The Richmond County School Board will expand online learning for the next school year, but only for a relatively small number of students who qualify and have parents willing to make the commitment to at-home learning along with their children.
The school system is offering a new school choice option for a limited number of students in grades 6-12. The school system is currently accepting applications for students interested in online instruction for the 2021-2022 school year.
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To qualify for the program, students will commit to attend classes virtually for the entire school year. Students will be able to participate in extracurricular activities such as chorus, band or athletics at the school they are zoned for and will graduate from their zoned school.
The program will offer all standard El/HI courses and will be tailored to the students’ needs. Tutoring will also be available 24/7 using FEV Tutoring.
Admission to the eSchool program will be limited to 200 students from each grade 6-12 or 1400 students total across the entire school system.
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The school system will pay an estimated $5.5 million in hiring a principal, two assistant principals, and two counselors, as well as a bookkeeper, registrar, technology specialist, technology instruction specialist and an estimated 45 teachers who will be dedicated to the online learning program or “virtual school.”
According to Richmond County School Board Member A.K. Hasan, the concept is to create a virtual magnet school within the school system where the eligible students have the same support staff as they would attending in-person school.
Hasan said that like traditional magnet schools, students are not the only ones who have to sign a contract. The parents must also commit to do their part in making sure their child stays on task.
“Parents have to be involved up front, they have to prove their child is independent enough to complete the assignments on time,” Hasan said. “The parents must sign a contract that states they will be active and will participate in their child’s education on a daily basis.”
Hasan said he hopes the pilot program will grow beyond the 1400 students in its first year and will become a mainstream option for parents and students in the future.
School board member Dr. Wayne Frazier agrees and said that the pandemic forced the board to realize that online learning has become an integral part of the future of education.
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“We were lightyears behind other school systems throughout the nation until the pandemic forced us to do things that more progressive school systems had already implemented,” Frazier said.
As a principal in the school system before he became a school board member, Frazier was known for his hands-on approach to students, but he said that some students thrive in a more independent atmosphere.
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“Some kids really need the in-person experience, other students are more self-motivated and have proven themselves to be capable of managing their learning with the virtual classroom. I think one of the best things we can do is make virtual learning available to them,” Frazier said.
The application process for eSchool began on May 1 and is open through May 31. Eligible students will be selected through a lottery process. Students not selected to attend eSchool will be registered to attend classes at their zoned school.
Scott Hudson is the Managing Editor of The Augusta Press. Reach him at scott@theaugustapress.com.
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