GREENFIELD — Even when COVID-19 is well in the rear-view mirror, some Hancock County students may still be practicing virtual learning.
Greenfield-Central has informed parents that an online program will be an option for students at all grade levels for the 2021-22 school year.
School officials said that administrators noticed that, while some students suffer academically through virtual learning, others excel at and even prefer virtual learning to attending class in person.
“There were some kids who really excelled in the virtual option. It worked well for those kids and worked well for their families,” said Lori Katz, director of secondary curriculum, instruction and assessment for Greenfield-Central schools.
“Even when we get to a point that people are comfortable sending their kids to school full time, we still think that’s a good option for families, so we’re making sure we’re doing everything we can to give that option for kids,” she said.
Families who wish to enroll students in the virtual option must submit an application online. The deadline is listed as 9 p.m. today (Friday, April 16), but they will be accepted through Wednesday, April 21. The application and a handbook for the program, called “GCVirtual,” can be accessed on the home page of the district’s website: www.gcsc.k12.in.us.
School officials will review the applications and send acceptance letters out to families by April 30.
Katz doesn’t know if the virtual learning program will be offered indefinitely, but said school administrators will be keeping a close eye on participation and success rates.
“I know above all else we want to say we meet the needs of our families. It’s our job to support (students’) education and social and emotional needs as best we can,” she said.
There are certain types of students who simply excel better at virtual learning than others, said Katz, who added that principals were asked to share what characteristics they saw in the students who excelled most at virtual learning.
“From what we gathered, successful virtual students exhibit a sense of ownership. They have some curiosity, and they’re ready to learn. They’re willing to take risks. They have grit. They’re self-starters, and they’re able to prioritize their learning,” she said.
When the first notices about virtual learning went to some Greenfield-Central schools, Katz said one parent responded almost immediately by registering her three children — currently in kindergarten, fourth and fifth grades — for virtual learning this fall.
That’s just one example of a family who prefers the virtual format, she said.
“When we had a survey early this year surveying the high school families, I think there were 30 to 60 families who said they would still be interested in the virtual option for this year,” Katz said.
“We don’t expect it to be as prevalent next year as it is this year, because people will want to send kids back to school, but only time will tell,” she said.
Greenfield-Central administrators decided over the winter to offer the program after a lengthy study on the topic, Katz said.
“We’re just grateful that we’re surrounded by a team of educators who are willing to be creative in thinking outside the box for ways to meet the needs of all the students we care for,” she said.
How that will play out next fall is still a work in progress, Katz said.
This school year, designated virtual teachers have been assigned to each grade level of students in kindergarten through the sixth grade, while teachers at the junior high and high school level have done a hybrid of on-site and virtual instruction over the past year.
Administrators are still working on the details on exactly what virtual learning will look like next school year.
“A lot of that will depend on the number of students we have,” Katz said, noting that the concept is still a work in progress.
“We’re going to watch the numbers and continue to adjust the staffing side as far as numbers go,” she said.
G-C will join Mt. Vernon in retaining a virtual-learning program. Southern Hancock and Eastern Hancock already have announced they will not.
“At this time we do not plan on offering an across-the-board formal virtual program next year,” EH Superintendent David Pfaff said.
While the school will always tailor curriculum for students with health concerns, especially those who are quarantined as they have been this year, “our smaller student enrollment allows us to handle situations individually to meet each student’s needs,” Pfaff said.
Families at the Southern Hancock schools were notified last month that there would be no virtual learning offered in the fall.
Wes Anderson, director of the corporation’s school and community relations, said the district has concluded that students “learn best when they are in the physical classroom each day.” He also said leaders relied on state and local data that showed the spread of COVID-19 in schools has been relatively rare.
“For these reasons, we will not continue our virtual program for 2021-2022. We intend to provide a quality, engaging, and collaborative educational environment for each and every student next year.”
At Mt. Vernon, leaders are still determining what the virtual program will look like, but leaders decided to offer one after a survey of families indicated support for it. Like G-C, Mt. Vernon expects it to be a fraction of the size of the virtual program in place this year, Superintendent Jack Parker said last month.
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Applications for families to seek spots in the 2020-21 online program, called “GCVirtual,” are due by 9 p.m. today (Friday, April 16), although they will be accepted through Wednesday, April 21. The application form may be found online at www.gcsc.k12.in.us. Look for the link on the home page.
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Successful virtual students exhibit a sense of ownership. They have some curiosity, and they’re ready to learn. They’re willing to take risks. They have grit. They’re self-starters, and they’re able to prioritize their learning.”
Lori Katz, director of secondary curriculum, instruction and assessment for Greenfield-Central schools.
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