Cajon Valley Home School Program

Mission

Cajon Valley Home School (CVHS) contains the school system’s Virtual Learning Program as well as their Design Learning Academy. As a part of their mission, “CVHS partners with parents to provide an alternative educational program that combines academic competencies, student interests, social-emotional skills, and creativity into a personalized learning program. [They] provide a connected virtual learning community where strengths and individuality are valued, and students are encouraged to transcend traditional learning boundaries to access knowledge and creativity. [They] work collaboratively with families to provide access to technology, personalized learning, and resources to prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary for lifelong learning and success.”

Demographics

CVHS serves 194 students from San Diego, Orange, Riverside, and Imperial counties in California. Over 70% of their enrolled students live in low-income communities, 19% are classified as multilingual learners, and 14.2% are identified as having a disability. CVHS is a part of Cajon Valley Union School District, a district that serves approximately 15,000 learners from suburban and rural contexts, the majority of whom identify as Latine and qualify for free or reduced-priced meals.

Experience Overview

CVHS operates the Virtual Learning Program, which is a district-led virtual school featuring lessons taught by certified Cajon Valley educators. Students attend daily Zoom lessons and engage in both synchronous and asynchronous coursework; attendance is taken daily based on students attending live Zoom sessions. To streamline this experience, CVHS leverages a learning management system (LMS) to provide tools for accessible daily lessons and communication with educators. Students who complete the eighth-grade curriculum matriculate to high school.

Learning In Action

CVHS utilizes district-created curricula that are aligned to Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards to allow for a seamless transition between traditional brick-and-mortar schools and their virtual programs. To ensure every student is successful, both 1:1 and small-group support is available in synchronous and asynchronous formats with a certified educator.

Students attending the Virtual Learning Program have monthly in-person enrichment opportunities to connect with their peers and teachers. These activities include field trips, community gatherings, and school assemblies to enhance the school experience while building students’ sense of belonging.

Teaching In Action

The Virtual Learning Program is led by certified educators from Cajon Valley Union School District. Teachers use multiple platforms to facilitate instruction, including Google Suite, Jamboard, Peardeck, Blooket, and audiobooks. Within their Google Classrooms, educators post weekly playlists to guide learners through assigned content and have access to multiple monitoring tools to ensure learners are on track with daily lessons. Recognizing the role parents and guardians play in student learning, they are encouraged to actively support their students with content and completing assignments.

Conditions for Success

• Learning Materials and Tools: All students receive Chromebooks to support their learning, and the district’s Assistive Technology Department provides multiple supports to adapt technology to meet student needs.

• Student Support Programming: CVHS provides holistic services to support students and families, including access to the district’s mental health services and bilingual school counselors. Other programming includes Play! Safa’s Story, which is a culturally responsive theater program focused on fostering community connections and belonging.

• Professional Development and Learning: CVHS educators have access to the district’s online professional learning platform, Cajon365, which provides opportunities for educators to dive into differentiated topics. Teachers receive up to six hours of compensated learning time.

• Community and Culture: CVHS intentionally works to create a safe and welcoming environment for families of multilingual learners, students from low-income communities, and students classified as having disabilities. They achieve this by hosting regular events, field trips, and providing robust parental support. In addition, CVHS conducts an annual Gallup Poll with students, families, and staff to gather feedback on their experiences.

• Time: Students engage in both synchronous and asynchronous learning, allowing students the time they need to grapple with and master content.

Other Key Highlights

In addition to the Virtual Learning Program, CVHS also operates the Design Learning Academy. This program employs a homeschool model in which parents and guardians teach lessons from the district-provided curriculum and includes weekly parent check-ins with a teacher. The academy monitors attendance based on weekly work completion. Students attending the Design Learning Academy also participate in weekly sessions through the Explorations Program, which allows for in-person enrichment opportunities.