6 grade point averages aren't being accepted, she said.

The homeschooling option

Resa Brown, head of the Las Virgenes Unified School District's Home Independent Study Program, said she wants to broaden homeschooling programs, that homeschooling is appropriate for "energetic children who want to do more."

The homeschooling program is handson: Children are encouraged to produce themed books and movies, participate in math clubs and learn by active participation. Field trips are common, Brown said.

Homeschooling "is a total learning community," Brown said. Students as young as 10 are already taking college courses, and multiage workshops in journalism, science and other areas are rich in content.

Brown said workshops include members of the community who bring subjects to life. Scientists have taught classes on the heart, and students have learned about law through a section called "Fairytales on Trial." Radio clubs, stamp fairs, park days and other such activities spill over into daily life.

One eighthgrade student created an oldfashioned Thanksgiving feast for her family after researching original Pilgrim recipes.

If students need more time to understand a subject, there is no pressure, Brown said. "We go back and forth depending on their needs."

Brown wants middle school students in the homeschooling program to get credit for some coursework, including foreign languages. She said some students are learning Japanese, Italian and Latin.

For all ages

Brown said she believes the problems some students experience in high school start in elementary school. She'd like to incorporate multiage classrooms in kindergarten through fifth grade. Building on each child's interests and strengths is the key, she said.

Brown focused on required repetition of courses. She said students who take courses in middle school shouldn't be made to repeat them in high school.

Educator Brenda Harari, who plans to petition the district to allow a charter school to open, said the needs of gifted students aren't being met in traditional classrooms.

She said she agreed with Brown on the value of multiage grouping. "Resa and I are of the exact same mind," Harari said.

Harari said a charter school would foster projects based on real world issues. If ecology was being taught, students could work in a community garden and learn about sustainability.

"We need to look for every opportunity to pull all sides together and go forward," said board member Dave Moorman.