In July 2020, my school district unveiled its “virtual school” as one means of educating students during a pandemic.
At the time, I was surprised to read that the district had planning to open a virtual school anyway. The pandemic just sped up the process. From the July 11, 2020, Nola.com:
The St. Tammany Parish Public Schools system already planned to unveil its new online school this year to meet the needs of families living in an increasingly digital world. But the surge of coronavirus cases has the program on a fast track. …
STPPS Virtual School is a software platform that allows teachers to work directly with students via an online connection. The school will adhere to the same educational standards of the district’s 55 brick and mortar campuses….
Teachers will use instructional videos and modules to teach students and will monitor their progress through daily interaction. Classes will be held on an online platform such as Zoom. The counselor will ensure older students are taking the right classes to graduate and help them with necessary transcripts and other paperwork as they prepare for college. …
Students who enroll in the virtual school will be asked to remain enrolled for the entire semester.
As for remaining enrolled for the entire semester:
Not so much.
During the first quarter of the school year, I began receiving students who were CONTINUE READING: The Brief, Distressed Life of a Virtual School | deutsch29: Mercedes Schneider's Blog