DESCRIPTION

Students physically return to their brick-and-mortar schools, albeit with modifications. Where possible, close physical interaction will be as limited as possible, transitions reduced and other measures in place to minimize exposure for students and staff. Kansas State Department of Education’s (“KSDE”) Navigating Change Criteria, students in the in-person setting may experience three recommended learning modes.

Students take all of their coursework online. Courses are designed and taught by Blue Valley teachers. All students are eligible and there is no additional cost to select this option. This option is not a temporary or short-term placement; students are expected to remain in the program for a minimum of a semester. Students in grades 8-12 will have the opportunity to participate in KSHSAA-sanctioned athletics and activities based on gating criteria status of athletics and activities.

ELIGIBILITY AND COST
 

All students who reside within Blue Valley attendance boundaries are eligible. Typical registration fees apply.

All students who reside within Blue Valley attendance boundaries are eligible. Typical registration fees apply. There are no additional fees to enroll in VirtualED.

TECHNOLOGY

By the end of the fall semester, there will be a K-12 1:Learner initiative in place for all Blue Valley students.  

Students in the VirtualED program will have a district-provided computing device that they will be expected to use for their classwork. Students in K-2 will receive an iPad, 3-8 a Chromebook and 9-12 a MacBook Air. There is assistance for families with no or limited internet access. 

CURRICULUM

Students will experience the full Blue Valley curriculum. Some courses, due to their nature, may be modified based on health and safety precautions. Students may choose to enroll in à la carte virtual courses as they have been able to in the past. 

Students will have access to a robust list of courses. Most core classes and limited elective/explo/specials offerings will be provided. The full Blue Valley curriculum will be taught in the offered courses. 

INSTRUCTION

Students will experience the high-quality, Blue Valley learning that families have come to know, with some modifications to certain activities due to health and safety precautions.

Students will experience the high-quality, Blue Valley learning that families have come to know, in a virtual format. Virtual courses will consist of live/synchronous activities on a regular basis with the student's teacher as well as independent learning and work completed asynchronously.

TIME

The hours a student spends at school will look similar to past years. School day schedules have been adjusted to minimize transitions and exposure for students and staff. There also may be some adjustments at the beginning and end of days to limit close physical interaction. 

Students in the VirtualED program should plan to spend a similar amount of time on school work and in live/synchronous sessions with teachers as their in-person peers. Students can plan on spending around six hours a day on school and be available during normal school hours. The all-virtual option will not represent a reduction of learning time, as was the case in the spring of 2020 with Continuous Learning.

ASSESSMENTS AND GRADING

Assessments and grading will continue as in years past. Grading will resume as it was before the school closure of spring 2020. In the event of a student's extended absence due to COVID-19, their grades will not be penalized. 

Students in the VirtualED program will receive high-quality feedback and engage in assessments similar to their in-person peers. Students will take all state and district tests. Grades and progress reports will be shared in the same manner and on the same timeline as in-person courses. 

 
COMMUNICATION

Teachers will continue to communicate with families in traditional methods. Teachers will regularly post content and activities to assist students when home for periods of absence as a result of COVID-19. 

Teachers will use Canvas as the platform for all class communication, parent information, class activities, live/synchronous session links, etc. 

HOW TO ACCESS

Blue Valley will be providing families an opportunity to change their In-Person or VirtualED registration selection from Monday, Aug. 24 through 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Families will work with their home school to make changes to their registration. In response to requests from our families, in the first five days middle and high school students can also request a course change within the format they enrolled.

Blue Valley will be providing families an opportunity to change their In-Person or VirtualED registration selection from Monday, Aug. 24 through 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26. Families will work with their home school to make changes to their registration. In response to requests from our families, in the first five days middle and high school students can also request a course change within the format they enrolled.