Tennessee Virtual Academy Educators Tout Academic Gains at Nashville Virtual Schools Conference

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Feb. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Educators from Tennessee Virtual Academy (TNVA), a nonprofit online public school program of Union County Public Schools, joined together with other virtual school leaders at a two-day virtual learning conference sponsored by Metro Nashville Virtual School in a show of support for all the state's online public schools. 

The event included a joint display of unity among all the state's virtual schools in support of reauthorization of the Virtual Public Schools Act, along with the signing of a policy document – delivered to Governor Haslam, Commissioner of Education McQueen, and state legislators – calling for Tennessee to establish accountability standards for virtual public schools that are equal to other public schools.

At the conference, TNVA teachers and educators presented how they successfully made significant academic gains in every area using a combination of interactive small group instruction, rigorous content, and customized assessments. 

From 2013 to 2014, TNVA increased its school growth measure in all subjects.  The online public school also met 5 of its 6 Annual Measurable Objectives and saw its overall composite trend jump 36 points since the school first opened.  Data also shows that student progress increases the longer they are with TNVA, with second and third year students making academic gains at a higher level.  TNVA is now one of the fastest improving public schools in the state. 

TNVA educators credit the strong gains to new and innovative instructional techniques, personalized learning programs, increased teacher support, and more effective use of data to measure and increase student learning.

"Our school has made real academic progress and is on an upward track," said Josh Williams, TNVA Head of School and administrator at Union County Public Schools.  "The data is clear that from 2013 to 2014, our public school achieved higher academic results in every area.  We are a fast-improving public school.  Our teachers are doing an excellent job working with students at an individual level, providing each one the instruction, support and services they need to achieve, and we are seeing the results."

Mr. Williams was joined by Robin Norris, a TNVA academic administrator from Corryton, TN in northeastern Knox County, along with two TNVA teachers who also presented on behalf of Union County's online public school. 

"In addition to giving every student a personalized learning program, our teachers are using web-based technology to conduct small group, synchronous classes every day to give students maximum support," said Ms. Norris.  "We are using rigorous content and relevant data to drive instruction and intervention.  Our teachers are also building stronger student relationships and delivering wrap-around support services for families.  This is especially important since our online public school provides full educational services to special needs students and serves a higher percentage of economically disadvantaged students than the state average."

At the conference, TNVA joined the state's nine virtual public schools in a new, unified coalition named, "Partnership for the Advancement of Virtual Learning in Tennessee," to sign a policy document calling on the state to renew the Virtual Public School Act, and ensure every online public school can continue to be an option for students.  The policy document, which was sent to the Governor, Commissioner of Education, and legislative leadership, included recommendations that the accountability standards for virtual public schools should be equal to every other public school in the state.  Further, it called for the elimination of the sunset provision and codified that Tennessee's school districts are best equipped to provide and oversee their own virtual public schools and should have autonomy as the sole establishing and creating entity.   

SOURCE Tennessee Virtual Academy