Florida Course Provider Disclosure Statement
Apex Learning Curriculum and Research
Apex Learning offers a full catalog of Florida courses for grades 9-12. Developed using backward design, the learning objectives in Apex Learning instructional content guide the development of courses through innovative and engaging instruction and tightly integrated assessments. As a WebbAlign DOK Partner, Apex Learning understands the need to deconstruct standards during the development process in order to ensure the rigor of each standard is met through the appropriate depth of instruction and that courses align with the Florida standards. More information on Apex Learning curriculum and research practices can be found at https://www.apexlearning.com/digital-curriculum/courses
Best-Practices
Apex Learning digital curriculum is based on time-tested pedagogical principles:
- Create an anticipatory set for the student;
- Provide focused instruction using teaching strategies such as guided-inquiry and direct instruction;
- Engage students in practice and application exercises to clarify and deepen conceptual understanding and mastery of skills;
- Assess student progress throughout the instruction with formative assessments that provide feedback to both students and teachers;
- Remediate where necessary; and
- Provide summative assessment with both objective (computer-scored) and open-ended (teacher-scored) instruments at the end of each unit and semester.
Content Review
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.
NCAA Approval
More than 120 Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are approved by the NCAA as meeting the requirements for establishing the initial-eligibility certification status for high school student-athletes wishing to compete in college.
For a full list of the approved Apex Learning courses, visit the NCAA website and enter Apex Learning as the school name: https://web1.ncaa.org/hsportal/exec/hsAction?hsActionSubmit=searchHighSchool.
Efficacy
Apex Learning delivers increased graduation rates, greater success on high-stakes exams, and more students Really Ready for college, work, and life. We have evidence—independent and district-level, from anecdotal to quasi-experimental—that prove that with the help of Apex Learning, students succeed. Results can be found at https://www.apexlearning.com/results
Program Accessibility
Apex Learning content and assessments are reviewed frequently to ensure they are accurate, free of bias, and accessible for students with disabilities and limited English proficiency. Content is compliant with the American Disabilities Act. By providing opt-in supports and scaffolds to meet each student at their individual level of academic readiness and develop their capacities, students with disabilities and limited English proficiency are empowered to master rigorous, standards-based content. Accommodations within Comprehensive Courses include:
| Embedded Scaffolding | Enhanced Supports | Interactive Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Small instructional segments | Text-to-speech | Close reading activities |
| Formative assessment and correction | Text translation | Writing generator |
| Multi-media presentations | Transcripts | Graphing tool |
| Reading summaries | Support cards | Polls |
| Contextual rollovers | Study guides | Manipulatives |
Virtual Courses offered by Florida School Districts
General information under Section 1003.498 (2), Florida Statutes (F.S), provide districts the option to choose to purchase online courses from providers approved by the Department or may choose other providers through a district vetting process. Districts are responsible for ensuring alignment to state standards and national standards for quality online courses.
Florida Course Provider Disclosure Statement
Section 1003.499, Florida Statutes (F.S) pertains to districts intending to use approved online course offerings AND certified instructional staff of an approved course provider. As an approved Florida Course Provider, Apex Learning is required to provide the following information:
Apex Learning Virtual School Contact Information
For Parents
For parents or those interested in online learning options, visit Apex Learning Virtual School, call (855) 550-2547, or email.
Technical Support
For information about registration, enrollment, or resolving technical issues, contact support or call (800) 453-1454, option 2. You can also email support@apexlearning.com
Hours: Monday – Friday 5:00am – 7:00pm PT
Contacting Your Instructor
Students are welcomed by their instructors immediately upon enrollment. Teachers send welcome emails and post welcome announcements in which they share contact information, office hours, personal bios and tips for success. Apex Learning instructors support students working with Apex Learning digital curriculum by engaging in regular communication and synchronous and asynchronous interaction via a variety of technologies, such as phone, email, online text and video chat, discussion boards, recorded presentations and desktop sharing.
Hours of Availability for Instructors: Office hours vary for instructors. Immediately upon enrollment, a student’s instructor will contact them and provide information about their specific set of office hours and how to most effectively reach them (phone, email, online text and video chat, and discussion boards). Apex Learning Virtual School instructors are required to provide a response and/or feedback to a student’s inquiries within one school day. For additional assistance students can contact Apex Learning Support at (800) 453-1454 Mondays through Fridays from 5:00am – 7:00pm PT.
Administrative Contact Information
Rick Perkins
VP School Programs
1215 Fourth Ave, Suite 1500, Seattle, WA 98161
Phone: (855) 550-2547
Apex Learning Virtual School Course and Instructor Information
Certification status and physical location of all instructional personnel:
- English: Active (Florida and Illinois)
- Math: Active (Washington and Florida)
- Science
- AP Biology, Biology, Environmental Science: Active (South Carolina, California, Florida)
- AP Chemistry, Chemistry, Physics: Active (Ohio, Florida)
- Social Studies: Active (Florida)
- AP Spanish Language & Culture:
- Physical Education and Health: Active (Arizona)
- Art: Active (South Dakota)
- Business: Active (Florida)
Hours and times of availability of instructional personnel: Instructors notify students of hours and times of availability once a student enrolls in a course. Instructors host regular office hours via GoToMeeting and host live mini-lessons to support remediation. Apex Learning instructors are also available through phone, email, online text and video chat, discussion boards, recorded presentations and desktop sharing. Apex Learning instructors are expected to provide feedback on assignments within three school days of when the assignment was submitted and respond to all other student inquiries within one school day.
Average student-teacher ratios for each course: 30.1
Teacher load (number of students assigned to a teacher):
- time teachers: 150 students
- time teachers: 200 students
Student and Course Data
Student completion and successful completion rates* for the 2020-21 SY
| Apex Learning Course Title | Florida Course Title | Completion Rate | Successful Completion Rate* |
|---|---|---|---|
| English 9 | English 1 | 76% | 65% |
| English 10 | English 2 | 79% | 61% |
| English 11 | English 3 | 71% | 65% |
| English 12 | English 4 | 78% | 82% |
| AP English Language & Composition | AP English Language & Composition | 87% | 92% |
| AP English Literature & Composition | AP English Literature & Composition | 87% | 80% |
| Creative Writing | Creative Writing 1 | 86% | 87% |
| Algebra 1 | Algebra 1 | 82% | 72% |
| Geometry | Geometry | 85% | 84% |
| Algebra 1-A | Algebra 1-A | 91% | 22% |
| Algebra 1-B | Algebra 1-B | 88% | 29% |
| AP Calculus AB | AP Calculus AB | 74% | 84% |
| AP Statistics | AP Statistics | 84% | 87% |
| AP Biology | AP Biology | 75% | 79% |
| AP Chemistry | AP Chemistry | 86% | 89% |
| Chemistry Core | Chemistry 1 | 84% | 80% |
| Physics Core | Physics 1 | 79% | 82% |
| Environmental Science | Environmental Science | 78% | 65% |
| AP Microeconomics | AP Microeconomics | 89% | 89% |
| AP Macroeconomics | AP Macroeconomics | 88% | 89% |
| AP U.S. Government & Politics | AP U.S. Government & Politics | 74% | 86% |
| AP U.S. History | AP U.S. History | 82% | 86% |
| U.S. Government and Politics | United States Government | 81% | 79% |
| U.S. History since Civil War | United States History | 66% | 74% |
| World History | World History | 74% | 72% |
| Geography and World Cultures | World Culture Geography | 82% | 76% |
| AP Spanish Language | AP Spanish Language & Culture | 86% | 89% |
| AP Psychology | AP Psychology | 87% | 88% |
| Sociology | Sociology | 85% | 82% |
| HOPE | HOPE – Physical Education | 89% | 65% |
| Art Appreciation | Introduction to Art History | 79% | 59% |
| Principles of Information Technology | Digital Information Technology | 66% | 76% |
| Human Resources Principles | Management and Human Resources | 92% | 91% |
| Legal Environment of Business | Legal Aspects of Business | 94% | 76% |
*Successful completion is defined as students who received a passing grade from their instructor (<60%).
Performance Accountability Information
Student and course performance accountability for 2020-21 SY:
| Apex Course Title | Florida Course Title | Average Exam Score |
|---|---|---|
| English 9 | English 1 | 81% |
| English 10 | English 2 | 81% |
| English 11 | English 3 | 89% |
| English 12 | English 4 | 87% |
| Creative Writing | Creative Writing | 90% |
| AP English Language & Composition | AP English Language & Composition | 68% |
| AP English Literature & Composition | AP English Literature & Composition | 94% |
| Algebra I | Algebra I | 85% |
| Geometry | Geometry | 87% |
| Algebra 1-A | Algebra 1-A | 69% |
| Algebra 1-B | Algebra 1-B | 76% |
| AP Calculus AB | AP Calculus AB | 87% |
| AP Statistics | AP Statistics | 83% |
| AP Biology | AP Biology | 78% |
| AP Chemistry | AP Chemistry | 86% |
| Chemistry Core | Chemistry 1 | 89% |
| Physics Core | Physics 1 | 89% |
| Environmental Science | Environmental Science | 80% |
| AP Microeconomics | AP Microeconomics | 90% |
| AP Macroeconomics | AP Macroeconomics | 75% |
| AP U.S. Government & Politics | AP U.S. Government & Politics | 84% |
| AP U.S. History | AP U.S. History | 84% |
| U.S. Government and Politics | United States Government | 86% |
| World History | World History | 90% |
| U.S. History since the Civil War | United States History | 90% |
| Geography and World Cultures | World Culture Geography | 84% |
| Sociology | Sociology | 88% |
| AP Spanish Language and Culture | AP Spanish Language and Culture | 79% |
| AP Psychology | AP Psychology | 91% |
| Art Appreciation | Introduction to Art History | 84% |
| HOPE | HOPE-Physical Education | 90% |
| Human Resources Principles | Management and Human Resources | 80% |
| Legal Environment of Business | Legal Aspects of Business | 79% |
| Principles of Information Technology | Digital Information Technology | 85% |
Educator Performance Accountability:
Student learning and academic growth are at the forefront of our priorities. This requires that we have an effective teacher in every classroom and effective instructional leadership within the school. All Teachers are reviewed regularly on the following key objectives.
Objective 1. Performance/Professional Expectations
- grades student work in a timely manner
- provides detailed formative feedback on student work
- monitors student performance and suggests methods for improvement
- conducts office hours to provide instructional support to students
- attends faculty and team meetings
- stays current with educational trends
- maintains teacher certification
Objective 2. Professional Growth
- Teacher development of two personal goals. These goals may be linked to PD opportunities or connected to their departmental team.
Objective 3 - Professional Development
Through internal and external opportunities, ALVS teachers are encouraged to strengthen their skills as online teachers through participating in 3 Professional Development opportunities per year. Professional development may be from internally and or external opportunities.
Professional Development:
- enhances an educator’s knowledge and skills in specific areas;
- emphasizes collegial and collaborative dialogue;
- encourages risk-taking, creativity, and experimentation
Objective 4 – Student-Centered Communication
- Communicates effectively (student-focused) with Students, Parents, Mentors, and Administration
- Monitors tone of communications to be clear and professional
- Presents subject-matter expertise and demonstrates best practices
- Utilizes different methods of communication to reach all types of learners (email, phone, Collaborate, Skype, Zoom, etc.)
Objective 5 – Student Success (Student passing)
- Examination of teacher’s overall student averages for School Year.
Non-Sectarian and Anti-Discrimination Policies
Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses, enrollment policies, and employment practices and operations each reflect both the non-sectarian and anti-discrimination policies of the company.
Courses: Apex learning courses reflects the diverse and multicultural population of students who use it, including those of different religions. This includes:
- The diversity of the American people and the relationships among different groups.
- The roles of religion, 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 and of all religions.
Enrollment policies: When students enroll in Apex Learning courses, they must agree to the Apex Learning Student Code of Conduct, which includes the following language regarding anti-discrimination and non-sectarian policies:
- You agree to abide by these guidelines:
- Avoid sarcasm and slang. Swear words are unacceptable.
- Never use derogatory comments, including those regarding race, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, political persuasion, body type, physical or mental health, or access issues.
- Never use insults, threats or attacks of any kind against another person.
- Focus your responses on the questions or issues being discussed, not on the individuals involved.
- Be constructive with your criticism, not hurtful.
- Review your messages before sending them. Remove easily misinterpreted language and proofread for typos.
- Respect other people's privacy and never reveal email addresses.
Employment Practices and Operations:
(Taken from the Apex Learning Employee Handbook) Apex Learning is an equal opportunity employer. We believe every employee has the right to work in an environment that is free from all forms of unlawful discrimination. Consistent with applicable laws, Apex Learning makes all decisions involving any aspect of the employment relationship without regard to race, color, sex, creed, religion, age, marital status, national origin, citizenship, the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other status or characteristic protected by local, state, or federal law. Discrimination and/or harassment based on any of those factors are inconsistent with our philosophy of doing business and will not be tolerated. This policy of non-discrimination applies to all aspects of recruiting and employment, including compensation, benefits, advancement, transfers, and reductions in force.
Statewide Assessment Program
In accordance with our agreement with the Florida State Department of Education, all Florida students enrolled in Apex Learning Comprehensive Courses are required to participate in Florida’s Statewide Assessment Program, including the following courses with end-of-course exams:
- Algebra I
- Geometry
- Algebra II
- Florida Biology
- U.S. History since the Civil War
Apex Learning does not administer these exams but will work with school partners to ensure sufficient information is provided to students and parents. Students should coordinate testing location and dates/times with schools and districts. For more information on the Florida Statewide Assessment Program, please see any of the links below:
Florida Statewide Assessment Program 2021-22 Schedule
Florida Statewide Assessment Program 2022-23 Preliminary Schedule
Florida Department of Education K-12 Student Assessment Information