LEON COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) — Gillian Gregory, the assistant superintendent for academic services, hosted a virtual question and answer session Thursday evening focused on the digital academies being offered at each Leon County school.
Prior to the start of school, parents of middle and high school students be able to choose from three options: In-person classes, a school-based digital academy or Leon County Virtual School. Parents of elementary students will be able to opt into either in-person instruction or a school-based digital academy.
Once parents make a decision, they will be locked into that decision for at least one school semester, with some exceptions.
Parents have until July 13 to make their decision in the LCS survey. For a step-by-step explanation on how to access the survey, click here.
Here's a breakdown of the key points in each learning option being offered:
FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION
Every student will be required to be on Canvas. Every student will also get a Chromebook regardless of if they're enrolled in the digital academy or not.
For secondary students (i.e. middle and high school), Chromebooks will be sent home. For elementary students, the district is still working out the details.
Masks will be required on students during transportation, during class transitions, and whenever social distancing is not possible, regardless of class or activity.
Upon arrival at school, the children will undergo a daily "pediatric assessment" that includes a temperature check with a touchless infrared thermometer.
A visual assessment to check the students' appearance, breathing, and circulation will also be done as part of the screening.
Elementary students from pre-K, kindergarten, and 1st grade will have meals delivered to their classroom and can eat in the classroom or at an outside location.
Students in 2nd grade through high school will be served grab-n-go bag meals and may eat in the cafeteria while practicing social distancing or at an outside location. Additionally, a la carte items will be offered to students in high school.
The district said daily cleaning will occur alongside deep cleaning as needed. Each classroom will be provided a Hygiene Kit of cleaning and sanitation supplies for daily use.
If the parent decides to pull their student from in-person instruction before the semester is up, they'll be able to enroll their children online if the request is within reason. Due to concerns over safety and staffing, returning to a face-to-face option after enrolling in the digital academy is not possible.
For more in-depth information about face-to-face instruction, click here.
DIGITAL ACADEMY
Every Leon County School will have its own digital academy that is unique to that school and will include course offerings, scheduling, and instructors.
That means students will be able to still be apart of their school's community, even as they learn from a distance.
Instruction for these students will take place online with teachers from their school. There will also be modified electives for digital academy students.
Each student will take their core classes 100 percent online. There will be no paper packets offered for the digital academy.
Regardless of whether or not they are learning in brick and mortar schools or at home, every student will receive a Chromebook equipped with the Canvas LMS system.
The Chromebooks will direct all the traffic through Leon County Schools' internet filters to prevent students from accessing content that is potentially inappropriate material. It will be set up with content for educational use and LCS controls the access to apps on the device.
As far as scheduling goes, there will be a daily schedule for digital academies that will include live instruction and non-live instruction on certain days. The grading process will not change from the traditional model.
The pacing of the courses will be as close to possible as the pacing in the brick and mortar classrooms, allowing for a seamless transition when students are able to physically return to school.
Student supervision will fall on the responsibility of the parent, Gregory said.
She also stressed that each school's digital academy will be different and may be able to offer certain courses that other schools can't or vice versa.
For more information about your individual school’s Digital Academy, the district is directing you to visit your school’s website and click on the “Digital Academy,” or contact your student’s school with questions starting on Monday, July 6.
By Thursday night, each school's digital academy website will go live, giving parents more information about what their school's digital academy will look like.
A sample schedule is below:
In the upcoming year, VPK students must receive face-to-face instruction. They do not have the option of doing virtual learning.
For the 2020-21 school year, parents of elementary school students can choose from the following options:
Option 1: Face-to-Face Traditional Instruction
- “Normal” day/Modified Experience
- Scheduling Options will depend on Executive Orders
Option 2: School Based Digital Academy
- Connected to enrolled school
- All first semester Instruction will occur online
- Limited/Modified curricular offerings
Their course offerings are as follows: English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Art, and Physical Education.
Parents of middle and high school students will have the following learning options when it comes to where they choose to continue their education:
Option 1: Face-to-Face Traditional Instruction
- “Normal” day/Modified Experience
- Scheduling Options will depend on Executive Orders
Option 2: School Based Digital Academy
- Connected to enrolled school
- All first semester Instruction will occur online
- Limited/Modified curricular offerings
Option 3: Leon County Virtual School
- Full-time and Part-time options
- Considered a single school site
Students who choose to participate in the Digital Academy may still participate in the after-school sports and activities available at their school site.
You can see their full list of course offerings here.
LEON COUNTY VIRTUAL SCHOOL
Gregory said that Leon County Virtual School is a separate entity from LCS with its own leadership and course progression.
It is a public school within Leon County where students take their classes online. It's a franchise of Florida Virtual School that also has partnerships with K12.
Students may register for any course offered through Leon County Virtual School (as long as they get parent and guidance counselor approval).
For more information, click here. To watch the full Q&A session, click the video below.
