Thompson+School+District

Thompson School District
Contact: Kellie Bashor (303) 613-5600

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 * Program Descriptions: **

This program, which serves grades Kindergarten through 12, provides students with a full-time alternative to traditional classroom learning experience. The program serves students for which the flexibility and versatility of online is an educational choice. This includes home-schooled students, elite athletes, and alternative learners. Thompson Online (TO) staff must review each student’s application for admission to determine whether the student is likely to be successful working in an online learning environment. A full curriculum is available to students which provides a path to graduation and a Thompson School District diploma.
 * Program 1a: Thompson Online – Full-Time Online Learning Program**

The courseware presented to the K-5 students is provided by K-12 Learning, with supplemental material from Compass Learning. Supplemental materials are also provided to elementary students. The 6-12 program comes from, Aventa. The courses include text-based, integrated audio/video, and full hypermedia presentations. Students are supported and monitored by K-12 and Aventa teachers, “behind the glass,” who are licensed, highly qualified, and have been trained as online instructors.

Students may choose to drop into the Thompson Online school premises - the Resource Center - for tutoring and support, as their needs require. In the future, Thompson Online students will be expected to present themselves at the Resource Center for ongoing monitoring and support. The Resource Center is staffed by a licensed, highly qualified Thompson School District teacher. Number of Student Participants: approximately 21 students.

Students who are enrolled in Thompson Online do not have pay a fee to participate.

The students provide their own workstation and Internet access, but they may access their online coursework at a lab available at the Resource Center. Some students are provided a desktop workstation and Internet access on a financial-need basis.

Thompson Online has recently been awarded Multi-District status.

This program provides students with a part-time, supplemental alternative to traditional classroom learning experience. The program serves the same types of students as the full-time program. In some cases the student will follow an independent online learning program but choose to take one or more class at the traditional school. The curriculum is available to all students, subject to district approval, and supports a path to graduation and a diploma.
 * Program 1b: Thompson Online School – Part-Time Online Learning Program**

The courseware for the Part-Time students is the same as for the Full-Time students. Again, the students are supported and monitored by 3rd-party instructors. The Resource Center staff teacher supports part-time students as needed; classes in the traditional school setting are delivered by Thompson District teachers. Number of Participants: 24 part-time students.

Students do not have pay a fee to participate unless they are taking the class as an overload.

The student provides their own workstation and Internet access, but they may access their online coursework at their in-building school or at a lab available at the TO offices. Program 2: Thompson School District – Secondary Options for Achievement Resulting in Success (SOARS)

At risk and other students who are 17 or older may choose to pursue their education in the SOARS program. Candidates for the SOARS program must apply through the school district. SOARS allows the students to proceed to graduation and a Thompson School District diploma, to sit for the GED exam, or to enhance their home schooling program.

The SOARS program is a self-paced program offered at the Thompson Community Learning Center. Students attend 2-hour class sessions at the Learning Center, four days a week. The Internet-based courses are provided by Plato Learning. Students are supported and monitored by two highly qualified teachers, one supporting math and science courses and one supporting language and social studies.

Number of Student Participants: approximately 200 students.

This program provides a credit recovery program for high school students on a part-time, supplemental basis. The student is expected to carry a full traditional course load including the credit recovery courses. The credit recovery courses are intended to allow students to catch up on missed or failed courses and allow the student to proceed to graduation and Thompson School District diploma.
 * Program 3: Thompson School District – Online Credit Recovery**

The credit recovery program is a self-paced program offered through the individual high schools.

The Internet-based courses are provided by Plato Learning. Students are supported and monitored by a licensed Thompson District teacher.

Number of Student Participants: approximately 250 students.

Thompson School District also utilizes CO Online as a supplemental program, supporting “brick and mortar” students who need just one class that they otherwise can't fit in their schedule.

Thompson Online requires a minimum of 2 classes for part-time students.

All courseware (from K-12, Aventa, Compass, and Plato) is delivered via the web.

The cost for the K-12 courseware is $2,500 per student per course per year. The Aventa courseware costs $300 per student per course per year. The Plato credit recovery courseware is delivered under a rolling concurrent-user site license. There are120 concurrent user licenses are available at any one time for SOARS and the credit recovery (through home high schools) at any one time.