Solo Optional Learning Experience

Ages: 5+

Available: School Year

What are Solo Optional Learning Experiences?

Solo Optional Learning Experiences (OLEs) are student-led and are ideal for students who want to take lessons or classes in the community or expand on their Virtual Electives in their own homes. Students and families plan these OLEs themselves, and Kaleidoscope provides funding, resources, and support.


Who can take a Solo OLE?


Any student who is enrolled in a Kaleidoscope Virtual Elective through CLK’s Virtual Programs is eligible to use one or more of those electives as a Solo OLE.


How do Solo OLEs work?

Sign up for your Solo OLE during registration.
Prior to the beginning of the semester you will receive access to the Kaleidoscope Family Handbook, which contains more detailed information about Solo OLEs.
Plan your semester with activities and resources that can be purchased with Solo OLE funding.
Complete required CLK Count Month assignments in October to receive access to Solo OLE funding.
Turn in receipts for reimbursement or have Kaleidoscope purchase your activities and resources directly.


Which activities and resources can be funded by Kaleidoscope through my Solo OLE?

Items purchased for a class must be used by the student to actively further their knowledge in that subject, must not be considered “core material,” and must be within the values of Kaleidoscope.


Activities and resources typically fall into the following categories:


Curricula: This might include teacher manuals, student manuals, workbooks, and books.

Non-Consumable Items: This might include any physical resources and manipulatives that could be used in the class, that would be reusable after the completion of the Solo OLE.

Consumable Items: This might include any physical resources and manipulatives that could be used in the class, that would be depleted during the course of the class.

Lessons and Classes: This might include ongoing or one-time lessons and classes that are taught by a community expert either in-person or virtually.

Performance and Event Tickets: This might include performances, workshops, or presentations. Tickets can be reimbursed for the child enrolled in the class as well as one adult chaperone.

Subscriptions: This might include magazines, kits, or online resources that include a monthly fee.

Memberships and Admission Fees: This might include museums, science centers, arts centers, sports centers, or other facilities that require a fee. Fees can be reimbursed for the child enrolled in the class as well as one adult chaperone. Family memberships are acceptable.


Which activities and resources can NOT be funded by Kaleidoscope through my Solo OLE?

Solo OLEs are a component of our non-core Virtual Electives and purchases related to them must qualify as non-core.


Kaleidoscope identifies core material as follows: “Curricula that an instructor would use as a primary source in teaching their child skills appropriate to their ability level in mathematics, science, social studies, or English language arts.”

If you are unsure if an item is considered non-core, a Kaleidoscope staff member can review it for you.



Example:



Sally Student is 8 years old and is interested in learning more about birds. Her parents choose to enroll her in the Kaleidoscope Virtual Elective called Nature A. None of Kaleidoscope’s classes for Sally’s age range fulfill her bird interest, so her parents choose to enroll her in a Solo OLE to help her learn more about birds at home.



They choose to use their Solo OLE funding for Sally to become more experienced at bird watching. They purchase materials like a pair of binoculars, an app that includes bird calls, and a coloring book about local birds.



Sally’s parents also choose to incorporate Sally’s interest in birds into her regular science studies. They use their own money to purchase a second grade science textbook that includes units about birds. Since the science book is meant to teach specific science standards to Sally, it is considered core and cannot be funded by Kaleidoscope as part of her Solo OLE.