alabama state department of education - alsde · alabama state department of education invitation...

Denise Veal

Account Executive

(478) 251-0066

[email protected]

Alabama State Department of Education

Invitation to Bid #06-DLC 2016 ACCESS Virtual Learning Online Courses and/or Course Modules August 18, 2016

Response to Alabama State Department of Education

ITB 06-DLC 2016 ACCESS Virtual Learning Online Courses and/or Course Modules

Contents

Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................... 4

Proposed Services ...................................................................................................................................... 6

Proposed Services.................................................................................................................................. 6

Bid Specifications/Requirements .............................................................................................................. 8

Nationally Recognized Quality Standards for Online Courses ............................................................... 8

History, Philosophy, and Pedagogical Models ....................................................................................... 9

Accreditations and Academic Partners .................................................................................................. 9

Demo Information ................................................................................................................................. 10

Copyright Compliance and Intellectual Property Rights ....................................................................... 10

Conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act......................................................................... 11

Universal Design for Learning .............................................................................................................. 11

Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) ............................................................................... 11

Technical Support ................................................................................................................................. 11

Course/Content Management .............................................................................................................. 14

Learning Resources and Materials ....................................................................................................... 14

Age, Developmentally, and Grade-Level Appropriate Content ............................................................ 15

User Friendly Organization ................................................................................................................... 16

Higher Order Thinking .......................................................................................................................... 18

Support and Enhance Student Engagement and Student Motivation .................................................. 18

Accurate, Complete and Current Content ............................................................................................ 21

Free of Bias and Culturally Diverse ...................................................................................................... 22

21st Century Skills ................................................................................................................................ 22

Diagnostic Assessments ...................................................................................................................... 23

Formative and Summative Assessments ............................................................................................. 26

Assessment Types ............................................................................................................................... 27

Lab Activities ......................................................................................................................................... 28

Pre-Learning Activities .......................................................................................................................... 28

Test Banks & Randomization ............................................................................................................... 29

Instructional Strategies Vary According to Desired Type of Learning Outcomes ................................ 29

Requirements for Objective and Subjective Assessments ................................................................... 30

Instructor Feedback .............................................................................................................................. 31

Alternative Evaluation Methods ............................................................................................................ 31

Videos, Animations, Audio, etc. Support and Enhance Learning ......................................................... 31

Resources that Extend the Scope of the Course ................................................................................. 32

Learning Styles ..................................................................................................................................... 33



E-learning Standards ............................................................................................................................ 34

Adaptable and Flexible to Meet Individual Needs ................................................................................ 34

Software, Hardware, Texts, Other Supplemental Materials and Costs ................................................ 35

Affiliations or Partnerships .................................................................................................................... 36

External Web Links ............................................................................................................................... 37

Content Development ........................................................................................................................... 38

Rigor, Depth, and Breadth .................................................................................................................... 40

Content Development Procedures, Processes and Review ................................................................ 41

References ........................................................................................................................................... 41

Professional Services ........................................................................................................................... 43

Pricing Structure ....................................................................................................................................... 46

Comprehensive Courses ...................................................................................................................... 46

Tutorials ................................................................................................................................................ 47

Materials ............................................................................................................................................... 47

Professional Services ........................................................................................................................... 48

Provided at No Additional Cost ............................................................................................................. 48

Suggested Reading ................................................................................................................................... 49



Executive Summary

Apex Learning is pleased to have the opportunity to respond to the Alabama State Department of

Education’s (SDE) Invitation to Bid for ACCESS Virtual Learning Online Courses and/or Course Modules

and offers this response to support the Alabama SDE in offering online middle and high school courses

and course modules (Grades 6-12) in the following areas:

Standard and advanced courses aligned to Alabama standards

College Board approved Advanced Placement courses

Additional course offerings (electives)

Remediation and supplemental resources and/courses

Credit recovery

To support Alabama SDE’s needs, Apex Learning offers two digital curriculum solutions, each of which

has been developed to address specific requirements:

Comprehensive Courses — in math, science, English, social studies, world languages, Advanced

Placement, and electives including Career and Technical Education — address the needs of all

students, from building foundational skills to creating opportunities for advanced coursework.

Designed for original credit and efficient credit recovery, each Comprehensive Course provides a

complete course of study that offers breadth of standards coverage, depth of instruction, and

integrated formative and summative assessment. Apex Learning Courses are based on leading

learning research and state and national standards including the Alabama Courses of Study and

the Common Core.

Tutorials meet the need for flexible digital content to support teachers in personalizing learning to

provide remediation and supplemental materials to ensure students pass their courses the first

time (reducing the need for credit recovery).

Apex Learning provides multiple digital curriculum solutions to prepare students for college

and work.



Apex Learning is recognized as the nation’s leading digital curriculum provider based on our proven

ability to 1) increase student learning, 2) support successful implementations, and 3) achieve results.

1) High expectations and success for all students. Apex Learning supports education entities in

setting high expectations for all students, and recognizes the need to meet each student at his or her

individual level of academic readiness. To enable all students to master rigorous standards-based

content, Apex Learning digital curriculum features a balance of active learning to ensure student

engagement and motivation, multiple representations to address different learning styles, and

scaffolding to support English language learners and struggling students.

2) Best-in-class services and support. Apex Learning is committed to delivering value to clients

and that means successful implementations. An experienced team, composed of an Implementation

Success Manager, an Operations Manager, and the Apex Learning Support Staff, partners with state

and district staff to ensure the success of each digital learning program.

3) Proven results and outcomes. Implementations of Apex Learning digital curriculum yield results.

From outperforming the national average on AP exams by 13% points at Iowa Online AP Academy,

to 7.5 percentage point increase in the graduation rate at Houston Independent School District, to a

7.7 percentage point increase at Boston Public Schools, to a dropout rate that was cut by 50 percent

at Sarasota County Schools, Apex Learning digital curriculum is proven to produce positive

outcomes. Schools using Apex Learning digital curriculum are eager to share their success publically.

This has resulted in a library of third-party research studies, client implementation stories,

testimonials, and quotes that describe Apex Learning implementations and celebrate the outcomes

achieved.

Thank you for the invitation to submit this response. We look forward to partnering with the Alabama SDE

to help you meet your goals.

If you have any questions about this proposal, please contact Denise Veal at (478) 251-0066 or

[email protected].

Respectfully,

Cynthia Rogan

Vice President



Proposed Services

Proposed Services

Apex Learning has nearly two decades of experience effectively supporting education entities in the

development of virtual and blending learning programs. We have demonstrated a proven track record of

assisting states and districts in building successful blended and virtual learning programs while

developing their internal expertise in delivering effective online learning.

Apex Learning can assist the Alabama SDE with providing additional educational offerings for Alabama

public school students. Apex Learning’s Comprehensive Courses, described below, range from

Foundations courses, grade-level and Honors courses, to Advanced Placement. These courses meet the

SDE’s needs for standard and advanced courses aligned to Alabama standards, Advanced Placement

courses authorized by the College Board, additional course offerings and credit recovery.

Apex Learning Tutorials meet the need for flexible supplemental digital content to support teachers in

personalizing learning to provide remediation and supplemental materials to ensure students pass their

courses the first time (reducing the need for credit recovery).

Comprehensive Courses

Apex Learning proposes Comprehensive Courses to meet the need for online middle and high school

courses. Comprehensive Courses are NCAA-approved, AP courses are authorized by the College Board

and score highly on iNACOL online course quality standards for content, instructional design, student

assessment, technology, course evaluation and support. Included in the Suggested Reading portion of

this response is a completed iNACOL rubric for Apex Learning’s Algebra I course.

Apex Learning offers a robust catalog of

more than 200 semester courses designed to

meet specific needs of students, from

building foundational skills to creating

opportunities for advanced coursework.

Comprehensive Courses in math, science,

English, social studies, foreign languages,

Advanced Placement, and electives including

Career and Technical Education serve a

range of programs requiring comprehensive,

standards-based curriculum on par with high

school graduation requirements. These

Courses can be used to grant students

original credit or credit in a recovery situation. A list of Apex Learning Courses is available in the course

catalog in the Suggested Reading section at the end of this proposal.



Tutorials

Tutorials in math and English language arts for grades 6–12 and in high school biology and U.S. history

are designed to provide teachers with key instructional resources to ensure all students are prepared for

success for end-of-course exams, provide targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation throughout

the school year to reduce the need for credit recovery, and enhance instruction in blended learning

models to raise achievement for all students. In a national study, Tutorials have been proven to increase

student performance by 20 percentile points (see the Suggested Reading section at the end of this

proposal for the study overview).

Specifically created to meet the expectations of the Common Core State Standards, each Tutorial content

module focuses on a specific set of learning

objectives. Students have the opportunity to

actively engage with direct instruction, practice and

apply what they have learned, and review key

concepts.

Tutorials feature an innovative design that

incorporates elements of popular games and apps

to engage and motivate students. Designed for use

on tablet devices as well as on laptops, desktops,

and netbooks, Apex Learning Tutorials have the

potential to support blended learning initiatives

across Alabama and enhance instruction for every

student in every classroom.

Tutorials

Math: Math Grades 6 – 8, Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Mathematics I, Mathematics II,

Mathematics III

English: English Language Arts and Reading Grades 6 – 8, English 9 – 12

Science: Biology

Social Studies: U.S. History

College readiness: ACT, SAT, GED, ACCUPLACER



Bid Specifications/Requirements

Nationally Recognized Quality Standards for Online Courses

Apex Learning has been a member of iNACOL since 2004 and its digital curriculum scores highly against

iNACOL’s National Standards of Quality for Online Courses.

Additionally, Apex Learning has undergone evaluation and approval as a

provider of quality digital curriculum by leading education organizations. The

independent evaluations were based on criteria ranging from adherence to

the established body of leading learning research and best practices in

teaching, to alignment with state and national standards such as the

Common Core State Standards and iNACOL’s National Standards for

Quality Online Courses.

Organizations that have reviewed and approved Apex Learning digital

curriculum include:

The Arkansas Department of Education

The California Learning Resource Network (CLRN)

The College Board

The Florida Department of Education

The Georgia Department of Education

iLearnOhio

Illinois Virtual School

The Louisiana Supplemental Course Academy

The Maine Online Learning Program

The Maryland State Department of Education

Michigan Virtual University

Missouri Online Virtual Instruction Program

National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)

The Nevada Department of Education

North Carolina Virtual Public School

North Dakota Office of Public Instruction

The Oklahoma State Department of Education

Quality Matters

The South Carolina State Department of Education

South Dakota Virtual School

The Texas Education Agency

The Texas Virtual School Network (TxVSN)

The University of California Office of the President (UCOP)

The Virginia Department of Education

The Washington State Digital Learning Department



History, Philosophy, and Pedagogical Models

Nearly two decades ago Apex Learning emerged as an expert in digital learning for secondary education,

developing online Advanced Placement courses to provide students who would otherwise not have

access the opportunity to take rigorous, college-level courses. Recognizing the challenges schools face in

meeting the needs of every student — from those struggling to stay on track for graduation to those

capable of accelerating their learning — the company continues to develop innovative, digital learning

solutions to support teachers and provide every student with the opportunity to excel beyond his or her

expectations.

Today Apex Learning offers a comprehensive catalog of more than 200 rigorous, standards-based online

courses that meet graduation requirements. Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are used by states

and schools nationwide for both initial credit and credit recovery. The company’s latest digital learning

solution —Tutorials — are a key component of effective blended learning, providing classroom teachers

with the critical resources they need to meet the needs of all students including preparation for high

stakes assessments, targeted intervention and just-in-time remediation and enhanced instruction for all

students.

Apex Learning is headquartered in Seattle.

Philosophy

Apex Learning’s mission is to empower educators across the country to personalize the learning

experience so ALL students—including those who are struggling, those at grade level, and those looking

to accelerate—can graduate with the skills and knowledge they need for college, career, and life.

Research-Based Pedagogy

The foundation underlying Apex Learning digital curriculum is the established body of learning research

and best practices in teaching. We access evidence-based work from leading learning theorists to

develop curriculum that incorporates basic and higher levels of learning, builds critical thinking skills,

deepens understanding, as well as engages and motivates students to succeed. The research base

serving as the foundation for our course development is documented in Research Put into Practice: Apex

Learning Curriculum and Pedagogy, provided in the Suggested Reading section at the end of this

proposal.

Accreditations and Academic Partners

Apex Learning is accredited by AdvancED. This accreditation was most recently awarded on July

22, 2015.

Apex Learning has been a member of iNACOL since 2004 and its digital curriculum scores highly

against iNACOL’s National Standards of Quality for Online Courses

All Apex Learning AP courses are authorized by the College Board.



Apex Learning Courses have been approved by the National Collegiate Athletic Association

(NCAA) as meeting the requirements for establishing the initial-eligibility certification status for

high school student-athletes wishing to compete in college.

Demo Information

A sandbox environment that includes access to Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses and Tutorials is

available to Alabama SDE staff via the credentials below. Note that multiple users may be signed into this

account at the same time.

Website: http://apexdemo.apexvs.com

Teacher Username: Alabama_teacher

Student Username: Alabama_student

Password: ALdemo

Once you have signed in, please refer to the Demo Guides provided in the Suggested Reading section

at the end of this proposal. Additional orientation materials and context-sensitive help is available by

clicking the Help link in the upper right corner of the screen.

Copyright Compliance and Intellectual Property Rights

All content on the Apex Learning corporate and customer websites is owned by Apex Learning and its

licensors and protected by U.S. and international copyright and other intellectual property laws.

Registered users of Apex Learning content are subject to compliance with Apex Learning’s Terms of Use

for Customer Websites, a copy of which is included in the Suggested Reading section of this proposal.

Registered users may access, use and make a machine-readable or print copy of such content for

personal use only, and not for commercial exploitation of any kind. Registered users also agree not to

make any use of such content which is not expressly authorized in the Terms of Use.

Registered users also agree to maintain all copyright and other notices included in any content copied

from the Apex Learning customer websites.

Additionally, registered users further agree not to use any automated means, including, without limitation,

agents, robots, scripts, or spiders, to access, monitor, or copy any part of the Apex Learning customer

websites, and agree not to use any network monitoring tools to determine site architecture or extract

information about website usage or users.

http://apexdemo.apexvs.com/



Apex Learning reserves all rights not expressly granted to registered users in such Terms of Use. No

additional rights are granted by implication, estoppel or otherwise.

Apex Learning represents and warrants that registered users’ access to and use of the Apex Learning

digital curriculum will not infringe any third party copyright.

Conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act

Apex Learning delivers a browser-based web interface in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities

Act, specifically sections 504, 508, and the Web Accessibility Content Guidelines (WCAG, Version 2.0).

As state and federal lawmakers continue to evolve the accessibility guidelines for online courses, Apex

Learning continues to adopt technology and design practices to meet expectations for accessibility.

Standard web techniques are used to ensure compliance. For example, the interface supports assistive

technology such as screen readers; alternative text transcripts are provided for all audio, video, and other

non-text elements; image maps are not used; and tabular data presentation includes row and column

headers. In addition, flicker rates for animations are maintained within the prescribed frequency range

and plug-ins required to interact with the content are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Universal Design for Learning

Apex Learning Courses and Tutorials are based on the Universal Design for Learning, a framework that

aims to reach the greatest number of students at their individual learning level. UDL recommends

incorporating three types of flexible instruction, all of which Apex Learning has implemented.

o Multiple methods of content presentation. Apex Learning courses utilize audio, video,

illustrations, graphic organizers, and a varied level of complexity in instruction.

o Multiple modes of student expression. Students complete organizer-based and media-

based assignments and have access to support tools.

o Multiple ways to engage students. Apex Learning courses include discussions, online

activities, games, and brainstorming.

Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT)

A copy of Apex Learning’s VPAT is included in the Suggested Reading portion of this proposal.

Technical Support

Support Staff: Apex Learning support staff are available to all users 14 hours per weekday (7 am to 9 pm

CT) via phone, email, and chat. The Apex Learning support team is dedicated to responding to customer

requests quickly and effectively, answering calls on average within 16 seconds, and finding resolution

within the first call. All Apex Learning users may contact Apex Learning Support.

24/7 On-Demand Support: All users are supported 24/7 via access to on-demand support resources,

including:



Orientation and How-To Videos: All users have access to role-specific video and

orientation tools that introduce new users to navigating and succeeding with Apex Learning

digital curriculum. Dozens of short how-to videos are available to provide targeted assistance

when and where an educator needs it.

Online Knowledgebase: All users have access to a context-

sensitive, comprehensive library of information that is structured for

easy searching, browsing, and printing. Students and educators

access different help topics — including Getting Started materials,

best practices, and FAQs — according to their needs.

Webinars: All Apex Learning clients are invited to participate in monthly complimentary

webinars. These 30-minute webinars include timely best-practice topics and are hosted by

our education consultants. All webinars are recorded and archived for future viewing.

Quarterly Newsletters: Apex Learning clients will receive a quarterly newsletter, the Apex

Learning Insider, showcasing school and student success, best practices, and other

informative topics to support professional growth and student achievement.

Case Tracking

The Apex Learning support team utilizes a sophisticated case tracking system to ensure that every

instance of client communication is documented in detail and employs effective operating procedures for

efficient issue escalation, resolution, and follow-up for any reported issues.

Updates

Apex Learning digital curriculum undergoes review by an in-house team of experienced instructional

designers on a periodic basis. Our content development team monitors changes to state and national

standards, as well as end-of-course and AP exams. Changes to standards and exams influence the

development of new curriculum as well as enhancements to existing content. Annually, instructional

designers evaluate Apex Learning curriculum based on data pertaining to effectiveness, including client

feedback that is logged and tracked by our client services team.

As a vendor-hosted solution, updates and enhancements to Comprehensive Courses are immediately

available to all users and are provided at no additional cost. The Apex Learning client services team

ensures that users are aware of updates and enhancements through announcements in the LMS, email-

based outreach, and updated articles, videos, and orientation materials available via the integrated online

help center.

Course maintenance, enhancement, and development projects are categorized, prioritized, and

scheduled according the nature of the data, feedback, or request. Because feedback is always coming in,

and new efficacy data is always available, course development is an ongoing process.



Online Help

Apex Learning provides an extensive library of asynchronous on-demand help resources to all users

through a dedicated in-solution help center. Resources include how-to videos, training modules, helpful

articles, and printable reference guides.



Course/Content Management

Alternative to Migrating Vendor Courses/Content

Apex Learning has a long history of partnering with schools to integrate with existing technology

infrastructure. From student information systems and district directories to custom portals and learning

management systems, Apex Learning can accommodate simple or complex data integration needs. Apex

Learning will work closely with Alabama SDE to understand the desired level of integration with existing

district systems and provide a secure integration with Apex Learning systems that meets district needs.

Courses and Tutorials can be delivered via LTI from a third-party system. Administrators, teachers, and

students can link directly from any learning management system to Apex Learning. Course content is

hosted by Apex Learning and available to staff and students via the web, 24/7, from any location.

Learning Resources and Materials

Learning Resources – Courses

Comprehensive Courses feature additional resources to support teachers and students:

Teacher Resources: Courses include grading rubrics, assessment keys, sample answers,

and hints for providing instructional support to aid teachers in providing quality instruction and

targeted intervention as students progress through their courses. The resources are available

to teachers within the course window on the same page as the course content to which the

resource pertains.

Student Resources: Each course includes a student resources section that includes the

course syllabus, key terms, study tips, and additional course-specific tools such as

calculators and writing aids that students will use to complete coursework.

On-Demand Materials: User-friendly on-demand videos, curriculum guides, user guides,

and a searchable knowledgebase is available 24/7 via Apex Learning Help.

Real-Time Data: To support instruction efforts, real-time data is available via dashboards

and robust reporting. Teachers are able to easily determine which students are accelerating

and may be in need of additional challenge, and which are struggling and in need of

intervention and remediation.

Materials – Courses

Most Comprehensive Courses do not require books. However, certain courses have required or optional

books (e.g., literature for English courses, lab manuals for science courses) or other ancillary materials

(e.g., a calculator for math courses, a microphone for world languages courses, lab materials for science

courses). Many of these materials may already be available within the district for use, or may be

purchased from Apex Learning or another supplier.

For a complete list of required materials, please visit: http://www.apexlearning.com/info/materials_list.pdf

http://www.apexlearning.com/info/materials_list.pdf



Learning Resources – Tutorials

Resources for teachers implementing Tutorials in their classrooms include:

Tutorial Guides help teachers become familiar and get started with specific Tutorials by

providing quick access to content outlines, assignment sheets, and study guide templates.

Tutorial Clips are short videos with examples of how teachers are using Tutorials with their

students.

Additional Resources to help teachers plan and assign Tutorials content to their students,

include content outlines, lesson plan templates, and assignment sheets.

Student learning resources for Tutorials include a Getting Started, where students will learn:

How to sign in and update their account profile.

How to use My Dashboard to access courses and perform other common tasks.

How to navigate Tutorials and complete activities.

How to monitor Tutorial progress.

Materials – Tutorials

All necessary materials are imbedded in Tutorials.

Age, Developmentally, and Grade-Level Appropriate Content

Apex Learning Courses and Tutorials feature a variety of assignments and assessments based on

established learning objectives. The level of challenge, appropriateness of each type, and the types of

supporting multimedia and scaffolding included is determined by a team of experienced instructional

designers who leverage evidence-based work from leading learning theorists to develop assignments and

assessments that incorporate basic and higher levels of learning, build critical thinking skills, deepen

understanding, and engage and motivate students.



User Friendly Organization

Courses

Each semester-long Comprehensive

Course is organized into units, lessons,

and activities. A typical lesson comprises

a number of activities based on

established learning objectives including

studies, practices, readings, journals,

labs, discussions, projects, web

explorations, reviews, and both

computer- and teacher-scored

assessments. Students and staff are

able to easily navigate through course

content via the outline navigation box

that is always present on the left side of

the course window.

Apex Learning digital curriculum is accessed via the proprietary Apex Learning LMS that provides robust

reporting and easy-to-use tools for classroom and student management. The LMS is tightly integrated

with the curriculum, providing a consistent user experience, access to instructional management tools,

and a wide range of student performance data not available when content and LMS are designed

separately.

The Apex Learning LMS integrates student performance data, courses, and classroom management tasks into

a single easy-to-use interface.



Tutorials

Each Tutorial is comprised of units, which in turn are comprised of focused content modules. Each

content module provides direct instruction, practice, review and assessment, providing multiple

opportunities for content to appeal to all learning styles and abilities. Moving at their own pace, students

actively engage in meaningful ways with rigorous instructional content. The unique organization of

Tutorials allows each student to choose the path that is best suited to his or her individual needs.

Purposeful use of text, audio, video, and interactive media motivates students to learn while addressing

varied learning styles and individual preferences.

The innovative instructional approach of Tutorials — Learn It, Try It, Review It, Test It — provides

students with opportunities to build knowledge, develop critical thinking skills, and deepen understanding.

Students access rigorous content through multiple entry points, choose the path that is best suited to his

or her individual needs, and progress through each module at the pace which they determine.

Learn It

Focused instruction with meaningful real-world examples

Interactive opportunities for students to practice and apply new concepts

Immediate feedback to support comprehension

Try It

Inviting, no-stakes assessment for practice and application

Immediate feedback to reinforce learning

Varying question types similar to high-stakes assessment

Review It

Short, high-impact video that reinforces concepts

Use of humor and visual appeal that engages students

Test It

Low-stakes opportunity to test student understanding



Multiple opportunities to check understanding

Reporting that gives teachers insight into student progress and performance

Higher Order Thinking

Courses

Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses feature an instructional design that engages students in active

learning, through which students develop the higher order skills necessary to demonstrate their

knowledge and solve complex problems. Practice problem sets, journals, and discussions provide

opportunities for students to engage in critical and complex reasoning, and subjective open-ended testing

tools evaluate the higher order and critical thinking skills associated with the higher levels of Bloom’s

Taxonomy and Webb’s Depth of Knowledge (DOK). To support students in engaging in critical reasoning,

all Apex Learning courses incorporate a variety of opt-in supports and scaffolds to meet students at their

individual level of academic readiness and develop their capacities.

Tutorials

Apex Learning instructional designers leverage evidence-based work from leading learning theorists to

develop assignments and assessments for Tutorials that incorporate basic and higher levels of learning,

build critical thinking skills, deepen understanding, and engage and motivate students.

Support and Enhance Student Engagement and Student Motivation

Rather than expecting students to learn by passively

watching, reading, and listening, Apex Learning

students learn by doing. Apex Learning integrates

active learning into every lesson, bringing ideas to life.

Students progress through course content by

interacting with each concept as they are prompted to

observe, explore, inquire, create, connect, and

confirm. Formative feedback is immediately provided

as students apply their understanding, creating a

continuous interplay with the subject matter that keeps

students attentive and motivated.

Each Comprehensive Course and Tutorial provides relevant, authentic real-world activities that are of

interest to the 21st Century learner and citizen. Apex Learning Courses and Tutorials emphasize real

world application by grounding instruction in relevant content designed to help students visualize and

connect with topics by applying their knowledge to real world scenarios in instruction and assessment.

Multi-modal practice opportunities build a wide range of practical real world skills by asking students to



apply their knowledge in a variety of ways as they learn new concepts. Opt-in scaffolding embedded in

the instructional content helps students make connections between lesson content and their lives.

Through ongoing interaction with content, students are able to take responsibility for, and ownership of,

their individual learning experience. As students experience success their confidence builds and

achievement increases.

Courses

Active learning supports students as they develop domain-specific knowledge and academic processes,

providing hands-on opportunities for students to master difficult concepts. In math, students use

manipulatives to explore and expand their conceptual understanding of complex or abstract mathematical

concepts. In English, interactive reading activities, writing generators, and process guides support

students as they develop critical reading and writing skills. In science courses, animations and interactive

activities allow students to explore key principles, make connections, and visualize scientific processes

and their applicability to the real world.



Sample Activity: English 9

In English 9, students develop analytical reading skills by

reading anchor text, then moving to interactive instruction

through which students apply the lesson’s concepts directly

back to the anchor text through close reading and writing

exercises.

By placing the text first, the direct instruction can guide

students as they develop essential analytical reading and

writing skills by carefully examining how the author

leverages each lesson concept in the anchor text. Here, the

Read and Respond is an example of active learning to help

students build strategies for accessing complex texts,

utilizing guided questions to break down readings and

providing immediate feedback to student responses.

Sample Activity: Physics

In Physics, students build circuits within an interactive simulation environment to observe relationships in

variables, test ideas, and confirm their understanding. Realistic simulations teach students about hands-

on circuit design, as they are able to quickly, safely, and independently experiment with a wide variety of

circuits.

For a video overview of active learning in Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses please visit:

http://www.apexlearning.com/Videos/Active_Learning.htm.

http://www.apexlearning.com/Videos/Active_Learning.htm



Tutorials

Apex Learning Tutorials engage students in powerful active learning that motivates students, keeps them

attentive, and requires application of their knowledge. Students have the ability to own their learning and

accept responsibility for the completion of their assignments in a 24/7/365 opportunity. This mirrors the

world of work of the 21st Century as students use the technologies associated with Apex Learning to

complete their assignments much like the project-oriented, flexible, relevant characteristics of global

marketplace workers.

Goal Setting: Each unit has a prescriptive pretest that identifies the learning objectives a student

has mastered and those requiring additional focus. Based on pretest results, an individualized

learning plan directs each student to the relevant content modules.

Charting Progress: Intuitive in-product progress and performance indicators guide students

through their individualized study plans and allow them to focus their attention on areas of most

need. Students can see the quality of their work in the form of a three star system at the top of the

Tutorial home page.

Self-paced: Students are able to progress through each Tutorial at their own pace. They can

spend as much time (privately and without criticism) as they require with the content, moving

quickly through content with which they are familiar and spending more time with new and/or

difficult concepts.

Reinforcement and Praise: Meaningful praise for correct answers and encouraging feedback for

incorrect answers reinforce student achievement. Formative feedback, such as hints and

exemplars, support students throughout a module. Feedback accompanies unscored embedded

self-checks as well as computer-scored assessments.

Accurate, Complete and Current Content





designers evaluate Apex Learning curriculum based on data pertaining to effectiveness and accuracy,

including client feedback that is logged and tracked by our client services team. Additionally, as new

knowledge is gained and as events around the world occur, content is updated to ensure it accurately

reflects the current world.

As a vendor-hosted solution, updates and enhancements to Comprehensive Courses are immediately

available to all users and are provided at no additional cost. The Apex Learning client services team

ensures that users are aware of updates and enhancements through announcements in the Learning

Management System (LMS), email-based outreach, and updated articles, videos, and orientation

materials available via the integrated online help center.



Free of Bias and Culturally Diverse

Apex Learning curriculum reflects the diverse and multicultural population of students who use it,

including:

The diversity of the American people and the relationships among different groups.

The roles of race, class, ethnicity, and gender in the history of the United States.

Diverse individual and collective expressions through literature, art, philosophy, music,

theater, and film throughout U.S. history.

Diversity in popular culture and the dimensions of cultural conflict within American society.

Course content is regularly reviewed and updated to ensure it is accurate and reflective of a changing

world. Internal and industry standards for bias and sensitivity are employed in the course design process

to ensure content is appropriate and accessible to students in all regions.

21st Century Skills

Courses and Tutorials

With the Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses and Tutorials, the critical challenges of raising

achievement for all students are addressed through consistent, relevant conceptual rigor and multiple

access points that emphasize the following 21st Century skills.

Creativity: Apex Learning courses are designed to create curiosity and imagination — many

activities support students in creating their own knowledge and exploring that knowledge.

Self-Direction & Social Responsibility: Apex Learning offers students the ability to own

their learning and accept responsibility for the completion of their assignments in a 24/7/365

opportunity. This mirrors the world of work of the 21st Century as students use the

technologies associated with Apex Learning to complete their assignments much like the

project-oriented, flexible, relevant characteristics of global marketplace workers.

Technology Fluency: Students use technological tools in every step of their progress

through Apex Learning courses. Students engage with multimedia including audio, video,

animations, and interactive elements, and employ online collaboration tools such as forums

and messaging tools. Apex Learning uses technology intentionally in order to explore each

topic from many different angles. This use of multimedia engages students who have

different learning styles and deepens understanding of each concept or skill while also

building technological fluency.

Courses

Collaboration and Cooperation: Apex Learning recognizes that learning is a social process

and student-to-student interaction is imperative for meaningful learning. Apex Learning

courses include opportunities for online student collaboration, such as online threaded



discussions. Courses include interactive assignments appropriate to the subject being

studied such as peer critique of writing and collaborative inquiry.

Communication: Apex Learning provides opportunities for extensive oral and written

activities that address typical writing mechanics and conventions, responding to fiction and

nonfiction prompts, journaling and participating in discussion forums about past and present

items. Courses are organized into semesters, units, lessons, and activities and provide

relevant, authentic real-world activities that are of interest to the 21st Century learner and

citizen. A typical lesson comprises a number of activities including studies, practices,

readings, journals, labs, discussions, projects, web explorations, reviews, and both computer-

and teacher-scored assessments, including unit diagnostics.

Organization: Apex Learning provides many opportunities for students to be involved in a

variety of activities that engage the student as an individual and in a collaborative team.

Course calendars help ensure students stay on track for successful completion of their

courses. Course calendars can be established for an entire class or individual students and

are easily modified. Students are able to progress at their own pace. They can spend as

much time (privately and without criticism) as they require with the content, moving quickly

through content with which they are familiar, and spending more time with new and/or difficult

concepts.

Problem Solving: Apex Learning courses create rich, in-depth learning experiences for

students. Each course provides a complete scope and sequence with original instructional

content that not only guides students in mastering critical skills and developing an

understanding of key concepts but encourages them to go as far as they can with their

learning. Courses include varied activity types that challenge students to explore further,

extend their understanding, think critically, apply skills and concepts to new situations, and

develop and express their points of view. Students are actively engaged in learning as they

read, watch, listen, inquire, write, discuss, explore, and manipulate objects and data.

Diagnostic Assessments

Courses

The key courses in math, science, English, and social studies required for graduation are designed with

prescriptive features to personalize the learning path for each student. Suitable for accelerated credit

recovery1 and competency-based original credit programs, prescriptive courses include unit pretests that

are based on the content standards a student is expected to master in the course. A personalized

learning plan is automatically generated based on pretest results to direct each student to the specific

1 Note that if prescriptive features are used to allow a student to accelerate through a course without completing all coursework, the NCAA will not recognize the course credit for initial-eligibility. Students seeking a credit that is approved for NCAA initial-eligibility must complete all coursework.



material he or she has yet to master. The course outline visually

indicates areas of focus, while leaving all course content accessible.

Prescriptive Pretests Identify Student Knowledge

Prescriptive courses include unit pretests based on the content

standards a student is expected to master in each unit. The pretests

assess a student’s knowledge in each unit of content, identifying

content the student has learned and any areas of deficiency. The

threshold for achieving mastery can be specified by the teacher.

Individualized Learning Plans Focus Student Effort

An individualized learning plan is automatically generated based on

pretest results to direct each student to the specific material he or

she has yet to master. The plan is represented visually in the course

outline so each student can clearly see his or her individualized path.

Although the course outline highlights content a student needs to

complete, the entire course is always available for the student to

access. Individualized learning plans efficiently guide a student’s

learning therefore providing educators with confidence that students

are focused on the material they have yet to master.

Flexible Settings Allow Program Customization

Educators have the flexibility to customize instructional management settings, including the following, to

meet the needs of each program:

• Set the pretest performance level required for testing out of content

• Allow students to test out of an entire unit

• Enable proctoring for pretests

• Prevent access to content until a pretest is taken

Reports Present Results of Individualized Learning Plans

Students access reports designed to track their own progress and performance, from pretest results to

scores on course assessments they are required to complete. Teachers access reports that present each

student’s pretest results compared with the learning objectives as well as indicating the course content to

be completed, providing insight into each student’s unique learning needs. These reports differentiate

between test-out scores and student work scores.



Each student’s individualized learning plan is available from the grade book, providing teachers the ability

to efficiently track each student’s progress and make instructional decisions. The grade book displays

student performance for the entire Course and within each unit. With the Apex Learning reports and

grade book, students and teachers easily view progress to ensure students stay on track for successful

course completion.

Tutorials

Tutorials feature a diagnostic-prescriptive approach that personalizes learning for every student. Each

unit has a prescriptive pretest that identifies which learning objectives a student has mastered and which

require additional focus. Based on pretest results, an individualized learning plan directs each student to

the relevant content modules. Assessment results are available to teachers and students and can be

viewed by standard.



Formative and Summative Assessments

Courses

Comprehensive Courses provide teacher-scored and computer-scored

formative and summative assessment integrated throughout each course to

reveal student understanding through the learning process. The embedded

assessments are specifically designed to test students at various levels of

Bloom’s Taxonomy and Webb’s Depth of Knowledge (DOK).

Student knowledge is assessed regularly in Apex Learning Comprehensive

Courses with items similar to the Smarter Balanced Assessment items and

via the following categories of assessments:

Pretests, available for courses with prescriptive features, assess student mastery of content

and create individualized learning plans that direct each student to the relevant material yet to

be mastered. The threshold for achieving mastery can be specified by the teacher.

Unscored formative assessments, in the form of interactive self-checks integrated into the

instructional content, provide students with immediate feedback, allowing them to check their

own understanding before continuing on. There are several interactive self-checks in each

study activity.

Scored formative assessments provide students with feedback regarding their

understanding of the material as they progress through a course. Computer-scored quizzes

provide students with immediate feedback. Teacher-scored formative assessments include

practice problem sets, journals, and discussions.

Scored summative assessments at the end of each unit and semester require students to

demonstrate their mastery of the material. In addition to computer-scored assessments, Apex

Learning courses include subjective, open-ended, teacher-scored assessments to fully

address standards and evaluate the higher order and critical thinking skills associated with

the higher levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy and Webb’s DOK.



Tutorials

Student knowledge is assessed regularly in Apex Learning Tutorials via the following categories of

assessments:

Pretests, available for courses

with prescriptive features, assess

student mastery of content and

create individualized learning

plans that direct each student to

the relevant material yet to be

mastered.

Unscored formative

assessments, in the form of

interactive self-checks integrated

into the instructional content,

provide students with immediate

feedback, allowing them to

continuously check their own understanding before continuing on.

Scored formative assessments provide students with feedback regarding their understanding of

the material as they progress through content. Computer-scored quizzes provide students with

immediate feedback.

Scored summative assessments at the end of each unit require students to demonstrate their

mastery of the material.

Assessment Types

Courses

Apex Learning assessments include multiple choice, fill in the blank, matching, multiple response, short

answers, extended constructed responses, essays, and other types of writing as applicable to the

curriculum and standards.

Tutorials

Pretests, posttests, and formative assessments in Tutorials feature multiple formats and multiple question

types including no-stakes assessment for practice and application, and varying question types similar to

high-stakes assessments.



Lab Activities

Apex Learning science courses take an inquiry-based approach to learning,

integrating labs, case studies, explorations, and interactive learning activities

frequently throughout the instruction. Students regularly complete both virtual

and hands-on labs throughout the courses to apply their understanding

firsthand. Lab activities guide students as they form hypotheses; collect,

analyze, and manipulate data; and report their findings and conclusions.

Hands-on labs give students direct insight into the nature of scientific inquiry and

experimentation, and help them experience scientific concepts and relationships in person,

while obtaining evidence in support of their hypothesis.

Virtual labs provide students with interactive simulations to discover a scientific process or

relationship on their own. Virtual labs provide controlled investigative experiences that may

otherwise not be available to all students due to time constraints, lack of resources, or safety

concerns.

During both virtual and traditional lab investigations and research tasks, students summarize their

findings and analyze others' findings in summaries, using statistical and mathematical calculations when

appropriate.

Pre-Learning Activities

Pre-learning activities for Courses and Tutorials include:

Orientation and How-To Videos: All users have access to role-specific video and

orientation tools that introduce new users to navigating and succeeding with Apex Learning

digital curriculum. Dozens of short how-to videos are available to provide targeted assistance

when and where an educator needs it.

Online Knowledgebase: All users have access to a context-sensitive, comprehensive library

of information that is structured for easy searching, browsing, and printing. Students and

educators access different help topics — including Getting Started materials, best practices,

and FAQs — according to their needs.

Pretests, available for Courses with prescriptive features, assess student mastery of content

and create individualized learning plans that direct each student to the relevant material yet to

be mastered. The threshold for achieving mastery can be specified by the teacher. Each unit

in each Tutorial has a prescriptive pretest that identifies which learning objectives a student

has mastered and which require additional focus.



Test Banks & Randomization

Courses

Computer-scored assessments are randomized so that no two students take the same test and any

retakes of a test are original to the student. Computer-scored assessments are randomized in three

distinct ways: (1) for a multiple choice item, the order of distractors is randomized; (2) the order in which

the items are presented is randomized; and (3) for each item, the specific question is randomly selected

from several questions within a large test bank that accomplish the same assessment objective (at the

same level of Bloom’s Taxonomy and Webb’s DOK).

On average, 50-60% of students’ grade comes from multiple-choice assessments and 40-50% comes

from open-ended assessments such as essays, projects, problem sets, short answers, labs, and

modeling assignments.

Tutorials

Question randomization is built into Tutorial assessments, ensuring that students all see various

assessments and academic integrity is supported. Each test it and posttest pull from a bank of three sets

of questions, and the question order is randomized within each of these assessments.

Instructional Strategies Vary According to Desired Type of Learning Outcomes

Apex Learning ensures that instructional strategies and activities are based on the requirements of the

learning outcomes indicated by the standards. The development process for both Apex Learning

Comprehensive Courses and Tutorials incorporates the use of Depth of Knowledge to deconstruct

standards and backward design to ensure that our content achieves the various types of learning

outcomes. As a result, instructional strategies and learning activities and objects are varied to achieve the

best possible coverage of all learning outcomes and standards.

For example, one of the many ways in which students meet the Alabama College and Career Ready

English Language Arts Grade 11 Standard W.11-12.1b (Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly and

thoroughly, supplying the most relevant evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations

of both in a manner that anticipates the audience’s knowledge level, concerns, values, and possible

biases) is through writing an argumentative speech that not only meets the standard, but also connects

the content with a present-day, real world situation. In English 11, students write an argumentative

speech that requires them to develop a claim about how people should protest laws they believe unfair or

unreasonable. Within the speech, students must also connect their argument to Henry Thoreau's

reasoning in "Resistance to Civil Government" (which they have just read). Within this assignment

students will establish the significance of a claim, address counterclaims they anticipate others would

suggest, and use transitional elements throughout. To meet this standard in the English 11 Tutorial,

students receive specific detailed instruction on writing argumentative claims, the structure of

argumentative paragraphs and essays, how to both locate and provide the best types of evidence, and

how and when to insert counterclaims to bolster their arguments. Throughout each module instruction is



presented through a variety of formats and strategies, with different forms of assessment also used to

ensure true understanding and measurement of the standard and learning outcomes.

Requirements for Objective and Subjective Assessments

Apex Learning Courses and Tutorials provide both objective and subjective assessment formats. In

Comprehensive Courses, students are assessed objectively through computer-scored multiple choice

quizzes and unit and semester exams. Subjective measurements are provided through the various types

of writing assignments (including narrative, explanatory, argumentative, informative and analytical

essays), as well as teacher-scored unit and semester exams. The teacher-scored exams include short

answer responses, as well as longer, multi-paragraph essays.

Apex Learning Tutorials offer similar methods of assessment. Objective measurements occur through the

computer-scored quizzes throughout the modules, as well as the summative Test It portions of the

tutorial. These assessments have multiple choice, hot-text, and matching questions. Subjective

assessments are presented through constructed responses in both the Learn It and Try It sections of the

tutorials. For example, from the English 10 Tutorial on figurative language, students are expected to write

about how an extended metaphor contributes to the overall meaning of a poem.



Instructor Feedback

Courses

Teacher-scored formative activities include practice problem sets, journals, and discussions. As students

complete activities, they submit assignments and receive formative feedback via a secure message

center. They also participate in monitored discussions with their teacher and peers.

Additionally, scored summative assessments at the end of each unit and semester require students to

demonstrate their mastery of the material. Apex Learning courses include subjective, open-ended,

teacher-scored assessments to fully address standards and evaluate the higher order and critical thinking

skills associated with the higher levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy and Webb’s DOK.

Alternative Evaluation Methods

Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses offer a variety of evaluation methods throughout every unit.

These include:

Study: Direct instruction of course concepts using text, images, multimedia, and active learning

opportunities. A graded study guide of short answer questions is included in this assignment.

Read: Guided, graded reading questions which focus on objectives addressed within the unit

introduction.

Quiz: Study-level or lesson-level multiple choice, computer-scored assessment.

Discuss: Open-ended prompts that promote online class discussions and often requires analysis

of a text for application to real-world scenarios.

Practice/Project: Students apply prior knowledge and extend learned concepts through more in-

depth analysis and synthesis of content, which focus on presentation and writing skills. These

include the longer essays.

Explore: Open ended questions that guide students through the exploration of outside content in

the form of websites

Lab (for science courses): Students go through the scientific process to investigate a question

through hands-on data collection and analysis.

Computer-Scored Test: Summative unit-level assessment that includes multiple choice

questions.

Teacher-Scored Test: Summative unit-level assessment that includes short answer and longer

response questions.

Videos, Animations, Audio, etc. Support and Enhance Learning

Students use technological tools in every step of their progress through Apex Learning Courses and

Tutorials. Students engage with multimedia including audio, video, animations, and interactive elements,

and employ online collaboration tools such as forums and messaging tools.



Resources that Extend the Scope of the Course

Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses offer students resources to extend the scope of their learning

through various research assignments that require students to explore materials outside of the course.

The goal of these assignments is not only provide instruction and assessment on typical research skills,

but to also encourage students to apply it to the material in the course. For example, in English courses,

students have numerous research assignments that require them to perform outside research, varying in

length from shorter essays to larger, unit-long research projects.

In Social Studies courses, students encounter similar research assignments that require them to go

beyond the material presented throughout the course in an effort to expand their knowledge and skills.

For example, in World History Core, students are given a research assignment, provided with instruction

and tips for conducting the research, as well as websites to get them started, all before they even begin

their own research.



Apex Learning strives to provide students with opportunities and resources beyond the scope of the

course in each subject area, including Career and Technical Education courses. Assignments in CTE

courses that require exploration of outside resources encourage students to draw connections between

the course and the real-world applications of the material in each respective field. For example, in the

Introduction to Health Science, students must research several different healthcare fields, the education

levels required for each, as well as the certification(s) and/or licensure that are required and how to obtain

them.

Learning Styles

Recognizing that students come to class with varying levels of proficiency and preparation for grade-level

academic content, Apex Learning has centered its instructional design on providing multiple methods of

differentiation to make rigorous, standards-based content accessible to all learners, from those not

prepared for grade-level academic challenges to those capable of accelerating their learning.



Multiple ways to engage students: Courses include a variety of interactive practice

activities, real-world examples with relevant applications, immediate instructional feedback,

and multiple opportunities to demonstrate success.

Multiple methods of content presentation. Instruction incorporates audio, video,

illustrations, and interactive elements and provides varied levels of complexity.

Multiple modes of student expression. Students complete a range of activities, including

organizer-based and media-based assignments.

E-learning Standards

Apex Learning is IMS Global LTI 1.0 certified. Since Apex Learning digital curriculum is accessed via a

proprietary LMS hosted by Apex Learning, SCORM standards are not applicable.

Adaptable and Flexible to Meet Individual Needs

The innovative structure of Tutorials – Learn It, Try It, Review It, Test It – provides an instructional

approach to build knowledge, develop critical thinking skills, and deepen understanding. Students access

rigorous content through multiple entry points, choose the path that is best suited to his or her individual

needs, and progress through each module at the pace which they determine.

Ability to self-pace: Students work at their own pace, spending as much time (privately and

without criticism) as they require, moving quickly through content with which they are familiar

and spending more time with new and/or difficult concepts. Struggling readers have time to

read for comprehension.

Personalized Learning Paths. Prescriptive pretests and individualized learning plans focus

learning, helping students recover credits efficiently and move through content at an

accelerated pace when appropriate.



Tutorials with Adaptive Remediation

Apex Learning’s latest innovation —Adaptive Remediation— provides additional support for students who

struggle with on grade level content due to learning gaps. In Adaptive Tutorials, pretests include

assessment items related to skills and concepts a student should have previously mastered. If pretest

results indicate a student has not learned certain prerequisite content, the Tutorial will adapt to present

the prerequisite content module(s) relevant to that student.

Software, Hardware, Texts, Other Supplemental Materials and Costs

Apex Learning digital curriculum is hosted by Apex Learning and available to staff and students via the

web, 24/7, from any location. There is no requirement for additional installation of hardware or software at

the user site. Therefore, no additional effort beyond what is normally required to maintain existing

technologies is necessary to ensure access to Apex Learning digital curriculum.

Most Comprehensive Courses do not require books. However, certain courses have required or optional

books (e.g., literature for English courses, lab manuals for science courses) or other ancillary materials

(e.g., a calculator for math courses, a microphone for world languages courses, lab materials for science

courses).

Apex Learning develops standards-based content. We do not merely align our content to the standards,

but instead study and analyze current standards prior to course development to ensure content is

developed around the skills and concepts, as well as the Depth of Knowledge requirements of the

standards. Where possible, we use readings in the public domain or work with third parties to license

texts that are not in the public domain. Occasionally, to meet the requirements of the standards, user

purchase of an additional book or resource is needed to meet the requirements of the standards, because



a standards-based resource cannot be found in the public domain or licensed to be imbedded in our

content.

Many of these materials may already be available within the district for use, or may be purchased from

Apex Learning or another supplier. The price for course access does not include any such required or

optional materials.


There are no materials required for Tutorials.

Affiliations or Partnerships

Please see the Academic Partners section of this response for more information about Apex Learning’s

partnerships.

Apex Learning is a member of iNACOL. Apex Learning digital curriculum

scores highly against iNACOL’s National Standards of Quality for Online

Courses.

Apex Learning partnered with Getting Smart to publish Realizing the Potential of Blended

Learning: Beyond Personalized to Active Learning. This paper highlights how blended learning

can provide personalized and active learning experiences that increase student engagement and

achievement. For more detail, refer to the paper included in the Suggested Reading section of

this proposal.

Apex Learning is a member of Learning Forward, and

uses the standards promoted by Learning Forward as its

foundation for designing professional learning programs.

Apex Learning has been a long term sponsor of USAA, the Urban Superintendents Association of

America, and participates in their yearly workshops to solve the most vexing challenges that

educational leaders are facing.

Apex Learning incorporates the research and strategies promoted by the Clayton Christensen

Institute to drive transformational change in schools throughout the

country.

Apex Learning has partnered with the Depth of Knowledge (DOK)

Partner Program. Developed by WebbAlign, the DOK Partner

Program ensures curriculum is in alignment to K-12 standards and

assessments.




External Web Links

Some Comprehensive Courses include links to relevant external web sites where appropriate to add

value to the learning experience. Apex Learning takes extensive care to ensure that any external web

links are safe and in compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA). Apex Learning can

support districts using content filters to promote safe internet browsing by providing a whitelist of external

URLs used within Apex Learning courses.



Content Development

Team Titles and Credentials

Jean Sharp, VP of Content Development

Jean brings a wealth of experience as an educator and developer of digital content to her current role as

vice president of content development at Apex Learning.

Jean began her career in the classroom teaching second and third grade. Recognizing the potential for

technology to have an impact on student outcomes, Jean joined the Minnesota Education Computing

Company, a pioneering organization in educational technology. (MECC later became The Learning

Company.) After ten years developing online content at MECC, Jean joined Plato Learning, a developer

of digital content for high school students. At Plato, Jean involved herself in every aspect of developing

online content. Prior to joining Apex Learning, Jean was the vice president of curriculum and instruction

for AdvancePath Academics. Looking for an opportunity to work on digital solutions that emphasize

quality and rigor, she now spearheads the Apex Learning Content Development team in its mission to

develop rigorous online content that is accessible to all students, from those that struggle to those

capable of accelerating their learning.

Jean has a Master's in Education with a focus on educational technology and instructional design from

the University of Oklahoma.

Dr. Steve Morris, Director of Product Management

Steve brings his experience as an educator and developer of digital content along with his keen interest in

the education and technology space to his current role as Director of Product Management at Apex

Learning.

Steve has taught college level mathematics for over eight years, most recently at a small college in

Philadelphia before he started working for Apex Learning. Immediately seeing the potential impact

technology can have on education, Steve took on the role of producer and instructional designer;

overseeing the development of select mathematics courses for Apex Learning for over 3 years. Steve’s

background in education and experience in content production was a great fit for his current position as

Director of Product Management. In this role, he works closely with content development, technology, and

client facing teams to develop and deliver education solutions providing an active learning experience to

all students as they prepare for their futures in high school and beyond.

Steve has a Ph.D. in mathematics from Cornell University and a BA in mathematics and English

Literature from the University of Oregon.

***The personnel information on this page is confidential. Apex Learning respectfully requests

that Alabama SDE withhold it from public disclosure.***



Denise Kelly, Director of Standards Alignment

Denise has extensive experience as a teacher, administrator, and curriculum developer. Denise began

teaching in a Title I resource program for students with language delays and later moved into teaching

social studies and English language arts at the middle school level. She then began developing content

for a number of publishers as a contract writer, while continuing to teach for a private learning center

specializing in working with students with learning disabilities. She went to work full time for a digital

content developer that eventually was bought by Pearson. After a number of years she decided to return

to the field and became the Curriculum Director for a national company that managed charter schools in

seven states. While working for the charter school organization, Denise was asked to find a new digital

curricular resource that had a full course catalog with all courses required for high school graduation and

that would prepare at-risk students for success on high-stakes and exit-level exams. After working with

the Apex Learning digital curriculum and staff, Denise decided to return to the publishing world. She is

now the Director of Standards Alignment at Apex Learning where her role ensures the development of

standards-based courses and content.

Denise earned her Bachelor’s degree and the University of Northern Colorado and has completed

graduate studies at the University of Akron and Drake University.

Course Designers

John Kerwin, Curriculum Manager, Mathematics

John brings his experience as at teaching, developing software and other educational materials, to his

role as Curriculum Manager at Apex Learning. Prior to joining Apex Learning, he held a number of editing

and writing roles at three different publishing companies. He also served as a project manager and

curriculum developer for an online curriculum company. John started his career as a high school

mathematics, science and journalism teacher.

John holds a MA in Education and a BS and MS in Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management

from Stanford University.

Charlotte Luongo, Curriculum Manager, Science

Charlotte began working with Apex Learning in 2010 as an instructional designer. In 2011, she took the

role of Curriculum Manager of the Science Domain.

Charlotte began her career in education teaching Latin to middle school students and osteology courses

to undergraduate students. After graduate school, she became a science editor for a major academic

publisher. Charlotte then branched out into instructional design and became an independent contractor

for many of the leading educational companies in North America and Europe.





During the 10 years Charlotte worked as an independent contractor, she specialized in producing

curricula and products for online learning, asynchronous learning, and blended learning

environments. Several of the products Charlotte developed during this period won CODiE, ITC, and DAA

awards for the best use of technology in education.

Charlotte holds a B.A. in Anthropology and a M.S. in Osteology, Paleopathology, and Funerary

Archaeology.

Jennifer Willson, Curriculum Manager, History/Social Studies

Jennifer has extensive experience in educational programming, history and instructional design. Prior to

joining Apex Learning, Jennifer held the role of manager of school and educator programs at the Seattle

Art Museum. Before that she served as the education coordinator at the University of Oregon Museum of

Natural and Cultural History. She joined Apex Learning in 2011 as an instructional designer for social

studies. She has held the role of the social studies curriculum manager since 2013.

Jennifer earned a Bachelor of Art degree in Sociology/Anthropology at Carleton College, a Master of Arts

degree in Arts Management from the University of Oregon and has completed graphic design studies at

Pacific Northwest College of Art.

Requirements and Criteria for Content Developers

The Apex Learning content development team is comprised of subject-matter experts, instructional

designers, teachers, writers, and multimedia specialists. Most team members hold advanced degrees in

their fields of expertise. The team has extensive experience in developing digital content.

Rigor, Depth, and Breadth

Apex Learning believes in setting high expectations for all students and that philosophy is reflected in the

rigor as well as the breadth and depth of adherence to standards in our digital curriculum.

Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses and Tutorials are developed in house by a team of experts who

closely examine leading learning research and state and national standards, including the Massachusetts

Curriculum Framework and Common Core State Standards, to create a scope and sequence for each

course to meaningfully engage students in rigorous content, cover the breadth of the standards, and

provide significant depth of instruction with all required formative and summative assessment.

The scope and sequence of each course intentionally spirals concepts within and between units to enable

mastery of skills and concepts in addition to the development of higher order thinking skills required for

academic success. Apex Learning utilizes EdGate, a third-party correlations company, for independent

verification of standards alignment for courses. Correlations reports are available upon request.





Content Development Procedures, Processes and Review

The development process for Apex Learning instructional content incorporates the use of Depth of

Knowledge to deconstruct standards and backward design to ensure that our content prepares students

for college and career and success on high-stakes assessment. Each content outline is developed with a

backward and forwards alignment to the applicable standards to ensure complete coverage of all

standards, and that each standard receives the appropriate emphasis in coverage. As a result, Apex

Learning Courses represents a complete course of study with a scope and sequence to cover the breadth

of the standards, provide significant depth of instruction, and include tightly integrated formative and

summative assessment.

Tutorials are designed to provide classroom teachers with key instructional resources to ensure all

students are prepared for success on high-stakes exams, provide targeted intervention, just-in-time

remediation, and unit recovery throughout the school year to reduce the need for credit recovery, and

enhance classroom instruction to raise achievement for all students. Tutorials offer direct instruction,

practice, review, and assessment to build the required knowledge and skills.





designers evaluate Apex Learning curriculum based on data pertaining to effectiveness and accuracy,

including client feedback that is logged and tracked by our client services team. Additionally, as new

knowledge is gained and as events around the world occur, content is updated to ensure it accurately

reflects the current world.

As a vendor-hosted solution, updates and enhancements to Comprehensive Courses and Tutorials are

immediately available to all users and are provided at no additional cost. The Apex Learning client

services team ensures that users are aware of updates and enhancements through announcements in

the Learning Management System (LMS), email-based outreach, and updated articles, videos, and

orientation materials available via the integrated online help center.

References

Iowa Online Advanced Placement Academy, IA

Kristin Flanary, Administrator

[email protected]

(319) 335-2942

Since 2000, Iowa Online AP Academy (IOAPA) has partnered with Apex Learning to expand the

opportunity for Iowa students to take Advanced Placement courses and prepare for the College Board AP

Exams.

With the goal of using online learning to provide statewide access to AP courses and online teachers for

students in schools without local AP programs, IOAPA began researching digital curriculum vendors.



Apex Learning was selected to partner in the implementation of a statewide online AP program based on

the company’s reputation for developing and delivering high-quality online AP courses and online

instruction, and on a thorough review of course material.

IOAPA been partnered with Apex Learning for over 16 years and the results are impressive. More than

6,000 students have enrolled in IOAPA to take Apex Learning online AP courses with an 88.5% passing

rate. Nearly 70 percent of those students would not have had the opportunity to take an AP course

without the opportunity provided by IOAPA and Apex Learning.

New York City Department of Education, NY

Winnie Bracco

Deputy Executive Director

(718) 935-3518

[email protected]

Client Since: 2010

Since 2010, Apex Learning has partnered with the New York City Department of Education, the largest

education department in the United States, to provide Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses in a range

of programs in its schools. Participating schools in all five boroughs are using Apex Learning courses in

their credit recovery, unit recovery, and Advanced Placement programs. Many are also using Apex

Learning in their distance learning implementation.

Additionally, Apex Learning is participating in the NYC DOE’s iLearnNYC program. Apex Learning was

chosen to participate in the NYC iZone pilot program, the predecessor to the iLearnNYC program, an

initiative to bring digital curriculum programs to students in the New York City schools. As a pilot vendor,

Apex Learning was then selected to expand its offerings into the full program, Apex Learning is currently

providing digital curriculum to students in over 80 high schools in New York City.

St. Clair County School District, AL

Jan Bailey, School Improvement Coordinator

(205) 594-7131 x2215

[email protected]

Client Since: 2008

St. Clair County Schools has partnered with Apex learning since 2008, supporting multiple programs. For

students with family challenges, the Accelerate Program allows students to earn credits in non-core

courses to return to their cohort and graduate with peers from their home school. A Credit Recovery

option that allows students to work at their own pace, with teacher support, is available to any student

within the district. St. Clair County School’s Eden Career Tech offers both initial credit and credit recovery

options for students who are participating in half-day vocational programs outside of their home school.

mailto:[email protected]



Calhoun County Schools, AL

Donald Turner, Executive Director

(256)741-7400 ext. 7410

[email protected]

Client Since: 2009

Calhoun County Schools partners with Apex Learning to promote on-time graduation by providing its

students with Comprehensive Courses for credit recovery in its alternative education program.

Lawrence County School District, AL

Casey Reed, Federal Programs Supervisor

(256) 905-2409 ex. 225

Client Since: 2013

Recognizing the importance of technology and blended learning, the Lawrence County School District

(LCSD) implemented Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses to serve high school students in need of

credit recovery and original credit. Due to their rigor and flexibility, LCSD has also used Apex Learning

Comprehensive Courses in a blended learning environment, making Comprehensive Courses available to

all teachers to supplement their classroom resources with relevant Apex Learning lessons.

Professional Services

Because no two implementations are alike, Apex Learning partners with educational entities to develop

custom Apex Learning implementations tailored to the unique needs of

each program. Successful implementations are supported by Apex

Learning implementation success managers, operations managers, and

support staff.

Implementation Success Manager: An experienced Apex Learning

success manager will partner with Alabama SDE to serve as the primary

Apex Learning team member tasked with ensuring the success of all

Alabama SDE programs. The implementation success manager (ISM)

will monitor each program and work closely with school and district

leadership to provide the support needed to ensure that goals are being

met. The ISM will also deliver training to staff involved in each program.

Operations Management: Apex Learning will assign an experienced member of our operations

management team to serve as the primary point of contact for Alabama SDE. Operations managers have

extensive experience supporting the day-to-day operational aspects of client programs, including

ensuring smooth technical implementation, supporting effective systems integration, providing targeted

project management, and helping schools implement best practices for account organization and data

management.



Support Staff: Apex Learning support staff are available to all users 14 hours per school day via phone,

email, and chat. The Apex Learning support team is dedicated to responding to customer requests

quickly and effectively, answering calls on average within 16 seconds, and finding resolution within the

first call. All Apex Learning users may contact Apex Learning support.

Apex Learning’s comprehensive model for professional services supports the successful implementation

of digital learning programs. Organized around a model of Plan – Prepare – Develop – Evaluate, Apex

Learning offers professional services to support program strategy, design, planning, and implementation,

as well as focused training on the use of Apex Learning digital curriculum and best practices to maximize

a program's success.

Onsite and Virtual Training: Experienced Apex Learning success managers will deliver training

sessions to staff involved in each program to ensure its success in the weeks prior to the start of the

school year and throughout each semester. Each success manager is a former educator with hands-on

classroom experience. In addition to an average of 10 years of professional development expertise, all

success managers have a specialized background in utilizing and planning online learning programs.

Apex Learning success managers can deliver training to the educators and administrators of PPS in

onsite and virtual professional development sessions.



On-Demand Training: Apex Learning offers on-demand training through the Educator Academy. This

self-service online learning portal provides a blended learning approach to professional development,

complementing the onsite and virtual training delivered by Apex Learning implementation success

managers. With the Educator Academy, Alabama SDE staff can learn about professional services,

complete on-demand training, find implementation resources, and connect with educators and

administrators across the nation.

Professional Development Pricing

Apex Learning will work with Alabama SDE to determine a professional development plan to meet

Alabama SDE’s needs.

Item Delivery Price

Onsite Professional Development Per day $2,200

On-demand Functionality Training & Best Practices Unlimited -

Web Conference Professional Development Per day $600



Pricing Structure

Apex Learning offers Alabama SDE the option to purchase only Comprehensive Courses or Tutorials and

the option to purchase both Comprehensive Courses or Tutorials. Each subscription mode is described in

detail below. Apex Learning would be pleased to provide additional pricing proposals based on specific

needs.

Comprehensive Courses

Single Enrollment Subscriptions

Each Single Enrollment Subscription provides access for a period of 12 months for one student enrolled

in one Comprehensive Course. An enrollment may be in any Comprehensive Course. If a student

completes or withdraws from the course in which he or she is enrolled, the Single Enrollment Subscription

may be reused to enroll that student or another student in any course, which means that one subscription

may be used for multiple course enrollments during the year (for example, for a course enrollment each of

the fall, spring, and summer semesters). The number of Single Enrollment Subscriptions purchased is the

maximum number of enrollments there may be at the same time.

# of Single Enrollment

Subscriptions Purchased

Unit Price*

(12 months of access)

0 –20,000 $50

More than 20,000 $30

* Does not include the cost of literature required for certain English courses, lab manuals for certain

science courses, or textbooks and lab materials for certain AP courses.

If a Single Enrollment Subscription is used for a course enrollment during each of the fall, spring, and

summer semesters (it could be for the same or different students enrolled in any Comprehensive Course),

the subscription provides the Alabama SDE with 3 course enrollments at an equivalent price of 1/3 of the

subscription price per enrollment. Additional discounts based on purchase volume may apply.

***The pricing information on this page is confidential. Apex Learning respectfully requests




Tutorials

Tutorials Subscriptions

Each Tutorials Subscription provides access for a period of 12 months for one student enrolled in any

number of Tutorials. If a student completes or withdraws from all Tutorials in which he or she is enrolled,

the Tutorials Subscription may be reused to enroll another student in any number of Tutorials. The

number of Tutorials Subscriptions purchased is the maximum number of students who may be enrolled in

Tutorials at the same time.

# of Tutorials

Subscriptions Purchased

Unit Price*

(12 months of access)

0 –20,000 $50

More than 20,000 $30

Materials

Tutorials do not require books and, however, certain Courses have required or optional books (e.g.,

literature for English courses, lab manuals for science courses) or other ancillary materials (e.g., a

calculator for math courses, a microphone for world languages courses, lab materials for science

courses). Many of these materials may already be available for use, or may be purchased from Apex

Learning or another supplier. The price for course access does not include any such required or optional

materials.







Professional Services

Apex Learning offers onsite, online and on-demand professional services that may be used in a variety of

ways. The Apex Learning Professional Services brochure included in the Suggested Reading section of

this proposal describes in depth the services we provide to ensure results.

In addition, Apex Learning has on demand resources and best practices documents available for any

teacher/administrator to help implement, strengthen, and evaluate.

Apex Learning will work with Alabama SDE to determine a professional development plan to meet

Alabama SDE’s needs.

Item Price

Onsite Professional Development $2,200 per 6-hour session

Online Professional Development $600 per 3-hour session

On-Demand Professional Development Unlimited access included with purchase

Provided at No Additional Cost

Staff Access

There is no additional charge for access to Apex Learning digital curriculum or learning management

system for teachers, staff, or administrators.

User Support

Apex Learning support staff are available to all users 14 hours per school day via phone, email, and chat

and 24-hour online access to an extensive library of helpful articles, modular videos, printable reference

guides, and on-demand training programs.

Digital Curriculum Updates

There is no additional charge for access to new and enhanced Comprehensive Courses or

enhancements to existing math and English language arts Tutorials. Apex Learning ensures that users

are aware of new courses and course enhancements through announcements in the LMS, email based

outreach, and updated online articles, videos, and orientation materials.





Suggested Reading 1. Apex Learning 2016-2017 Digital Curriculum Catalog

2. Tutorials Brochure

3. Tutorials Efficacy

4. Research Put into Practice: Apex Learning Curriculum & Pedagogy

5. Courses Demo Guide

6. Tutorials Demo Guide

7. Apex Learning’s Terms of Use Policy

8. Realizing the Potential of Blended Learning: Beyond Personalized to Active Learning

9. Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT)

alabama state department of education - alsde · alabama state department of education invitation...

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