Resources for Virginia Educators to Support Effective Credit Recovery Programs
Resources for Virginia Educators to Support Effective Credit Recovery Programs
In response to new requirements under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), Virginia is implementing ambitious new graduation goals focused on closing achievement gaps for learners in the state. The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) aims to raise the graduation rate for all student subgroups to the current statewide baseline of 84% in the next seven years. Additionally, graduation rates will be considered as a component of the Commonwealth of Virginia’s new Standards of Accreditation (SOA) rating, which is part of VDOE’s ESSA-mandated school quality indicators and accountability system.
For Virginia educators to successfully achieve these goals, implementing effective and flexible credit recovery initiatives will become even more critical. These programs can exist in many different settings, including traditional high schools to help students graduate on time with their cohort, at the middle school level to bridge learning gaps as students prepare for high school, or at alternative schools to provide more flexible options for nontraditional learners. Leveraging online programs for these varied initiatives can help Virginia educators view data faster, manage students and courses more efficiently, and save valuable time.
To help you get started, we’ve rounded up the information you need to know about credit recovery in Virginia, as well as some of our most helpful credit recovery resources and details on Edmentum’s online curriculum programs, Courseware and EdOptions Academy.
Virginia State Initiatives to Support Credit Recovery
Established over 15 years ago, this program makes funding available for school divisions to provide instructional support activities for students needing verified credits for graduation. Funding can go to intervention or remediation programs administered either by school divisions or through regional partnerships.
Career & Technical Education Initiatives
As a national leader in career and technical education (CTE), VDOE supports a wide variety of CTE programs, including a number administered by outside organizations and nonprofits like Project Lead the Way and High Schools That Work. The state has also developed a robust High School Industry Credentialing program and work-based learning opportunities to support career readiness and the needs of nontraditional learners.
Organizing, Planning, and Maintaining a Credit Recovery Program
Credit Recovery Program Planning Guide
This guide has been developed to help you evaluate the type of credit recovery program you are looking to offer, the students you are looking to serve, and the instruction and staffing that will be needed for a successful program implementation.
This workbook is helpful to use as you plan for a successful credit recovery program, whether your district is thinking about implementing a credit recovery program for the first time or looking to evaluate an already existing program. It will help you think critically about topics that affect the success of a program, such as needs analysis, curriculum evaluation criteria, defined evaluation plans, and much more.
[Best Practices] Implementing a Courseware Credit Recovery Program
In part 1 of our three-part credit recovery series, the Edmentum Professional Services team shares best practices on implementing credit recovery programs based on experience over the years partnering with countless districts. This blog post will help you think about topics such as the credit recovery selection process, logistics, and resources for educators who are hoping to implement or revamp a credit recovery program.
[Best Practices] Keeping Your Online Credit Recovery Program on Track
In part 2 of our three-part credit recovery series, the Edmentum Professional Services team discusses best practices on how to keep your credit recovery program on track. This blog post offers tips surrounding online program setup, progress monitoring, student collaboration, and student portfolios.
[Best Practices] Ongoing Credit Recovery Program Management
In part 3 of our three-part credit recovery series, the Edmentum Professional Services team examines the last step of credit recovery programs. After implementation is complete and your credit recovery program is on track, the next thing to think about is credit recovery program management. This blog post suggests best practices regarding progress and improvement reflection, educator group meeting topics, and customization options to successfully manage your credit recovery intervention program.
Credit Recovery Quick Reads
How Online Courses Can Help Achieve Graduation Goals
Online learning, in standard classrooms as well as credit recovery programs, is not about finding an ‘easier’ alternative to traditional courses; it’s about engaging different learning modalities, uncovering genuine interests, monitoring progress, tailoring pace, developing useful real-world skills, and achieving the ultimate goal of a high school diploma. For more blog posts like this, check out our collection of credit recovery blog posts.
5 Best Practices for Flexible Credit Recovery
“All students have their own learning style—and the physical environment they are able to conduct their learning in can have a big impact on their success. For some students (very frequently those who are at-risk or have fallen behind in credits), the traditional classroom is not the right fit. So, when designing your credit recovery program, consider offering students flexibility in regard to where and when they can complete their assignments.”
Quick Tips for All Credit Recovery Stakeholders
This blog post provides credit recovery tips to the three categories of stakeholders most invested in these sorts of educational programs: administrators, instructors, and students.
[Webinar] Implementing Minimesters for Credit Recovery
Watch this recorded webinar to learn about how schools and districts are leveraging virtual courses to offer “minimesters” where students can recover missing credits in a short period of time. And, with flexible, cost-effective, monthly, subscription-based courses from EdOptions Academy, you can implement this credit recovery model for as little as $80 per student.
Credit Recovery in Action
[Video] Expanding Digital Learning Opportunities in Akron, Ohio
Akron Public Schools’ digital learning coordinator, Marcie Ebright, shares how the district used Edmentum courses to expand its course catalog offerings and retain students who would have otherwise left the district in favor of online charter schools. The district reached the decision to partner with Edmentum based on positive feedback from teachers, interactivity from students, and the ease of students to follow Courseware.
Providing a Roadmap to Graduation and Beyond in Burlington, Illinois
Every student has unique learning needs, and no one knows how to address those needs better than teachers. So, when Central High School in Burlington, Illinois, wanted to employ a blended learning solution in its new credit recovery program, the ability to customize course content was at the top of its list of requirements, and it led the school to Edmentum’s solutions.
“What I’ve seen and what’s really, really exciting is that kids enter the [credit recovery] program not thinking of themselves as students and leaving with the goal of: ‘I’m going to attend college.’”
– Gillian Lachanski, Central Academy Coordinator
[Video] How Mentors Helped Facilitate an Engaging Environment in Akron, Ohio
Akron Public Schools’ online program mentor, Kelly Ford, provides an overview of how she is able to mentor, challenge, and support students taking online courses in a classroom setting.
[Video] Finding Solutions to Tough Challenges: The Nationwide Teacher Shortage
This video discusses why teacher shortages are occurring and how some states are tackling the issue head-on by thinking outside of the box. Learn how districts can ease the burden of their teachers, who are inevitably overwhelmed by teacher shortages, by partnering with Edmentum for first-time credit and credit recovery needs.
In this on-demand webinar, learn how EdOptions Academy, Edmentum’s fully accredited virtual school, can make a difference in your summer school program. Delve into how districts can expand their course offerings to meet a range of students' academic needs, including credit recovery, acceleration, and remediation.
Furnishing a Positive Alternative for Credit Recovery in Warren, Michigan
Alternative education and credit recovery should be much more than another place for struggling students. The right program finds a way to reach every child and provides the necessary support for students to reach their goals. Such initiatives used to be out of reach for smaller districts with limited resources, but Van Dyke Public Schools is helping students get back on track at an impressive rate using Courseware.
“The platform was super easy to use. The dashboard was simple and made it easy to track where kids are and see their pacing.”
– Wendy Cusic, Director of Curriculum and Instruction
To learn about more effective credit recovery programs in action, check out these success stories!
Edmentum’s Credit Recovery Offerings
The Edmentum course catalog showcases the rigorous and engaging courses we offer for Virginia students. Filter by subject category, library, grade level, and more to find a course that resonates with your students’ needs. In need of a Virginia-certified virtual teacher? EdOptions Academy can step in to provide a teacher of record. Courseware and EdOptions Academy provide the same research-based digital curriculum. With EdOptions Academy, however, that curriculum is paired with our highly experienced virtual teachers. Courses that are only offered through EdOptions Academy will be marked as such in parentheses next to the course names.
Edmentum's Credit Recovery Offerings
Learn more about how you can meet your students’ credit recovery and unit recovery needs with Edmentum in an engaging and attainable format. With the help of our courses, you’ll be able to:
- Identify unit and credit recovery needs
- Deliver high-quality, individualized instruction
- Monitor progress frequently
- Make data-driven adjustments
Credit Recovery with Courseware and EdOptions Academy
This brochure explains how Courseware and EdOptions Academy provide proven, effective credit recovery solutions to school districts. We offer a credit recovery learning solution that is ideal for:
- At-risk students
- Summer school
- Remediation
- Alternative school
Want to learn more about how Edmentum programs can support Virginia educators and other VDOE initiatives? Check out our Virginia blogs!
