The ‘virtual academy’ plan
From Staff Reports
The Darlington County School Board has approved the creation of the Darlington County Virtual Academy, a new K-12 program that will operate completely online. Online registration opened July 15 for both traditional “in-person” classes and virtual options.
The new Virtual Academy will be an option for students and families uncomfortable with attending a traditional school with in-person classes because of the COVID-19 threat.
The Virtual Academy will provide rigorous, structured, organized instruction with local teachers. Unlike the school district’s eLearning system, which was implemented under emergency conditions during last spring’s school shutdown, students in the Darlington County Virtual Academy will have a normal daily instructional schedule, earn grades and receive timely teacher feedback in response to class or homework.
DCSD teachers experienced in online platforms and virtual instruction will support student engagement using live and recorded lessons and tutorials. Students in the Virtual Academy will be provided the necessary technology to participate in class. Reliable Internet is required.
The Virtual Academy will shift some DCSD teachers from traditional classrooms to virtual classrooms. To ensure proper staffing of both the Virtual Academy and the traditional schools, students who enroll in the Virtual Academy will remain in the Virtual Academy for the entire school year.
Students who desire to transfer back into a traditional school may be able to do so at the semester break in January, providing there is space available in the traditional school.
The district will be sending more information to parents and providing more information on the district’s website soon.
Online registration for the 2020-2021 school year opened on July 15 and will close on July 29. All DCSD students will need to register online during this time.
