Virtual Academy

[Anonymous]

I read on another long thread that MCPS map open a virtual academy. Any idea what that might look like or where to seek out info?

[Anonymous]

They haven't released any info. It's part of the planning for next year. I think this means that if you want to stay virtual, you will be in a separate county-wide program next year, rather than one associated with your local school.

[Anonymous]

That's all I've heard as well.

I'm guessing mcps is going to have to resurvey a parents about learning preferences in the summer and see where the needle has moved interns if families choosing DL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They haven't released any info. It's part of the planning for next year. I think this means that if you want to stay virtual, you will be in a separate county-wide program next year, rather than one associated with your local school.

I think this is a good thing. I also think students and families should need to make a choice and stick with it. I think the constant changing of decisions is one factor (of many) that has made planning for this year so chaotic and confusing.

There should be one track for students who are all virtual, and another track for students who come in as much as school is open. Hopefully that will be 5 days a week, but if there is a period of hybrid, then the students in that track would be required to come in on their in person days.

[Anonymous]

I thought I read somewhere that it would be limited to 1% of students. Basically more extreme situations. There have been a limited number of students doing learning at home prior to the pandemic because of medical reasons. At my daughter’s school a student could control a robot with a screen on it. They were just starting to roll out this technology more before the pandemic hit. But the emphasis was still to collaborate with students and teachers in school.

[Anonymous]

My prediction is that next year will be a transitional year for DL. Right now 60% of families chose it and even assuming that that number goes down to 20% or something it's means creating a program for 30,000 students and staff, it's too big. My guess is that distance learning will still be managed at the school level for the next year.

My optimistic take on the situation is:

- vaccine stay ahead of community spread and our metrics stay low
- mcps goes down to 3 ft social distancing.

- most families choose in person and maybe 10- 20% choose DL so you can designate one or two virtual only classes per grade in ES. (Gets trickier in secondary, there might be more concurrent teaching but virtual only for core subjects?)

- with 3 feet of distancing you could probably get almost everybody back in the building full-time, schools with bigger classes per grade might need trailers.

- DL might still be an option for snow days or if a class has an outbreak

By fall of 2022 the number of people choosing distance learning would only be the really hardcore DL fanboys and the numbers would be realistically that you could create a DL academy and enroll a smaller fraction of students.

- by fall if 2022

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought I read somewhere that it would be limited to 1% of students. Basically more extreme situations. There have been a limited number of students doing learning at home prior to the pandemic because of medical reasons. At my daughter’s school a student could control a robot with a screen on it. They were just starting to roll out this technology more before the pandemic hit. But the emphasis was still to collaborate with students and teachers in school.

No, they have said it will be offered to all families who want it but you cannot switch during a semester. If Covid is bad and no vaccines for kids we will do it for next year. You are at a private and keep using that as talking points but mcps is not doing robots. It sounds like it will be separate.

[Anonymous]

It needs to be separate to be a feasible long-term solution.

-School administrator

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My prediction is that next year will be a transitional year for DL. Right now 60% of families chose it and even assuming that that number goes down to 20% or something it's means creating a program for 30,000 students and staff, it's too big. My guess is that distance learning will still be managed at the school level for the next year.

My optimistic take on the situation is:

- vaccine stay ahead of community spread and our metrics stay low
- mcps goes down to 3 ft social distancing.

- most families choose in person and maybe 10- 20% choose DL so you can designate one or two virtual only classes per grade in ES. (Gets trickier in secondary, there might be more concurrent teaching but virtual only for core subjects?)

- with 3 feet of distancing you could probably get almost everybody back in the building full-time, schools with bigger classes per grade might need trailers.

- DL might still be an option for snow days or if a class has an outbreak

By fall of 2022 the number of people choosing distance learning would only be the really hardcore DL fanboys and the numbers would be realistically that you could create a DL academy and enroll a smaller fraction of students.

- by fall if 2022

I think they will do hybrid in the fall but also DL. And, in the spring open fully but continue to offer DL for those that want it. I doubt they’d limit DL. Some kids are thriving in it, so why oppose having options and reduce overcrowding. I think more families will choose it than predicted here.

Reopening might work for ES but remember we have ms and hs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some kids are thriving in it, so why oppose having options and reduce overcrowding.

The reality of staffing logistics.

[Anonymous]

Fine whatever. But separate and not tied to home school is key. The DL crowd shouldn’t interfere with real school in my neighborhood school.

[Anonymous]

If it’s countywide your Bethesda snowflake might be in a distance learning class with an aspen hill snowflake. Equity! Who needs a boundary study.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some kids are thriving in it, so why oppose having options and reduce overcrowding.

The reality of staffing logistics.

They just create a separate school. No different than opening a new school. Or designate teachers from each school to teach a class or two online. Lots of options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fine whatever. But separate and not tied to home school is key. The DL crowd shouldn’t interfere with real school in my neighborhood school.

Right because your needs trump everyone else’s. Which is why many of us are not in a hurry to go back with Covid. It is real learning. Not much more happens in person.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Fine whatever. But separate and not tied to home school is key. The DL crowd shouldn’t interfere with real school in my neighborhood school.

Right because your needs trump everyone else’s. Which is why many of us are not in a hurry to go back with Covid. It is real learning. Not much more happens in person.

Isn't everybody saying the same thing? It needs to be a separate entity? Otherwise you're going to burn teachers completely out.