What is OHDELA?
The Ohio Distance & Electronic Learning Academy (OHDELA) is a statewide dis¬tance learning, non-sectarian public char¬ter school for grades K-12 that operates in a home-based learning environment. OHDELA exists through the legal authority of Ohio charter school laws, and answers directly to the Ohio Charter School Council.
What is OHDELA's mission?
OHDELA’s mission is to help families that would like to join in the experience of home-based education. OHDELA’s lessons and assignments are geared to help each student excel. Our curriculum is specifically designed for distance learning and is aligned with Ohio’s educational content standards. OHDELA families are provided with the resources that they need to succeed, including supportive teach¬ers, a computer system complete with a color printer/scanner/fax unit, online tutoring, award-winning curriculum, and live online classes.
Who may be admitted to OHDELA?
Any school-aged student residing in Ohio who is eligible to attend kindergarten through 12th grade may apply to OHDELA for admission.
I believe my child has special-education needs. What does OHDELA offer?
OHDELA provides a special-education program in accordance with current federal and state regulations and guidelines. This program is individualized to meet the unique needs of each child with a disability. OHDELA provides an educational evaluation for each student with a disability – and for one who is suspected of having a disability.
What curriculum will be used?
At OHDELA, lessons and assignment are geared to help each student excel. Curriculum is specifically designed for distance learning and is aligned with Ohio's educational standards.
What does OHDELA provide?
- Complete computer system, including a color printer/fax/scanner
- Standards based curriculum
- Dedicated teachers to support each parent-educator and student
- Live, interactive, online learning sessions
- 24-hour access to view student progress, grades, and curriculum
- Immediate access to online tutoring and homework help
- Reimbursement to assist with high-speed Internet connection costs
- Academic field trips
- Technical support from expert staff
- Supplemental funds to use for enhanced educational activities (which accumulate after the 1st year of enrollment in OHDELA)
What is the cost of tuition for OHDELA?
As a publicly funded and operated charter school, OHDELA does not charge tuition. Likewise, year-round access to the computer, printer/fax/scanner/copier, and curriculum is provided to each student free of charge for as long as the student is enrolled with OHDELA.
Will it be possible for my child to move more slowly or more quickly through the curriculum?
OHDELA is committed to assisting parents and students to progress through the material at the fastest pace possible. As such, students may need more time and instruction on some lessons, more than others. This is where the individualized tutoring of the OHDELA teachers proves so beneficial to the student. Testing and assessment allow all parties to monitor the student's progress and determine the resources and time needed to advance. It is OHDELA's goal for each student to academically progress at a more rapid rate than that student would be able to accomplish in a traditional school.
How much time is the student required to commit to the curriculum?
Every student must log a minimum of 920 total hours of time spent on curricu¬lum and additional learning opportunities in each academic year. We have found that through our unique approach to learning, many students commit more than 30 hours per week into their learn¬ing. In order to successfully complete the students’ assigned curriculum, a mini¬mum of 25 hours per week is necessary.
Who grades my student's work?
OHDELA supports parents in assessing each student. Each of the curriculums selected provides for grading of students' tests and submitted work. The student's scores on tests and submitted work determine whether the student has mastered the lesson and moves on. Additionally, each student is assigned an instructional teacher, who communicates with the parent educator to review the student's progress.
Are the teachers certified?
Yes, OHDELA instructional teachers are highly qualified and licensed to teach by the State of Ohio.
How do we communicate with the teachers?
We have found that there is no such thing as too much communication. Our most successful families are in constant communication with their teachers, Academic Advisors and Intervention Specialists. Families can communicate with staff through email, fax, telephone, or U.S. mail.
Is testing required?
OHDELA offers required assessment testing at regional sites. In accordance with Ohio statutes, OHDELA students are required to take:
- Ohio Achievement Tests (grades 3 thru 10)
- Ohio Diagnostic Tests (grades K-3)
- Ohio Graduation Tests (grade 10)
- Scantron Assessment (grades 3-12)
In addition, OHDELA created lesson, unit and semester assessments are used to monitor curriculum progress. Scantron's Performance Series also provides students with individualized tests. These online tests adjust automatically to each student's ability level, generating questions that will appropriately challenge each student. These tests will be administered three times per year to provide teachers with the data necessary to provide data driven instruction that is individualized.
Should I set up a particular space for the computer?
Yes. You should locate the computer near a grounded electrical outlet and an available telephone jack. You will also need to allow for adequate desktop or tabletop space for an average sized computer, printer, and monitor. Additionally, this space should meet your student’s individual learning needs.
What if I already have my own computer?
OHDELA provides a computer specifically designed for distance learning. The computer will arrive with all the resources necessary to provide a high-quality education for your student. Your current home computer may not meet your student's needs, and therefore the OHDELA computer is being provided at no cost.
What if it becomes necessary for my child to discontinue with OHDELA?
Simply contact the OHDELA enrollment department to withdraw your child from our program and return the OHDELA-provided equipment and curriculum materials.
Can I direct a portion of education spending for my child?
A unique feature of the OHDELA program is that it allows parents/guardians to direct the education of their children. OHDELA accomplishes this by allocating certain funds to the Parent Supplemental Education Account (PSEA) after the first year at OHDELA. The PSEA allows parents/guardians to request the school spend funds towards specific educational areas, materials and events that OHDELA’s curriculum may not cover in depth, but which the parent/guardian and student deem important to the student’s development.
What does OHDELA offer for exceptional children?
OHDELA recognizes that every student comes to us as an individual with unique abilities, talents, and needs. OHDELA further recognizes and respects the unique intellectual, emotional, and social needs of our talented and gifted students. Some of these students differ from the norm in significant ways. For example, they may need a different kind of educational program – one that takes into account their abilities, interests, and learning styles. We are committed to developing and refining an enrichment program which gives our gifted students, like all our students, the very best that education has to offer.
What type of student is successful at OHDELA?
The most successful OHDELA students tend to be self starters because our program does require a certain level of self-discipline and self-motivation. If a student does not have the drive to do his or her best in a structured environment, he or she generally is not going to have the motivation to do his or her best in the less-structured distance learning environment. Because the OHDELA program provides flexibility, students in our program can actually learn more than just the traditional academic content. An OHDELA education means that students will learn to work within the confines of their own disciplined environments and work cooperatively with family and friends to build upon their educational experience.
What are the traits of a successful DELA student?
Many of our best OHDELA students are those who are intrinsically motivated and strive constantly to achieve more. They are students who are eager to learn more about how things work and want to advance their content knowledge. Many of them to not feel challenged in their current school setting and often want to move through curriculum at their own pace rather than having to hold back on their learning just because they have to wait for other students to catch up. Conversely, many OHDELA students enjoy being able to dictate their own learning pace and spend more time on some subjects and less on others. Either way, DELA is a win-win situation for students and families alike who feel that they might have otherwise slipped through the cracks.
