Strong Start 2020 Iberia: Back-to-School Options

 

What is Full Virtual? 

• Students access Louisiana standards-based courses through an online format.

• Students work at their own pace through various online learning activities but must meet the minimum number of minutes required for attendance. 

• Courses are progress-monitored through assignments, quizzes, tests, exams and the assignment calendar.

 

What should a parent consider before enrolling his/her child in the full virtual program?

• If your child or someone in your household has a compromised immune system or other underlying medical conditions that makes him/her high risk.

• In grades kindergarten-5 your child will require daily active support by parents or caregivers for student success.  

• In grades 6-12 your child will need to work well independently without adult supervision.  

• It is not our intent that virtual learning will replace the high quality instruction provided by our teachers in the classroom. 

• For high school students, failing a course may affect a student’s ability to graduate with his/her class and his/her eligibility to play sports. 

 

High School Enrollment Options

High School T.O.P.S. University Pathway

High School Jump Start Pathway

Students will have the opportunity to complete all Carnegie credit courses online through Edgenuity. Students will work closely with the guidance counselors to create a schedule that ensures graduation requirements are met. Students participate in graduation with their class and graduate with an accredited Louisiana high school diploma.

Not all Jump Start electives and certifications are available through Edgenuity. Many pathways require a combination of online classes and hands-on/face-to-face courses offered at the Career Campus. Students will work closely with the guidance counselors to create a schedule that ensures graduation requirements are met. Students participate in graduation with their class and graduate with an accredited Louisiana high school diploma.

 

What do students need to be successful?

Students interested in the full virtual program should have the following traits:

• Ability to learn independently and engage in complex thinking or solve complex tasks without the support of a classroom teacher and peers

• Self-motivation

• Ability to remain focused and on task to complete the required work

• Basic computer skills
   

What is the parent’s role to ensure student’s success? 

While parents are not expected to deliver curriculum content to their child, they are expected to do the following:

• Parents must be committed to ensuring that their child is covering all daily, required activities as indicated on the Course Map/Assignment Calendar. Iberia Parish truancy guidelines will be enforced.

• Kindergarten-5th grade students must have an adult physically present to guide them through the daily learning process. Parents are considered to be their child’s learning coach.  As your child’s learning coach, you may be responsible for reading directions and passage (in grades kindergarten - 2), working some practice problems to ensure student understanding, engaging in conversation with your child to monitor his/her comprehension and learning, uploading documents to facilitator, reviewing and purchasing materials and supplies, etc.

• Kindergarten-12th grade parents must be aware of their child’s daily active time of engagement with their online courses and monitor weekly progress reports.

• Parents establish the daily learning schedule and ensure that their child closely follows it.

• Parents must have a valid email that is checked regularly. 

• Parents must answer/return phone calls from our online teaching staff members.

• Keep in mind, being your child’s learning coach goes beyond just assisting them with homework for a couple of hours a night. 

 

What is the difference between the Full Virtual Program and home-schooling?

Full Virtual Program	Home-Schooling
Students are enrolled with their zoned Iberia Parish school and receive all services provided by IPSD - extracurricular/athletics, meals, Chromebooks, etc. All curriculum is provided by the district-adopted online learning program through the IPSD at no cost to parents. Attendance is time stamped and monitored by the Iberia Parish School system.	Students must be withdrawn from the Iberia Parish School District and do not receive all services provided by IPSD - extracurricular/athletics, meals, Chromebooks, etc. Parents must purchase/provide a curriculum for their child. Student attendance is monitored by the homeschool provider.
With both programs a student's success is heavily dependent upon the involvement and monitoring of the student’s daily progress by the parent(s).

 

What do virtual lessons look like?

• Direct instruction through videos

• Independent practice and/or assignments

• Virtual lab activities

• Online assessments

 

How much school work will my child have to do each day?

• Students work at their own individual pace to complete all daily assignments listed for each subject, but they must follow their Course Map/Assignment Calendar, Monday-Friday.

• Kindergarten-8th grade students can expect to work from 4-5 hours per day, on average with multiple breaks.

• 9th-12th grade students can expect to work from 6-7 hours per day, on average with multiple breaks.

• Any work missed during the week must be made up over the weekend to get back on target by the following Monday morning.

 

Elementary School Considerations:  Face-to-Face Vs. Full Virtual 

On Campus Face-to-Face	Full Virtual
Access to a classroom teacher, five days a week, who is delivering high-quality curriculum and providing daily support and feedback Access to support services (P.E., library, and other available electives) Opportunities for active student involvement	Limited access to a classroom teacher Curriculum is different from high-quality curriculum taught by a classroom teacher Instruction is computer based and supported by parent(s) or designated adult(s).  Attendance and daily check-in are required Progress will be monitored by a district facilitator to monitor student progress and lesson completion

 

Middle and High School Considerations:  Hybrid (Blended) Vs. Full Virtual 

Hybrid (Blended)

Full Virtual

Access to a classroom teacher five days a week (2 face-to-face and 3 virtual) Daily instruction from an IPSD teacher using a high quality curriculum.   Allows individualized support and immediate feedback to students to increase student learning. Special High School Considerations Dual enrollment courses are available to students who meet the college/university requirements. Honors credit is awarded for honors courses when instructed by an Iberia Parish teacher on one of our campuses.  A variety electives are available for students to meet student interests and future plans.

Limited access to a classroom teacher Does not allow individualized support to students to increase student learning.  Special High School Considerations Dual enrollment courses are not available on this option. These courses must follow the syllabus outlined by the college/university and must be taught by an approved teacher.  In order for a student to receive honors credit for a course taken in Edgenuity, they must complete at least two grading periods under the instruction of an Iberia Parish teacher on one of our campuses. Not all courses available on a school campus are available in Edgenuity. For example,  Biology II is not available for TOPS University students. In addition, some electives required for JumpStart certification - such Outdoor Power Equipment - are not available in Edgenuity. Juniors and Seniors wishing to enroll in full virtual need to work closely with their guidance counselors to ensure that this will not jeopardize graduating on time.

 

Can I change my child’s learning option during the school year?

• At this time, parents can choose to enroll their child in full virtual learning by completing the online Enrollment Intent Form. If parents elect to begin the school year in the full virtual program, they are committing to 9-½ weeks (a grading period) in this program. The school district will evaluate student progress and success in the program and consider the parents' request to transition back to the school campus.

• In addition, if a parent initially elects to enroll their child in the full face-to-face model for elementary school or the hybrid model for middle and high school, but wishes to move to the full virtual program at a later time, a request must be made through the school principal. 

• Parents who begin the year in the full virtual program will be contacted prior to the start of school with more information about getting their child started.