Case Study: How Can a Small School District Finance an Online High School - Live Blog

Submitted by Brett Hinton on October 27, 2008 - 10:44pm.

Really quickly, here some notes on the session (live blog is available in replay).

The big finance issue that came out here is that ADM formulas for per pupil funding don't handle the flexibility of online programs. Since students can (and do) enroll in more than just 4 classes (which is what ADM is typically calculated on), it is hard to identify how to fund those extra classes. Part-time programs are harder to fund, largely because they are dependent on special appropriations, grant money, or simply excess budget funds (and who has those these days!).

Another deterrent seems to be the reluctance of traditional high schools to lose their ADM (makes sense) and so they are resistance to letting students take online courses if it is going to siphon off a part of their ADM to pay for those courses.

Live blog replay/notes are below the jump. (See the read more link)

Thanks for documenting this

Submitted by Rob Darrow (not verified) on October 28, 2008 - 12:40pm.

Hi Brett - Nice meeting you. Thanks for the live blogging. The other challenge in online schools, aside from funding, is how to use tools like this for teaching and learning in online courses. The elluminate recording is here as well: http://vss2008.wikispaces.com/live.

Thanks for the info

Submitted by hintbw on October 30, 2008 - 5:25pm.

Rob,

Thanks for the info. The funding issues you brought up (especially the ADM challenges that California) are timely for Arizona and I'll be providing a summary of the topic to the Arizona E-Learning Task Force which is a state task force that helps guide E-Learning policy here in the state (obviously virtual school initiatives are very high on their list of interests).

Thanks, ----- Brett blog.hintonweb.com

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