If Wake families pick virtual school option, they must stick with it for a semester
The Wake County school system is providing families with more information about a new online school option, but is warning that students have to stay in the program for at least half the school year.
The new Wake Virtual Academy is being created for families who don’t feel comfortable with returning to in-person instruction before a vaccine for COVID-19 is developed. Thousands of Wake students could use this option, so the district is spelling out the expectations for those who join. The registration period opens Friday and runs to July 20.
“Students who choose fully online instruction will remain in that setting through the fall semester,” Wake posted online Wednesday. “Students may return to their classroom setting in the spring semester, if space permits.
“The recommendation is that students enrolled in the WCPSS Virtual Academy remain for the entire school year.”
Wake is telling families they’ll remain enrolled in their current school if they attend the academy. This is to reassure families who don’t want to lose their spots at high-demand schools like magnet schools.
Lisa Luten, a district spokeswoman, said students may not be able to return in the spring semester if their current school lacks the space. But she said they’ll be allowed back for the 2021-22 school year.
More information, including a link to the application when it becomes available, can be found at www.wcpss.net/Virtual-Academy.
All North Carolina public schools have been closed for in-person instruction since mid-March to try to slow the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.
Schools are working on reopening plans for this August ranging from full reopening to continuing with online only instruction. Wake says it will offer the Virtual Academy regardless of which reopening plan is used.
High demand for virtual-only option
There could be considerable interest among Wake’s 161,907 students. In a district survey, 22% of parents said they want a fully online school model this fall.
Wake extended the deadline for declining school bus service to 5 p..m. Monday to give more time for families weighing whether to use the new Virtual Academy.
“The Virtual Academy will not be like remote learning from spring 2020.,” the district said in a Facebook post Wednesday. “Students will be assigned teachers from their school or region. Attendance will be taken. Grades will be administered. Students will be expected to meet standards and master subjects.”
Here are some facts to know about the academy:
▪ Any specialized services (Special Education, ESL, 504 Plans, Intervention Plans) will be handled by staff at the student’s current school.
▪ Students will either be assigned to a teacher within their school or their school’s region.
▪ Students will get a daily school schedule that has the same things as students in their grade level at traditional schools “to the degree feasible.”
▪ Wake says it will not be feasible to offer all specials/elective programs in a fully online environment, so students may need to adjust their choices.
▪ If families don’t join now, they can enroll in the spring semester. But spring enrollment will be based on availability and other factors.
This story was originally published July 8, 2020 at 4:20 PM.
