There’s still time to sign up for Wake’s Virtual Academy. But the clock is ticking.
Wake County Public Schools has reopened registration for its Virtual Academy, but you’d better act quickly. Parents can sign up their students through 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 29.
Families who already have applied to Virtual Academy and want to withdraw or change their application must contact their schools directly, according to the school system.
Nearly half of the system’s students signed up for Virtual Academy during an earlier registration period, The News & Observer reported. The 78,792 applications during the period that ended July 21 far exceeded expectations for the new program, which is being launched as an alternative to in-person classes to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The county has said it will open schools in August with online-only classes, which will continue for an unspecified amount of time. WCPSS Superintendent Cathy Moore said delaying face-to-face classes will give more time for COVID-19 trends to improve, for schools to get additional protective gear and for staff to be ready to carry out required health procedures.
The first day of classes for traditional and year-round schools will be Aug. 17. Modified-calendar schools will start back Aug. 13.
The county made the decision to go to virtual after Gov. Roy Cooper announced on July 18 that North Carolina public schools would reopen under “moderate social distancing” that limits how many people can be on a campus. When they’re on campus, students and staff will be subject to daily temperature and health screening and will be required to wear face coverings and maintain 6 feet of space between one another unless the state loosens the rules.
Virtual Academy is different from the all-virtual start of school in that Virtual Academy is designed to remain online throughout the school year. Students not enrolled in Virtual Academy may eventually be allowed to attend some or all classes in person, depending on how well the novel coronavirus is brought under control.
Students attending Virtual Academy will not be required to attend in-person classes if the school system reopens campuses.
In Virtual Academy:
Students attend the school they’re assigned to by the county and will continue to get updates and services from that school, including AIG, ESL, intervention and 504 services.
Qualified teachers and service providers from Special Education Services will lend support.
Students and families from kindergarten through 12th grade will be allowed to participate in extra- and co-curricular activities, including athletics, at their current school.
Students will be assigned to teachers from their current school if possible, but students from different schools may be combined to form some classes.
School days will be structured on the same schedule and with the same components as face-to-face classes as much as possible.
Parents of students not currently enrolled in WCPSS should go to the Office of Student Assignment website for enrollment information before applying to Virtual Academy. Once the student is enrolled, the school will provide information about Virtual Academy registration.
The county has set up an open house video on YouTube to introduce families to Virtual Academy.
This story was originally published July 28, 2020 at 11:39 AM.
