ISD 833 has asked parents to register for distance learning in the Virtual Learning Academy by 11:59 pm on August 6th. The district has indicated that students are bound to this decision for at least the first trimester. Many details of what the Virtual Learning Academy will look like are still unknown, such as:

- How has the program been improved compared to last spring's emergency digital learning?

- What are curriculum specifics - will we have packets, textbooks, manipulatives, or is everything going to be digital?

- What will the daily schedule be, and how much synchronous learning virtual academy students will receive?

- Will classrooms try to cluster students from 2-3 nearby schools whenever possible?  How will students be grouped?

- If students change to an alternative format after first trimester, how will that transition look?

- How will students on IEPs have their needs met through the Virtual Learning Academy?  Will students retain their current case manager?

- Will there be the same enrichment opportunities available to Virtual Learning Academy students as other district 833 students?

Two days is not enough time for parents and caregivers to make an informed decision about the best option for their family. The purpose of this petition is to request the district to collect intentions to enroll in the Virtual Learning Academy by Thursday night but allow parents additional time to make their final decisions, after reviewing a detailed Virtual Learning Academy plan, which includes answers to the above questions.

More information about how all three learning options are being presented by the district is available at: https://www.sowashco.org/about/fall_2020