Why Join the C-I Schools Online Learning Community?

If your child wants an alternative to a traditional school setting, online learning may be the answer. At C-I Schools Online, we believe that effective online education supports the needs of every student, every day. With highly qualified Cambridge-Isanti instructors, and solid connections and engagements, students will gain ownership of their learning time and space, as well as unlimited levels of achievement.

Students at C-I Schools Online will have all the benefits of the traditional school resources in the Cambridge-Isanti School district, along with the benefit of a flexible, anytime, anywhere learning environment. As a student at C-I Schools Online you can:

• Participate in all activities and athletics with traditional Cambridge-Isanti Schools students.
• Have access to the same counseling, support and career services as other Cambridge-Isanti Schools students.
• Have a flexible schedule allowing you to customize each day based on your individual needs.  
• Learn from the same great Cambridge-Isanti instructors as in the traditional classroom.

C-I Schools Online program offers you the best of both an online education and a traditional school experience. 

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C-I Schools Online has over 50 years of combined online education experience.  The leadership team, their role and their experience are described below:

• Ray Sperl - Technology Coordinator 
• Ray has over 19 years of experience in online education. He has worked as an online science teacher, assistant principal, and director of curriculum.  Over the last 2 years, Ray has facilitated the development of the C-I Schools Online program in collaboration with the other leadership members.
• Patrick Morrow - Data and Assessment Coordinator
• Patrick has over 15 years of experience in online education. Patrick has taught online and hybrid classes at the middle school and high school level and served as a Director of Online Learning. 
• Jeremy Miller - Technology Integration Specialist
• Jeremy has 14 years of experience with online education. Jeremy has taught high school and college-level courses both in a hybrid and online format. 
• Additional Leadership Support Staff
• Brenda Damiani - Director of Teaching and Learning 
• Julie Williams - Director of Special Education
• Michelle Glasgow - Curriculum Coordinator

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Our Mission

Cambridge-Isanti Schools Online is pleased to be serving the students of Cambridge-Isanti Schools.  The development of this online option was a result of the strategic planning that took place in 2015. The district mission states:

The mission of Cambridge-Isanti Schools, as the leader in innovative education, offering unlimited options and opportunities is to develop well rounded individuals who excel in leadership, achieve at the highest levels, and are responsible citizens through highly effective staff addressing the unique needs of each individual in partnership with parents, students, and a unified community.

The launch of C-I Schools Online fully meets the mission of the school district:  

• Online education is an innovative approach to education that offers students flexibility and control of the where and when they learn. 
• The options that students have online are unlimited due to fewer constraints related to time, space, and location. 
• A successful online learner is responsible and actively engaged in their learning process which develops leadership and levels of high achievement due to the internal motivation necessary for success. 
• Families who choose online learning truly need to partner with the school in order to maximize the success of the student.

At C-I Schools Online, our instructors are highly qualified and trained. Our teachers and staff at C-I Schools Online are highly invested in the C-I community.  They truly care about the well-being and success of ALL students of Cambridge-Isanti, those in the traditional classroom as well as those in the online classroom.

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C-I Schools Online Curriculum Foundations

C-I Schools Online has selected Edmentum Plato as it's curriculum provider.  Plato Courseware offers a broad range of rigorous and engaging courses grounded in a tradition of solid research, sound pedagogy, and applied innovation.

Student will not only be able to select from the core subjects, they will have the opportunity to choose from a wide range of electives.

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Frequently Asked Questions Regarding C-I Schools Online

Overview 

What is the difference between the online program and distance learning?

• The distance learning experienced in the spring of 2020 and possibly be experienced during 2020-21 will be provided by the in-person instructor who develops the curriculum and adapts it to the online learning environment. The distance learning model has been revised based on feedback from parents and staff. 
• The C-I Schools Online program curriculum has been developed specifically with online delivery in mind.  The curriculum will be delivered through the Schoology LMS and Google Classroom which provides flexibility for the instructor to enhance any of the curriculum content. This is the district’s option for families who are unable to return to the school building. 

What if my child is not experiencing success? Can I choose to go back to the in-person model?

• Yes, however, we are asking that families make transitions at the end of a trimester. This allows for an easier transition for students and staff. If needed, we will work with families to determine the best time to transition based on individual needs and circumstances. 

How does online learning work? 

• Students in C-I Schools Online will use the specified learning management system to access the directions for the day/week.  
• K-5 students will use Google Classroom as their LMS (Learning Management System)
• 6-12 students will use Schoology as their LMS
• Instruction will include daily interaction with the student’s teachers and full access to the instructional materials, technology, and resources provided to students in the building and as needed for distance learning.

When will we receive school supply lists for the online program? 

• The supply list will be shared during the orientation meeting. You can purchase basic school supplies if you would like. 

Will students be provided a whiteboard for online instruction with the teacher? 

• Students can buy individual whiteboards, but this will be communicated by grade-level during the orientation meeting. 

Sports, Extracurricular Activities and School Involvement

Can my child participate in sports, extra-curricular activities, and field trips?

• Yes, C-I Schools Online is a part of the Cambridge-Isanti School District therefore students enrolled in the program receive all the same opportunities as students who attend the local school facilities for their learning experience.

Will online students be part of the yearbook and get their school pictures taken? How about other functions that may be going on?

• Yes, students are still enrolled in their respective schools and can have their pictures taken. Other functions will be determined on a case by case basis. 

Staffing

Who is running the online program? Are they experienced?

• C-I Schools Online has been in development for over 2 years by school leadership who, combined, have almost 50 years of online learning experience.
• Ray Sperl - Technology Coordinator and Online Learning Task Force Facilitator
• 19 years of experience: Assistant Principal; Director of Curriculum; Online science teacher 
• Patrick Morrow - Data and Assessment Coordinator
• 15 years of experience: Director of Online Learning, Online and hybrid Language Arts teacher 
• Jeremy Miller - Technology Integration Specialist
• 14 years of experience: Online and hybrid Social Studies teacher 
• Additional Leadership Support 
• Brenda Damiani - Director of Teaching and Learning 
• Julie Williams - Director of Special Education
• Michelle Glasgow - Curriculum Coordinator
• Cambridge-Isanti Teachers 

How many teachers will a student have online?

• The student to teacher ratio will be similar to the regular classroom. The exact number of students may vary depending on registration.

Are the CI teachers who will be working with the online classes licensed to work in their subject areas - math teachers working with math classes, science teachers working with the science classes, etc?

• Yes, students will be receiving instruction by teachers who are licensed in their subject area. 

Will online learning teachers be trained in the Houghton-Mifflin curriculum?

• Yes, online teachers will be trained in all curriculums. 

What role will the CI teachers play in an online format?

• All teachers in the online program are C-I teachers. They will be the instructors for the courses. They will support online learning and hold optional live sessions as needed depending on the grade level. 

Support Services

Can a student with a disability enroll in the online option? 

• Yes, students with disabilities may enroll in the C-I Schools Online option. IEP teams will meet to determine the best learning model for students. 

Can we still use Lighthouse services? 

• Yes, students can still access Lighthouse services. 

Can we still connect with guidance counselors and social workers? 

• Yes, students can still have access to counselors and social workers. 

Technology

My child does not have a computer. Does the school provide one?

• Yes, the district will provide any C-I Schools Online student with a Chromebook.
• The Chromebook will have the same content filtering software on it that students in the traditional school have.  This filtering software helps to protect students from accessing inappropriate online material.

What if I don’t have adequate internet for online learning, will the school help me acquire internet connectivity at a low or no-cost option?

• Yes, since access to adequate internet is key to the success of an online student it is imperative that they have adequate internet access.  C-I Schools administration is currently working with Midcontinent, CenturyLink, and Windstream to determine low cost options for students and families.

We have several kids…will each one be provided with a Chromebook?

• Yes, each student will have access to their own Chromebook. This is true for the online option and for Distance Learning. 

If we are having trouble with technology, what level of support is there? 

• Families will have access to the technology help desk. 

Curriculum

How many courses can a student take through online learning? 

• A student will take the same number of courses online that they take in a traditional C-I Schools setting.

Do the courses meet standards for high school graduation in Minnesota?

• Yes, the courses meet national and state standards regarding graduation requirements of MN and the Cambridge Isanti School District.

What curriculum is used?

• K-5 Students - The online curriculum used for grades K-5 will be provided by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. There will be a supplemental curriculum for the electives. 
• 6-12 Students - The online curriculum used for grades 6-12 will be provided by Edmentum Plato Courseware.

How do you address courses like Band / Choir?

• Music courses will be combined with the traditional C-I Schools environment in innovative and creative ways. Enrolling in music courses online will require students to attend class at a particular time of day. Most music classes will be taught remotely with students joining via their Chromebook. 

Is there a way to see a sample of what online learning will look like through this program?

• We will be posting a video of the curriculum experience the week of August 17. 

Will there be any real material mailed or given to us to go along with the online instruction or is there just simply online instruction for everything including science or any other subject that might need more hands-on learning?

• Most of the curriculum is online. However, materials will be delivered to families for any hands-on learning opportunities. 

Will I still be able to obtain the college credit I would have otherwise received if I was attending school in person using CIHS's "College In School" program?

• We will work individually with students who are enrolled in CIS and AP courses at the high school.  

What are the classes available in middle school?  More specifically, will there be advanced math or science classes?

• Students will be enrolled in the same course as they would have at the middle school This includes advanced math but not advanced science. 

Attendance

Do they need to log in every day?

• Attendance must be taken at least once per day for all students enrolled. Attendance is considered interaction with a teacher on an instructional day. A student could be reported in attendance by participating in a video class or chat; a phone call with the student or, for younger students, with the parent; posting completed coursework to the learning management system, or turning in completed coursework on a given day. 

Students for whom no teacher has direct interaction on a given day are reported as absent for that day.

What is the attendance policy for the online program? 

• The attendance policy is the same as for attending in-person. 

Are students penalized for not logging in each day if they completed the work the day before? 

•  A student could be reported in attendance by participating in a video class or chat; a phone call with the student or, for younger students, with the parent; posting completed coursework to the learning management system, or turning in completed coursework on a given day. Parents should report a student as absent if they are unable to attend on a given day. 

Structure and Scheduling

What is the flexibility of the program? 

• Flexibility will be provided in regards to when to complete the coursework and where it can be completed, the exception being music classes that may require students to attend class at a specific time on a daily basis.

How will my child connect with their teacher? What levels of support are there?

• Students can interact with teachers in a variety of ways, including but not limited to phone calls, video chats/conferencing or scheduled one on one/small group/whole group class activities, email, etc.
• Students will receive support in a variety of ways, such as one on one video conferencing support, small group video conferencing support, whole class video conferencing support, etc.  Students will be able to message staff via the LMS or via email as well.
• C-I Schools instructional staff will be trained in screencasting in order to answer questions and provide videos demonstrating/discussion answers to the questions or support needed.

Do students need to come to the school to attend? 

• No, by enrolling in C-I Schools Online, the student is choosing to receive all their schooling via online learning. There will not be a need to attend a particular school facility. 

Will they be assigned an in-person teacher they can talk to?

• Students at the elementary level (K-5) will have an assigned teacher. Secondary students (6-12) may have a teacher for each subject area.

How many hours are spent on the computer per day?

• Online programming is for a full school day. However, it is likely that students will complete their work in 4-5 hours per day. 

Do students get paper copies of assignments?

• Most of the work is completed online. We will work with students who may need paper copies. 

How are the social/emotional needs met?

• Students will have access to the school counselor or social worker. Elementary students will participate in optional morning meetings with Social Emotional Learning activities. 

What would student interaction look like?

• Student interaction will vary by grade level. Elementary students will have more opportunities for interaction via Google Meet. Secondary students will have more student interaction via online classroom discussions. 

Are teachers only accessible during certain hours?

• Teachers are accessible during regular school hours. 

Will kids be in groups by grade level or ability? (or friend cohorts?)

• Students will be grouped according to grade level and may be placed in small learning groups for differentiated instruction. 

Will online students follow the same schedule they would have had in person?

• There will be a schedule, but there is flexibility in when students complete the work. Most lessons and meetings will be recorded for viewing at a later time. 

Is this online program not solely based as an online format, or will there be Google meets like there was with Distance Learning?

• There will be optional Google Meets for students. At the elementary level, these will be strongly encouraged. 

What grading system will the online program use? 

• The grading system will mirror the grading system used in the school. 

How are they transferring data from Houghton Mifflin online to coordinate with the CI grading system?  

• The curriculum is aligned to the Minnesota State Standards. The grading system uses these standards to determine grades.

Is there an example of what a day would look like for a certain grade level?  I browsed the Houghton Mifflin website, and I can not say I found where a “typical day” would look like.

• We will post a video the week of August 17 to show what a day would look like at each level. 

Role of Parents and Caregivers

What are the expectations of the parents? 

• Support the student in accessing the online curriculum 
• Support the student in making adequate weekly progress
• Inform the school in the event of student absences
• Partner with the school and the student to solve any academic or attendance issues that may arise 

Enrollment

Who is Eligible to join the online program?

• Any K-12 student who chooses to opt-out of in-person learning is eligible. This program is the district’s option for families unable to return to in-person learning. It is a separate option from the In-person/Hybrid/Distance Learning model.

How do I enroll my child in the Cambridge-Isanti Online program?

• Go to https://www.c-ischools.org/online and click the “C-I Schools Online - Enroll Now!” button to complete the enrollment form.
• A school representative will follow up with you.

Is there a student orientation prior to the start of the school year?

• Yes, there will be a student orientation scheduled for all C-I Schools Online students in order to ensure that they understand what is required of them, how to access the curriculum, and more.