More Districts Plan to Launch Permanent Online Learning Option
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced schools and teachers to change the way they educate students by doing online learning. But in doing so, schools found that some students are thriving from the new learning style.
Osseo Area Schools Will Launch 279 Online
The Osseo School District announced that remote learning is here to stay even in the years ahead.
“For some families, they found their students are excelling in this environment. They are looking for opportunities for students to continue that style of learning,” explained Anthony Padrnos, the district’s executive director of technology.
Next school year, the district will begin offering a permanent remote learning option called 279 Online.
“We wanted to create a space depending on students needs and interests and families,” said Padrnos.
The online school will be limited to 2,000 students. If students apply by Jan. 15, they get preferred interest into the program. A lottery will be used if there are more applications than spaces available. Mid-year transfers will be accepted on a space-available basis.
There will also be teachers and staff dedicated specifically to the online school.
Secondary students will have opportunities to participate in Minnesota State High School League-sponsored activities at one of our high schools.
The district had expressed interest in having some form of online learning even before COVID. But Padrnos said it was the pandemic that put those plans into high gear.
Anoka-Hennepin to Launch Permanent Online Elementary School
The Anoka-Hennepin School District is also making plans to launch a full-time online elementary school for students next fall. The district is putting the finishing touches on the plan and could release details to parents as soon as April.
The online school would offer the Anoka-Hennepin curriculum, provide student support services, and follow district policies for transfers, open enrollment and student performance standards. Research to determine additional online program offerings at the middle and high school levels is currently under consideration.
Robbinsdale Schools Will Offer Virtual Learning for 9-12 grades
This year Robbinsdale Area Schools offered ninth-through-10th graders the opportunity to participate in Robbinsdale Virtual Academy (RVA), an online school for high school students.
Next school year, it will be available for grades 9-12. RVA offers a fully accredited online curriculum and the district says the courses were developed to be taught online.
Students would not meet at a specific time, but rather students would have the flexbility to design their own high school experience. The district hopes to add courses for grades 6-8 next school year. You can find out more information here.
