Families who wish to enroll their students in virtual learning will spend the fall semester in the district's online academy.
“We’ve been very intentional in redesigning what this looks like, specifically in response to feedback that we observed and that we received back in the spring," Assistant Superintendent for Cirriculum and Instruction Markay Winston says.
Winston said once students are enrolled in the online academy, they must stay in that program for the entire semester. At the end of the semester, students will have the opportunity to switch to in person learning if they want.
“Every student that’s participating in our online academy will have an individual learning plan that will be developed and monitored through the collaboration of our students, our teachers and our parents," Winston said.
Winston said Indiana Department of Education guidelines state students in grades K-6 will have a minimum of 5 hours of daily online instruction Monday-Friday, while students 7-12 grade will have 6 hours. (Courtesy: MCCSC)
Winston said students will not necessarily be online for the entire 5-hour school day. She said the online instruction will be supplemented with offline tasks.
Board members at Tuesday night's meeting made an important note that the online academy teachers will not be the same as the in person, school teachers.
"We have hired new teachers who will be specifically trained to teach our curiculum online," MCCSC Superintendent Judy DeMuth said.
Intermittent Online Learning
Separate from the online academy will be the intermittent online learning.
Winston said this form of virtual learning is for students to use in the short-term if a school were to close for COVID-19.
“They will continue to receive their instruction online by their classroom teacher. They will not enroll in the online academy," Winston said.
This platform will also be available to students who are absent for other miscellenous reasons.
"If a student broke their leg and needed some kind of surgery, they too will receive instruction online delivered by their classroom teacher," Winston said.
The district has drafted specific expectations for this online learning platform:
Primarily used in the event of a school closure based on guidance from the Governor or Monroe County Health Department
Also used for short term student illness or removal
MCCSC teachers will teach their own classes
Instruction will include live synchronous meetings in small and large groups as well as independent work
“We will not compromise the quality of our instruction. The expertise of our teachers is second to none and we will continue to make sure we have high quality standards," Winston said.
MCCSC said if a school closes, the teachers are already equipped to teach students virtually.
Parents will get more information by the end of the month so they can decide whether they want their students to learn in person or online.
