What is Virtual Education?
Virtual education is an instructional delivery model that does not require the student to be physically present in the same location as a teacher. It also requires special techniques of course design, special instructional techniques, special methods of communication by electronic and other technology, as well as organizational and administrative arrangements.
The focus of the virtual-learning initiative focuses on the needs of the individual student. It provides an opportunity for students to participate in curriculum that will assist them in obtaining their Somerset High School diploma. It is not intended that students be educated using virtual instruction as their exclusive learning environment. Students will be encouraged to participate in school academics, and to fully utilize all available courses at their school to maximize their educational opportunities.
A Local Education Guide (LEG) will serve as the local facilitator for the student who takes a virtual course. This facilitator will act as a support system for the virtually educated student and as a liaison between the student and virtual course instructor when problems arise. The student will also have a virtual instructor who is responsible for monitoring student academic achievement. Students will be able to communicate with the virtual instructor courses regarding course content by phone or through e-mail. In addition, each student will have a “coach.” The coach may be a family member, neighbor, friend or other community member who will encourage the student to be successful in this learning environment and check with the student to ensure progress is being made in his/her virtual class work. The LEG will remain in contact with the student and coach.
Students must commit to completing any virtual course taken within the agreed time period, not to exceed five months. To be considered as a full time Virtual School enrollee, a student must commit to successfully complete at least one grade level per calendar year or to meet the best needs of the student as determined by the virtual learning team and the student’s family. The LEG, in cooperation with the student, virtual teacher, parents and coach, will determine if the student will be successful in the virtual course environment within the first 14 days of the course being started. If a student drops or decides not to continue the virtual course within the 14-day limit noted above, an alternate placement will be made for the student. This placement will be determined by the Somerset High School. Students who drop, fail to complete, discontinue, or fail virtual school courses for which the school district has paid will be required to reimburse the school district the cost of the course(s).
A virtual learning plan may be developed for a student if:
· The educational needs of the student are not being met as noted by student, teacher, and parent
· The student possesses traits (self-motivation, persistence, technological competence, ability and desire to communicate) to be successful as a virtual student
· The student has a strong desire to succeed in a virtual learning environment
High
For/because of………
· Accelerated Curriculum
· Students with educational needs not met within the curriculum
· Home School student
· Credit Deficiency
· School Age Parent
· Expelled student recommended by the Board of Education
· Failed class
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Medium
For/because of………..
· Homebound-refer to Board Policy
· Enrichment
· Habitual truant
· HS Schedule Conflict
· 18-20 yr. old student who has
not received diploma
· Remediation
· Other individually defined criteria
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Low
For/because of…….
· Expelled students not recommended by the Board of Education
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Students may be approved for Virtual School enrollment based on the following criteria
The status of the student will be evaluated weekly by the virtual school designee based upon individual performance, learning needs and available resources.
An Individual Virtual Learning Plan that focuses on the needs of the individual student will be planned and implemented with each accepted student and parent. All curricula may be supplemented to ensure that courses are aligned with state and local standards and benchmarks.
Parents are responsible for helping to determine programming needs for their Virtual School student with school district personnel.
The District will provide curriculum that is aligned with local, state and/or national standards. Courses will be selected to meet the needs of each individual student. The cost of the approved curriculum will be the responsibility of the Somerset School District.
Students must complete required state and local assessments. Student proficiency with material covered by standards and benchmarks will be measured using District testing or virtual course assessments. Students will use District-chosen assessment tools for pre/post assessment data. All curricula will be aligned with the district standards and benchmarks. Completion of the built in assessments will verify that the student is proficient in the various competencies.
In order to be considered enrolled and approved for virtual education courses a student and parent must assure that all of the following are understood and enacted:
· Student, parent, and coach must read and understand all virtual course requirements and policies and determine if the student has the potential to be successful in a virtual school environment
· Student/Teacher/LEG will determine if the student will be successful in a virtual school environment by the 15th day of any course
· Parents are responsible to notify the Somerset School District, in writing, anytime their student decides to drop any virtual course within the 15-day limit. If this is not done and the student does not complete the course, the student will receive an “F” on his/her transcript. This will affect class rank and status. In addition, reimbursement for the failed, dropped or non-completed course will be required by the school district. If a student drops from the virtual program, an alternate educational plan will be determined by the Somerset School District.
· The school counselor and principal will review all virtual school applications. The LEG and/or guidance counselor will meet with the student, parent, coach and LEG to determine virtual school program acceptance or rejection.
· Enrollment contract is completed and on file with the Somerset School District.
· The LEG will act as the liaison between the student, parent and virtual provider.
Promotion of students in all grades will follow Board of Education policy for grade advancement.
Existing support services such as guidance, school nurse, ESL, special education, police liaison, School to Work, Reading Specialists, Gifted and Talented Coordinator, etc, will be available to all students participating in virtual instruction.
Students will be allowed to participate in traditional school activities (co-curricular or extracurricular) in accordance with School Board Policy. In order for students to be eligible to participate in sports, the student needs to continue to show course progress in all courses.
District codes of conduct, dress, and athletic codes pertain to virtual students in the same manner as traditional school students. Other rights and privileges will be defined the school handbook and Board of Education policies.
Students who meet eligibility criteria may be approved for summer course work should they meet the criteria for participation.
Students are required to:
· Complete all course work
· Complete all given assignments within the requirements set by the course
· E-mailthe virtual teacher at least once a week or as directed by the virtual program teacher with information regarding course progress
· Complete all assessments as assigned in the virtual course
· Complete all local and state formal and/or standardized assessments.
· Stay on pace.
Students who are able to demonstrate the following discipline may be more successful at virtual coursework:
· Schedule time each day to work on the course.
· Read all information. The directions for completing assignments are written in the course.
· Communicate with the virtual teacher on a weekly basis via e-mail or by phone. If a student does not give evidence of progress for more than three days during the course, the LEG and/or guidance counselor must be informed.
All students will follow the curriculum guide for their courses. This will be the guide for various assignments and modules that demonstrate correct pace for completing the course. In the initial meeting with the student and the LEG and/or guidance counselor, organizational skills will be reviewed and modeled.
Being a virtual student does not mean that the student will be virtual all the time to do the coursework.
All assignments will be graded by the virtual course instructor. The student will receive comments and grades from the virtual teacher based on completed assignments and assessments. Student academic progress will be monitored by the parent and LEG using course requirements along with local and state assessments.
Grades for high school virtual courses will be transferred to the student’s transcript once the virtual instructor presents a grade for the students’ work in the course. Students have five (5) months to complete each virtual school course. Courses not completed within the required timeline of the virtual school provider will be terminated according to the virtual school provider course completion policy.
If a virtual student has not completed a course by the end of the district grading period but is within the prescribed timeline of the virtual school course provider, a grade of Incomplete will be posted on the student’s report card and the student will receive a zero in determining the GPA and class ranking for that term. If the student (a) completes the required course work within two (2) weeks of the end of the district grading period in which the course is taken, (b) is within the prescribed timeline of the virtual school course provider and (c) a grade is presented by the virtual school teacher, the student’s GPA and class ranking will be adjusted to reflect the grade.
All high school grades will be treated as non-grade weighted when placed on the transcript unless students are taking Advance Placement courses. Grades that are reported as a percentage will be given a letter grade in accordance with the following scale:
Non-Weighted Grade Scale
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93 – 100% = A
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92.99 – 90% = A-
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89.99 – 87% = B+
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86.99 – 83% = B
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82.99 – 80% = B-
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79.99 – 77% = C+
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76.99 – 73% = C
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72.99 – 70% = C-
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69.99 – 67% = D+
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66.99 – 63% = D
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62.99 – 60% = D-
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60% - 0% = F
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Weighted Grade Scale
NA
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96-100% = A
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94-95.99% = A-
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92-93.99 = B+
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89-91.99% = B
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87-88.99% = B-
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85-86.99%= C+
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82-84.99 = C
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80-81.99% = C-
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77-79.99%= D+
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72-76.99 = D
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70-71.99 = D-
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0.00-69.99= F
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Discipline Procedures
Violations to the Somerset School District Board of Education Policies, Student Handbook, or School Policies will be handled expediently. The Somerset School District requires that specific academic and behavioral criteria be followed. Students who violate District regulations will face consequences in accordance with student handbook, policies and procedures. Consequences could include the students’ removal from the virtual courses.
Students taking virtual courses must meet all District requirements for obtaining a Wisconsin High School diploma. There will be no designation on a students’ transcript for completed virtual courses other than the course number, title, grade and credit. Students must be aware that their grades from virtual coursework will affect their valedictorian or salutatorian status as well as their class rank, according to their school policies.
Students enrolled in the Somerset Virtual School are eligible to participate in elective courses that are offered on site in the general curriculum (Phy Ed, music, art, etc.) Other elective requests that are not offered with the local curriculum will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
* IGCF Youth Options
* IKF High School Graduation Requirements
* JB-R Student Discrimination Complaint Procedures
* AD Educational Philosophy
* IGD Extracurricular Activities
* Interscholastic Athletics
The virtual education teacher:
- Monitors student’s academic progress and evaluates student learning
- Identifies, selects, provides and modifies instructional resources to meet the needs of the students with varying background, learning styles, and special needs.
- Assists in assessing and changing curricular needs and offers plans for improvement.
- Maintains effective and efficient record keeping procedures.
- Provides a positive environment in which students are encouraged to be actively engaged in the learning process.
- Communicates effectively, both orally and in writing, with students, parents, and other professionals every two weeks.
- Collaborates with parent/LEG/curriculum provider to enhance the instructional environment.
- Models professional and ethical standards when dealing with students, parents, peers and community.
- Ensures that the student growth and achievement is continuous and appropriate for age group, subject area, and/or program classification.
- Establishes and maintains cooperative working relationships with students, parents, and the school district.
- Works with the student to develop a recommended PACE for their course/grade level completion.
- Provides support for student understanding of all coursework.
- Responds to student email within 48 hours. If the teacher will be absent and not able to respond to the student, the teacher will inform the student ahead of time.
- Maintains academic honesty and contacts parents and the LEG if there are specific concerns.
- Contacts local technical support or educator email support if there are technical problems with the course management system.
Definitions: Requesting - School that has a student that wishes to enroll in a virtual course.
Receiving – School that owns the course and employs a to deliver the course.
Designated Person – District – LEG; Program leader for virtual learning.
- The requesting school will call or email the receiving school regarding potential course openings.
- The requesting school will complete the Virtual Learning Application Form (VLSA form) to the best of their ability and forward to the designated person at the receiving school.
- The receiving school will (1) assign the student to a specific course, (2) complete pertinent portions of the VLA form, and (3) forward the VLA form to the requesting school and LEG.
- The virtual school teacher will enroll the student in the course, assign a virtual course instructor and notify the student regarding course log-in procedures
- Upon course completion, the teacher from the receiving school will notify the designated person at the receiving school of the student’ percentage and the students course grade
- The receiving school will communicate all grade information and the completed VLA form to the requesting school.
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