Lexington Two Virtual Academy

Lexington Two launched eLearning during the 2019-2020 school year as a method for providing virtual instruction during short periods of inclement weather.  The instructional design presumed students would return to in-person instruction after a short period of time.  As the COVID-19 school closure continued, adjustments were made to provide new instruction, but it was still not designed to provide an alternative to a traditional school day.  

The Lexington Two Virtual Academy program is a 100 percent virtual experience, with its own faculty and administration.  Once a student enters this setting, he/she will only be able to transition back into a traditional in-person classroom during the 2020-2021 school year as space and safety allow. The Virtual Academy program will operate separately from our traditional schools.

 

eLearning vs. Virtual Academy
eLearning (March, April, May 2020)	Virtual Academy
Workload equivalent to a half day Designed to provide remediation and practice; later adjusted for longer closure Designed for short-term use Teachers quickly adopted this approach after preparing for a few days of instruction	Workload is equivalent to a full day Designed to provide rigorous instruction Designed for a yearlong school experience Teachers adopted this approach after specific training and professional development in designing and delivering virtual instruction

Participating in a Virtual Academy program is not for everyone.  Participating in virtual instruction requires students to demonstrate college and career ready skills of critical thinking, problem solving, self-direction and a strong work ethic.  One way to gauge your child’s readiness for virtual instruction is to complete a readiness quiz found by going to the Online Learning Readiness Questionnaire or by scanning the code to the left.  

Once your student completes the quiz, talk with your student about the results. Discuss

his/her readiness and what it takes to be successful when learning online.

While students in our Virtual Academy program are not bound in large part by a traditional schedule,  they must accomplish their learning goals by daily deadlines. A successful online learner is self-motivated and manages his/her time well. Grading practices are expected to be similar for both the Virtual Academy and face-to-face instruction. The district will provide personal technology for students in 5K-12th grades and will work with families to assess internet needs.

Each student’s experience varies depending on his/her grade level. For instance, younger students will have a more structured daily schedule with regular virtual interactions with their teachers, while older students experience a more self-directed environment.

Parents/guardians play significant roles in helping students structure a schedule that allows for a healthy balance of academics, social interaction, exercise, and extracurricular activities. Much as they would in a regular school setting, parents/guardians would monitor their student’s daily progress and engage in conversations about the day’s learning.

So, why would your student enroll in Lexington Two’s Virtual Academy instead of Connections Academy or the South Carolina Department of Education’s VirtualSC? There are many advantages.

When the COVID-19 crisis ends, your child would still be enrolled as a Lexington Two student. He/she could then come back to school in a face-to-face classroom and be prepared to rejoin his/her classmates, because all have received similar instruction. The Virtual Academy program's faculty -- all trained specifically in virtual classroom instruction --  understand Lexington Two’s academic rigor and learning framework. They will continue to empower your children to pursue their academic goals, until the time everyone joins together again as part of our greater school community.

What might the day look like for an elementary student?

After breakfast, an elementary student will log in to her computer with her parent/guardian to review her teacher’s plans for the day.

 

Her first lesson is a reading exercise about the plant cycle. She reads through an animated set of slides and answers questions, designed to check her understanding of the reading. Her teacher will review the answers and work later with the student on any misunderstandings.

 

Next, the student participates in a live online mathematics class with her teacher and classmates, where the day’s topic is multiplication and division. In their virtual classroom, the students watch and listen to the teacher model those new skills on a smartboard. The student can use a feature in the virtual classroom that allows her to “raise her hand” when she has a question. Students would then practice these new skills at home until the class meets again virtually, using a teacher video of the lesson to review.

 

Next, after a lunch break, the student spends time creating a self-portrait for related arts before she takes a break to go outside and play.

 

Before virtual classes end for the day, her teacher gives the class some instructions for a writing assignment. The teacher asks students to think about an interesting topic they’d like to  know more about. The teacher asks the students to be ready to share the topic they select during the next online class.

 

Later that afternoon, the student talks with her parent/guardian about a few ideas for the writing assignment and decides she would like to research temples in ancient Greece.

 

The student does 20 minutes of independent reading from a favorite book with a parent.

What might a middle schooler’s day look like?

A middle school student may start the day with a check of his email.  Yesterday, he sent his mathematics teacher a message asking if he could schedule a one-on-one session on solving equations. The teacher scheduled the session for later in the afternoon. The student confirms the invitation on his online calendar and sends the teacher a copy of the work he has attempted for the teacher to review.

 

 

 

At the end of the day, he reflects on his learning with his parents/guardians, and they discuss a strategy for scheduling his time tomorrow.

What might a high school student’s day look like online?

A high school student may begin her day working independently on one of her four online courses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Ensure that your student has 24/7 access to reliable internet. Students must be able to connect their district-issued device to the internet. This cannot be merely a cellular connection through a smartphone/mobile device. However, you could use a hotspot to connect your child’s district-issued device.
• Identify a dedicated space at home where your student will learn. For younger students, the dedicated space should be as free from distractions as possible — while still allowing an adult to supervise what’s going on.
• Help your student prepare a daily and weekly schedule for learning and assignments.
• Assist your younger student with lessons.
• Monitor your student’s daily progress.
• Check your student’s understanding by engaging your student in conversations about his/her learning.
• Create positive incentives for achieving academic goals.
• Provide consistent encouragement and motivation for your student.

Topic	Question	Answer
Calendar	Will Virtual Academy students follow the same academic calendar as other Lex2 schools?	Yes
Communication	I work from 9 AM - 5 PM and I typically don't get home until 6 PM.  What if I need to speak with one of my child's teachers after that time?	Teachers will not have extended hours beyond the typical school day, similar to in-person schools.  Teachers can be contacted outside of normal school hours via email and they will set up a time during the day if a phone/video conference is requested.
Communication	Will teachers reach out to the parent/guardian if a child is not participating virtually?	As with traditional instruction, monitoring student progress is a team effort.  Parents will be expected to monitor their student's grades and participation through Parent Portal.  However, teachers will also stay in regular communication with parents about their student's progress.
Curriculum	How will science labs be handled for virtual students?	Labs would be conducted via video demonstration or through interactive websites to simulate a lab environment.
Curriculum	I want to sign my child up, but she needs in-person hours for professional certification in cosmetology.  Can she come in for the in-person work but do her other classes by Virtual Academy?	Yes.
Curriculum	Will my child still have opportunities for related arts courses in subjects like art and music?	There will be limited related arts or fine arts classes.
Curriculum	What sort of curriculum options will be available (i.e., honors or gifted courses in ELA, math, science, SS)?	Students will have access to the core content (ELA, math, science, and social studies) at the college prep and honors levels as in their home school.
Curriculum	What about arts/humanities electives?	There will be limited related arts or fine arts classes.
Curriculum	Will any language courses be available?	World Language courses will be available to high school students.
Curriculum	For my children in Quest at BC, will they be able to take ALL their AP classes in the virtual academy?	We may not be able to offer all of the AP Courses through the Virtual Academy that we offer in our traditional high schools. This will be determined by the number of students needing certain AP courses.
Differentiation	Does the virtual classroom allow for any individualized instruction and evaluation? I'm concerned he will become bored going over early kindergarten curricula, and I don't want him to become turned off to education.	Students will be able to work at an individual pace through assignments tailored to meet their instructional needs.  The virtual platform will allow for students to receive appropriately challenging work as they demonstrate mastery of skills and content.
Enrollment	I think I want to sign up for the Virtual Academy, but can I change my mind and enroll my child for face-to-face instruction?	As stated in the information provided, enrolling in the Virtual Academy is a year-long commitment.  Student requests to go back to face-to-face instruction would be considered as space and safety allow at a future quarter or semester break.
Enrollment	If I am in face-to-face instruction, can I move her at any time over to the Virtual Academy?	Students can switch to the Virtual Academy at any point space becomes available on a roster, but would not be able to return to face-to-face instruction except as outlined above.
Enrollment	I'd like to sign up one of my children for the Virtual Academy and one for face-to-face learning.  Is that allowed?	Yes, children in the same household can be signed up for different instructional models.
Enrollment	My children are currently in the OASIS program.  Would they lose their spots in OASIS?  Will there be special programs for Gifted and Talented students?  Would my children be able to return to the OASIS program the following year?	By selecting the Virtual academy, students are choosing an alternate model for their instruction.  Upon their return to face-to-face instruction, students could reapply for admission into the OASIS program, but a spot would not be held vacant.  Students will have gifted/talented opportunities as part of the Virtual Academy.
Enrollment	Two of my children were also taking a few classes at the Innovation Center. Will this be possible with the Virtual Academy?	If your child is enrolled in a course at the Innovation Center that requires contact hours for certification, then they would be able to attend those classes, but transportation would not be provided.
Enrollment	If my child is in the Early College program, will they still be able to participate while in the Virtual Academy?	Yes, if students are enrolled in the Early College program, they can both enroll in the Virtual Academy and complete Early College courses at Midlands Tech.
Extracurricular activities	Will students in the Virtual Academy be allowed to participate in extracurricular activities (ex. marching band)?	As guidelines allow for certain extracurricular activities, students would have the opportunity to participate in after-school activities at their home school.
Fees	What are the student fees in the Virtual Academy?	Students would have the same students fees as other Lex2 students.
Instruction	Will teachers be accountable for having "live" instruction?	Yes, teachers will have live instruction as a component of the Virtual Academy.
Instruction	Will students in the Virtual Academy be able to log in to a live classroom?	Yes, teachers will have live instruction as a component of the Virtual Academy.  These will be at set dates and times and students will be expected to attend.
Instruction	What is the difference between Lexington Two's Virtual Academy and a program like Connections Academy or SC Virtual Learning?	Lexington Two's Virtual Academy is designed to offer a program similar to Connections Academy or SC Virtual Learning.  When the COVID-19 crisis ends, your child would still be enrolled as a Lexington Two student.  He/she would then come back to school in a face-to-face classroom and be prepared to join his/her classmates, because all have received similar instruction.  The Virtual Academy's faculty - all trained specifically in virtual classroom instruction - understand Lexington Two's academic rigor and learning framework.  They will continue to empower your children to pursue their academic goals, until the time everyone joins together again as part of our greater school community.
Instruction	Will young learners in the Virtual Academy have paper packets?	No, young learners will have digital lessons as well.
Instruction	Will there be flexibility in a student's pace of learning (can they go ahead or are they limited to go at the pace of the class)?	Yes, students will have some flexibility in their pace of learning.  There will, however, be due dates for assignments and set times for attending live class sessions.
Meals	My child participates in the free and reduced meals program.  If I enroll her in the Virtual Academy, is there a way that she can get meals?	Your child would need to pick up a meal from the school.
Peer Interactions	How will the Virtual Academy offer opportunities for my child to socialize/interact/get to know fellow students during the school day?	Virtual Academy classes will have opportunities for whole-class lessons, discussions about topics, and social opportunities.
Schedule	Is there an expected start time such as 8:00 AM?	As described in the sample schedules, there will be certain times when students are expected to attend live class sessions with the teacher.  Outside of that, students have flexibility in their daily schedule.  They are still expected to complete work daily and submit work by set due dates/times.
Schedule	How many hours per day will the children receive direct classroom video instruction from the teacher (or participate in live learning)?	The hours per day of direct classroom video instruction will vary by grade level and course.  However, all students will have a component of live instruction as part of their daily schedule.
Special Services	Would our child still be able to receive speech and other IEP services virtually?	Yes, special services as a result of an IEP would be provided virtually in accordance with individual student plans.
Special Services	If my child has Physical Therapy in school how would that work if I decide to do virtual schooling?	IEP services such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy may receive services through telehealth or other delivery options determined by the IEP team.
Special Services	My child has an IEP and receives special services. Will my child be able to participate in the Virtual Academy?	Yes. Virtual Academy is open for all students. This includes students with varying disabilities.
Staffing	Will teachers in the Virtual academy be responsible for classroom learning, too?	No, Virtual Academy teachers will only be responsible for virtual instruction.
Staffing	Will virtual teachers be from Lexington Two or another district?	The teachers will be from Lexington Two.
Supplies	Will the school supply lists be the same for virtual as for in-person instruction?	No.  Each school develops its own school supply lists, so they vary depending on your child's home school.  While some supplies will be needed for completing schoolwork, most classwork will be digital and so the list will vary from a traditional classroom list.  Your child's teacher(s) will communicate any needed supplies at the beginning of the year.
Support	Would my student still have access to school counselors, if needed?	Students will be able to complete online requests as needed to be contacted by one of the district school counselors.
Support	What kind of emotional supports will Lexington Two have for Virtual Academy students?	The Virtual Academy will have opportunities for students to socialize with one another virtually.  Additionally, there will be a planned social-emotional component to daily instruction.
Support	What kind of resources are in place to help struggling students outside the virtual classroom?	As students are struggling, there will be remedial content to help them understand concepts, as well as opportunities to request additional tutoring or small group instruction.
Technology / Internet	We don't have reliable internet.  Is the district going to help with that?	There is a possibility the district may have hotspots to loan families for virtual learning, but decisions will be made on a case-by-case situation.
Technology / Internet	Will the district issue the equipment needed for Virtual Academy participants?	Students will be issued a district device (iPad/Chromebook).
Technology / Internet	Will the parent/guardian get training in programs if their children are in the Virtual Academy?	There will be parent tutorial videos available on our website.
Technology / Internet	What will be the layout of Virtual Academy? What services will the students use? Will it be like, Google classroom?	The primary platform has not been finalized.  We will utilize Google Classroom as one platform, particularly for live classroom learning.