Any K-12 student in the Blue Valley School District is eligible for the virtual option. The program is not available for students who do not reside within the Blue Valley School District boundaries. Students are expected to maintain residency during the entire time the students are enrolled in the virtual option. The same proof of residency will be required as a brick-and-mortar school. Students who choose to temporarily travel internationally may not be able to access the virtual resources and platforms due to cybersecurity reasons.

The age requirements for the virtual option are the same as in-person schools. These age requirements are determined by state law and Blue Valley Board of Education policy. Kindergarteners must be 5 years of age by August 31st to register.

When a student signs up for the virtual option, the IEP team will meet to determine what accommodations/modifications are necessary to access virtual programming, and what specialized instruction and/or related services are needed to provide a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). This could include having the teacher provide notes to the student, utilizing text-to-speech or speech-to-text tools within the Read & Write software, having a para or teacher attending synchronous classes and providing direct support through breakout Zoom rooms, and/or setting up a time to receive additional virtual support with asynchronous class lessons. If the required support cannot reasonably be provided through virtual education, these supports may be offered at a brick-and-mortar building.

Gifted education services are available to students identified as gifted through Blue Valley's eligibility process. A gifted education teacher will deliver gifted services through live virtual engagement and independent asynchronous activities.  The classes and activities will provide opportunities to interact with other eligible peers.  At the elementary level, the assigned gifted education case manager will review each IEP to determine services and the schedule fulfilling the IEP requirements. At the middle school level, parents should select Gifted Education at enrollment as one of the electives. At the high school level, parents should select Gifted Education at enrollment for eligible students.  While services will be offered through the virtual option, high school students may choose to attend Gifted Education at the brick-and-mortar school by enrolling in the Flex (in-person + virtual) option.  

If a student's IEP includes occupational therapy or speech-language therapy, these services may be offered through teletherapy or a brick-and-mortar location.  In many cases, teletherapy requires an adult working with the student during the scheduled sessions.  If an adult is required, but is not available in the home, or teletherapy is shown not to be effective for an individual student, services will be offered in a brick-and- mortar building.

Middle and high school students who choose the full-time virtual option will be able to participate in sports/activities at their home school, as desired and eligible. To be eligible, students must attend one in-person course at their home school.  For high school students, this means enrolling as a Flex student. Middle school students will work with their home school counselor to identify a way to accomplish that requirement. This is the current state-wide policy for all students in virtual settings. 

Students who choose the virtual option will take all district and state assessments for their grade level. Students may be required to test in-person at a district site to ensure test security and follow that test's protocol. Some tests may not be able to be administered at home. If students are required to sit for a test in an in-person setting, all health and safety protocols will be in place to ensure a safe testing environment for students. Additional details will follow as more information becomes available this fall.

Students who receive support through the ESOL program can opt for the virtual option. Once a student indicates that they will virtual option, ESOL staff will work to ensure that the student has the appropriate support in place to access virtual learning. 

All teachers in the virtual option are fully licensed through the state of Kansas for the subject that they teach. Additionally, these teachers are Blue Valley staff who understand Kansas state standards, Blue Valley curriculum and the high expectations for learning in our district. Students should expect to have teachers and/or special education case managers from school(s) other than their home school.

For the 2021-22 school year, there will be more full-time, dedicated virtual teachers. The percentage of full-time staff will depend on enrollment.  Regardless of status--full-time or part-time--additional training will be provided to virtual teachers. It is a goal to continuously grow the capacity of our instructors to design instruction for the online environment.

Students who have been placed in accelerated courses will have the opportunity to continue with that placement in the virtual setting.  Because of the nature of the programming, middle school students who take high school courses (e.g. Honors Geometry) should expect that the course be taught asynchronously.  

Students who select the virtual option will have access to counseling services. The program will have a counselor who will work with students so that they receive the support they need in the area of academics, social-emotional issues and career planning.

The virtual option will have student support available. As with in-person learning, Blue Valley will ensure that each student has the assistance they need to be successful. Examples of this type of support include reading groups or math intervention time.

Students at all levels are expected to adhere to any attendance and participation requirements. Students who consistently do not complete assignments or are unresponsive to virtual staff may be subject to truancy and other consequences up to and including removal from the virtual setting.

The virtual option has no additional cost associated with it. Students would pay the normal district required fees at registration and any related course fees when scheduling is complete; these vary based on enrollment selections at the secondary level. Furthermore, secondary students who do not participate in their Blue Valley home school sports or school activities can request a refund for the activity fee at the completion of the school year.

Blue Valley will provide K-2 students with an iPad, 3-8 students with a Chromebook and 9-12 students with a MacBook Air. All components of the district’s Acceptable Use Policy will be enforced and filtering of content will be in place as if they were on-site.  The Blue Valley IT department will offer support for students. Families and students will utilize the BVCare system to communicate issues and may be asked to visit a central location to receive in-person support when necessary.

Families will need reliable internet access for a student to participate in the program. Blue Valley will work with families who have unreliable or no internet access to ensure their student’s ability to participate in the program. Contact your home school or the Director of Virtual Education for more information.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided to students who opt for the virtual option who choose to take advantage of this option. Breakfast and lunch will be available to all students at the paid meal prices or free and reduced cost for those that qualify. More information about the meal program will be available in the fall.

The district will provide guidance regarding school or district closures at a later date.