History of COL

History of Colorado Online Learning (Formerly Colorado Online School Consortium)

The Colorado Online School Consortium (COSC) began in 1998 as a joint venture between the following rural, suburban, and urban school districts in Colorado:

Led by Jefferson County Schools, the 14-district consortium was awarded a Technology Learning Challenge Fund grant administered by the Colorado Department of Education. The consortium model became the foundation of the project, allowing high school students to receive a variety of instructional opportunities from other teaching professionals in the state while remaining enrolled in their local school district. This cooperative model provided advanced placement, remedial, and enrichment courses to students who did not have access to a variety of learning opportunities or who needed greater scheduling flexibility.

Colorado-licensed teachers were recruited from the partner districts. During the summer of 1999, teachers developed their online, standards-based classes to be delivered by Jones Knowledge’s e-education platform in the fall. The classes were designed to follow a traditional school calendar, allowing students to start and end with their regular school classmates. Students were able to choose courses from core content areas and electives.

Sixty enrollments were recorded in COSC’s 18 courses during the 1999/00 school year. Two hundred enrollments were recorded in 19 courses during the 2000/01 school year.

In order to maintain the project focus, establish best practices, and expand to other districts in the state, a governing board was established. Jeanne Ross of Denver Public Schools became COSC’s first governing board president. She was succeeded by Thompson School District’s Mark Friedman.

In 2001, the consortium applied for and received another Technology Learning Challenge Fund grant to continue the online offerings for the state’s high school students.

Ron Harrison served as Interim Director until July, 2001 when Dr. Tim Snyder was chosen to direct the project through its next expansion. Tim hit the highways of Colorado to share the vision of online learning with superintendents, principals, counselors, and teachers, eventually expanding to over 70 partner districts.

Four hundred fifty enrollments were recorded in COL’s 24 courses during 2001/02.

A Quality Assurance Program (QAP) was developed by the COSC and approved by its Board of Directors in April, 2002. The QAP provides guidelines for the development and revision of quality online courses and calls for course review by content and online pedagogy specialists.

The Colorado Department of Education facilitated a statewide E-Learning Task Force in 2001/02 to establish the parameters of a Request for Proposal to qualify for federal Enhancing Education Through Technology (e2t2) funding. The task force recommended the name Colorado Online Learning (COL) for an organization designed to develop and deliver high-quality, standards-based, supplemental online coursework for Colorado students.

The COSC Board of Directors directed Dr. Snyder and his staff to submit a proposal under those guidelines, with the understanding that, if awarded the grant, COSC would transition to COL. Representatives from 73 districts endorsed the grant proposal. Denver Public Schools was the lead district.

Long-time e-learning pioneer and teacher Ed Adams was hired as Instructional Development Director. Maryann Peña was brought on board as Student Services Director and Bridget Bricker was employed as Technology Services Director.

A grant in the amount of $700,000 was awarded in October, 2002 and the transition was made at that time. The San Luis Valley BOCS was appointed fiscal agent. ( Jefferson County and Mountain BOCES had successively served as fiscal agent prior to this time.)

A new governing Board was established with representatives from the following districts: South Routt County, Colorado Springs District 11, Denver Public Schools, Jefferson County Schools, Aurora Public Schools, Huerfano School District and Eads School District. South Routt County’s Steve Jones was elected chairman.

Twelve hundred enrollments were recorded in COL’s 33 courses during 2002/03. This number included over 200 enrollments (mostly high-poverty/high-risk students) in COL’s first Summer Institute.

A board election was held in May, 2003 and all districts retained their seats with the following two exceptions—Otis replaced Eads and Sheridan replaced Aurora. The representatives from Eads and Aurora had commitments that precluded their participation on the board.

COL developed a process to select a new Learning Management System Platform provider and, after extensive examination, eClassroom/eCollege was selected. The transition was made during summer, 2003.

During 2003-2004, COL had 1,650 registrants in 43 courses.

Also in the 2003-2004 school year, partnerships were effected with the MathStar Program, Colorado Council for the Arts, Denver Public Library, Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Denver Center for the Performing Arts, and others. Teacher resources have been created and linked to COL’s evolving web site. Dual credit options were also instituted.

In 2004-2005, COL’s 50+ courses saw 1,922 registrations, representing 95 school districts. New services included an online poetry class and club, programming for expelled students, open enrollment, and a Spanish For Educators professional development course.

COL transitioned to 501(c)(3) non-profit status in the summer of 2005 to position itself as an organization with legal authority to expand operations and services. Its new board of directors have extensive knowledge and experience in K-12 schools, post-secondary education, and non-profit sectors.

COL ’s 35 online teachers continue to set the pace in the online learning environment. Their pioneering efforts have created extraordinary learning opportunities for students.

New services added in the 2005-2006 school year include driver’s education, more middle school courses, courses for out-of-state students, an option for parents to take courses, and a new portal site (www.onlinelearningoptions.org) for parents, students and educators to access the full range of statewide online learning options.

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