- Anchorage School District
- School Start 2020-21
- ASD at Home Portal Page
- ASD Virtual Program
ASD at Home - ASD Virtual Program
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Carol Boatman, Director of Learning Innovation, discusses the ASD at Home Virtual Program.
The ASD Virtual Program is a new fully online homeschool choice for students and families. This program maintains a connection to neighborhood/choice schools while learning from home.
The ASD Virtual Program:
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Engages students with a variety of activities for learning
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Provides a consistent and reliable plan for students and families
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Offers courses aligned to learning standards (different curricula than in-school program)
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Grades K-5 use Calvert Learning and ExactPath
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Students in grades K-2 have access to daily ELA and math lessons, in addition teachers provide Zoom sessions to review the daily lesson
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Students in grades 3-5 have access to set office hours whereby teachers answer questions, provide instruction, and provide individual support on an as needed basis
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Grades 6-12 use APEX Learning and/or eDynamic Learning
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Students are engaged in independent, self-paced learning
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Teachers will provide set office hours whereby teachers answer questions, provide instruction, provide individual support on an as needed basis; in addition, teachers will provide a weekly live session to build relationships and have instructional dialogue
- Ensures secondary courses meet graduation requirements
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Ensures secondary core courses meet NCAA requirements for student athletes
- Some test are proctored to follow NCAA guidelines
- Families should discuss course selection with their guidance counselor to confirm which courses meet NCAA requirements
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Supports parents/guardians in their role as the primary guide for their student’s learning
The virtual program is connected to a student’s neighborhood/choice school. Families will continue to:
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Receive school communications
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Have opportunities to participate in activities, clubs, and athletics
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Have access to collaborative support between the virtual teacher and school staff
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Have access to academic planning and graduation support
Families can choose the virtual program through their neighborhood or choice school.
To enroll in ASD at Home Virtual Program, please contact your neighborhood school/school of choice.
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ASD at Home: Virtual Elementary FAQs
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How will students and parents access their courses?
Learning Platform
Link
Calvert Learning (K-5)
Then click on Calvert Learning
https://edm.geniussis.com
Student login Information:
• Student Username: lastname.firstname• Password: the student password will be sent to the parent/guardian email address. The Calvert email should come from: donotreply@bocavox.com.
Parent/Guardian login Information:
• Parent/guardians will get an email from Calvert Learning (Edmentum) with login information
•If you need help with username and password put in a request with ASD Help
Apex Learning (6-12)
Login Information:
• Student Username: lastname.firstname• Password: use existing password (new to District students can get their password from the Virtual Teacher)
• Select Apex Learning once logged in
eDynamics (6-12)
Login Information:
• Student Username: lastname.firstname• Password: use existing password (new to District students can get their password from the Virtual Teacher)
• Select Canvas once logged in
• Once logged-in to Canvas students will see their course(s)
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What makes it new?
- K-12 100% virtual learning option
- Provides families with flexibility of space, time, and pace
- Stand alone program that allows parents/students to stay connected to neighborhood/choice schools
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Why would I want to enroll in the program?
- Maintain a connection to your neighborhood or choice school
- Keep your spot in choice program
- For immersion programs, please see details from your school
- 100% online to remove COVID exposure concerns at school
- High quality coursework aligned to standards
- Continuity of instruction regardless of district risk level
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Who is teaching the program?
- Anchorage School District Teachers
- Highly qualified
- Alaska Certificated
- Teaching their subject/grade level of expertise
- Virtual teachers will be trained to engage students and support online learners
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What does learning look like in the program?
- Coursework will be graded
- Coursework will mirror the elementary schedule
- Students will typically need 15-20 hours a week to complete activities, assignments, and projects
- Students will have access to social emotional learning (SEL) support
- Teachers use a variety of real-time and self-paced activities to engage students in their learning, which may include:
- Face-to-face Zoom lessons (real-time and recorded)
- Self-paced assignments and quizzes
- Online discussions, both text and Zoom
- Individual and group projects
- Parent/guardian support is critical to online learning success and will require 3-5 hours a day to:
- Be the student’s learning coach
- Assist with assignments and time management
- Provide assistance with projects
- Preview course content and available resources
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What courses are being offered?
- The courses have been purchased from Calvert Learning
- Courses use a variety of e-textbooks, interactive websites, and project based-learning
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If I want to take a single virtual course with my traditional course load, how do I do that?
For additional course selections, students should contact their school counselor.
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I want to change a virtual course, how do I do that?
For a course change request, students should contact their school counselor.
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What support will my student have to be successful?
- All course content will be facilitated by ASD virtual teachers
- Opportunities for real-time tutorials with virtual teachers
- Provide regular and explicit feedback on student learning and progress
- Provide useful and timely communication
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Will students in the ASD at Home Virtual Program earn grades?
Yes, students will earn grades in the ASD at Home Virtual Program according to ASD grading practices.
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Will each student receive a device?
Similar to how device needs were addressed in the spring, if a device is needed for access for any student, regardless of the grade level, that need will be addressed. However, that may happen through the shared use of a device issued to a sibling or through a personal device already present in the home. It is important to distinguish between the 1-to-1 device initiative and the need for access to devices. The 1-to-1 initiative for grades 3-12 extends past the efforts put in place in response to COVID-19.
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How can my child with an IEP or 504 plan participate in ASD Virtual?
Special Education services will be provided as part of the virtual learning model of instruction for students with disabilities to meet Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals and objectives. Students services may include tutoring sessions or on-line remediation interventions depending on individual needs. Related services will be provided through teletherapy for students requiring speech/language therapy, occupational therapy and/or physical therapy. 504 accommodations will also be provided as part of the virtual learning model.
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Will ASD at Home Virtual Program be synchronous or asynchronous?
ASD at Home Virtual Program will combine different online education experiences.
- Some online learning will be done in real time (synchronous)
- Other learning will be done independently at one’s own pace and in their own space (asynchronous)
- All learning in ASD at Home Virtual Program will be done through a partnership between the virtual teacher, student, and parent/guardian
- Flexibility will be offered for both types of online learning to meet a student’s need
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If I enroll in the ASD Virtual program, will the virtual teacher be a teacher from my school?
ASD Virtual program teachers are highly qualified, Alaska Certificated, and will teach in their subject/grade level of expertise. Virtual teachers will be assigned to teach students throughout the District, so students may not have a virtual teacher from their neighborhood/choice school.
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Can my ASD at Home Virtual Program student go back to the classroom if our family feels comfortable?
The curriculum in the ASD at Home Virtual Program will be tied to educational standards, not the teacher’s classroom. What’s being taught at ASD in School will not line up perfectly with ASD at Home. The program is not meant for families to “slide in and out.” If families participating in ASD at Home Virtual Program decide they are ready to send their students back to ASD in School, the start of the new quarter would be an appropriate time to do so.
Quarter end dates are October 16, December 18, March 5 and May 20.
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My student is at a charter school or alternative school. If I decide to attend school 100% online through the new ASD at Home Virtual Program, do I lose my place at that school?
No, students may participate in the ASD at Home Virtual Program and remain enrolled at their school of choice.
Unlike the new ASD at Home Virtual Program, PAIDEIA, Family Partnership Charter School, and Frontier Charter School are separate schools, with academic advisory councils, governing boards, and academic policy committees. If a family enrolls in a traditional home school program, they would then be opting out of their current school, whether that be a neighborhood school or charter school.
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If we choose ASD Virtual Program, how will families obtain materials from Calvert?
There will only be consumables for students in grades K-2 and they will either be mailed or available to pick up at the student's neighborhood/choice school. Parents will have the option to print things at home or through a local print shop if needed.
ASD at Home: Virtual Secondary FAQs
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How will students access their courses?
Learning Platform
Link
Apex Learning
Students: clever.asdk12.org
• Select Apex Learning
eDynamics
Students: clever.asdk12.org
• Access through Canvas
- Student Login Information
- Student Username: last.first
- Password: use existing ASD password
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What makes it new?
- K-12 100% virtual learning option
- Provides families with flexibility of space, time, and pace
- Stand alone program that allows parents/students to stay connected to neighborhood/choice schools
-
Why would I want to enroll in the program?
- Maintain a connection to your neighborhood or choice school
- Keep your spot in choice program
- For immersion programs, please see details from your school
- Participate in school sponsored activities
- 100% online to remove COVID exposure concerns at school
- High quality coursework aligned to standards
- Continuity of instruction regardless of district risk level
-
Who is teaching the program?
- Anchorage School District Teachers
- Highly qualified
- Alaska Certificated
- Teaching their subject/grade level of expertise
- Virtual teachers will be trained to engage students and support online learners
-
What does learning look like in the program?
- Coursework will be graded
- Coursework will mirror the secondary schedule with three courses a quarter, two core content courses and one elective course
- Students will typically need 8-10 hours a week for each course to complete activities and assignments
- Students will have access to social emotional learning (SEL) support
- Use a variety of real-time and self-paced activities to engage students in their learning, which may include:
- Face-to-face zoom lessons (real-time and recorded)
- Self-paced assignments and quizzes
- Online discussions, both text and Zoom
- Individual and group projects
Parent/guardian support is critical to online learning success and will require 20-30 minutes a day to monitor student progress and ensure they are engaging with support services as needed
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What courses are being offered?
- The course catalog will consist of courses from APEX Learning and eDynamics
- The final course catalog will depend on student graduation needs
- New courses will be added each quarter
- iSchool single courses have been transitioned to ASD Virtual
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If I want to take a single virtual course with my traditional course load, how do I do that?
For additional course selections, students should contact their school counselor.
-
I want to change a virtual course, how do I do that?
For a course change request, students should contact their school counselor.
-
What support will my student have to be successful?
- All course content will be facilitated by ASD virtual teachers
- Opportunities for real-time tutorials with virtual teachers
- Provide regular and explicit feedback on student learning and progress
- Provide useful and timely communication
-
Will students in the ASD at Home Virtual Program earn grades?
Yes, students will earn grades in the ASD at Home Virtual Program according to ASD grading practices.
-
Will each student receive a device?
Similar to how device needs were addressed in the spring, if a device is needed for access for any student, regardless of the grade level, that need will be addressed. However, that may happen through the shared use of a device issued to a sibling or through a personal device already present in the home. It is important to distinguish between the 1-to-1 device initiative and the need for access to devices. The 1-to-1 initiative for grades 3-12 extends past the efforts put in place in response to COVID-19.
-
How can my child with an IEP or 504 plan participate in ASD Virtual?
Special Education services will be provided as part of the virtual learning model of instruction for students with disabilities to meet Individual Education Plan (IEP) goals and objectives. Students services may include tutoring sessions or on-line remediation interventions depending on individual needs. Related services will be provided through teletherapy for students requiring speech/language therapy, occupational therapy and/or physical therapy. 504 accommodations will also be provided as part of the virtual learning model.
-
Will ASD at Home Virtual Program be synchronous or asynchronous?
ASD at Home Virtual Program will combine different online education experiences.
- Some online learning will be done in real time (synchronous)
- Other learning will be done independently at one’s own pace and in their own space (asynchronous)
- All learning in ASD at Home Virtual Program will be done through a partnership between the virtual teacher, student, and parent/guardian
- Flexibility will be offered for both types of online learning to meet a student’s need
-
If I enroll in the ASD Virtual program, will the virtual teacher be a teacher from my school?
ASD Virtual program teachers are highly qualified, Alaska Certificated, and will teach in their subject/grade level of expertise. Virtual teachers will be assigned to teach students throughout the District, so students may not have a virtual teacher from their neighborhood/choice school.
-
Can my ASD at Home Virtual Program student go back to the classroom if our family feels comfortable?
The curriculum in the ASD at Home Virtual Program will be tied to educational standards, not the teacher’s classroom. What’s being taught at ASD in School will not line up perfectly with ASD at Home. The program is not meant for families to “slide in and out.” If families participating in ASD at Home Virtual Program decide they are ready to send their students back to ASD in School, the start of the new quarter would be an appropriate time to do so.
Quarter end dates are October 16, December 18, March 5 and May 20.
-
My student is at a charter school or alternative school. If I decide to attend school 100% online through the new ASD at Home Virtual Program, do I lose my place at that school?
No, students may participate in the ASD at Home Virtual Program and remain enrolled at their school of choice.
Unlike the new ASD at Home Virtual Program, PAIDEIA, Family Partnership Charter School, and Frontier Charter School are separate schools, with academic advisory councils, governing boards, and academic policy committees. If a family enrolls in a traditional home school program, they would then be opting out of their current school, whether that be a neighborhood school or charter school.
Additional Questions?
We have retired the Google Form process to get faster responses to families with questions through the Help Center or through their neighborhood/choice school.