Details for families wanting to participate exclusively in online learning

The Decorah School Board will have a special board meeting Monday evening to vote on the proposed hybrid Return-to-Learn plan.  The beginning of the school year is just around the corner, and families will have to decide what the best plan is for their students.

All districts and accredited nonpublic schools in Iowa offer accommodations for remote or online learning for a variety of reasons, including if a child, or another resident of the child's residence, has significant health condition that increases their risk of COVID-19, or when a parent or guardian voluntarily selects the remote learning opportunity.

In his July 31st communication with families, Decorah Superintendent Mark Lane said, "Decorah Community School District is working to provide a fully remote learning option for families choosing not to return for any on-site learning due to serious student and/or household member health concerns and/or other serious concerns related to COVID-19."  

The Decorah district is planning to use an online program called Edgenuity Virtual Curriculum.  Unlike the online learning experience this past spring, families will bear primary responsibility for the day-to-day management and facilitation of online learning through Edgenuity. District staff will still be active, however, in ensuring course alignment, monitoring student attendance and engagement, and supporting family implementation.

To best plan for this unprecedented school year, the district will require student enrollment for the full first semester. In other words, students will not be allowed to start in the online model and then change to on-site learning at any point during the first semester.  Families will have the option to change enrollment from online learning to on-site learning for the second semester.

Lane highlighted more details about the online schooling option in his email. Students who participate in online learning will receive the standard-issued grade-level appropriate technology device from the district but the coursework will not be tied directing the district daily schedule or led by Decorah staff. Attendance and weekly progress will be monitored and required. If students plan to return to the regular classroom for the second semester, the same scope and sequence of a traditional classroom will be attempted to ease the transition. High school seniors who complete coursework through the online program will remain eligible for a traditional Decorah High School diploma in the spring. Lastly, students enrolling in online schooling may participate in extracurricular activities.