Virtual Class Guidelines     Spring 2018
Virtual Learning Coordinator: Tina Kohler: hspvirtuals@shamrocks.us

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** MAXIMUM of 2 Virtual Classes per student **
Virtual classes count toward the maximum total number of classes a student may have on his or her schedule (6 for grades K-8, 5 for grades 9-12).
 
​Virtual classes are a great way to round out your student’s education.  Although all are educational, many elementary choices are entertaining as well, and many parents use time spent on their class as a reward for completing their regular core school work.  Our middle school and high school Florida Virtual (FLVS) classess have excellent, rigorous content which, when completed, can be added to the student’s homeschool transcript. Foreign language exposure is required for HS graduation, so we have several choices from which to choose.  Explore each class under the Virtual Classes tab for more information!

• Many virtual classes are designed to be done from home or anywhere, please be sure to note if your class is accessible from the devices you plan to use.
• All virtual classes are optional, however if you do choose a class, it is expected that it will be completed by the end of the semester according to the virtual class guidelines.  
• Ambitious students who complete an entire virtual course will have the option of adding any another course from our list during the semester (including core subjects).
• Access to Virtuals:  Access to virtual classes will begin as soon as you receive your usernames and passwords shortly after the semester begins. Access information comes in an email from Tina Kohler usually the first week of school except for Rosetta Stone which will come from the company.
• ​Classes are available during Christmas break and some continue through the summer.
• All classes are semester-based.  Classes vary in the length of time they take to complete.  All are designed to take approximately 1 - 1.5 hours per week to complete, but the pace is up to the student as long as adequate progress is shown throughout the semester. Longer, more intense classes have been divided in order to facilitate completion within a semester while averaging 1.5 hours of work per week.   

Virtual Class Requirements (as of Spring 2018):

Virtual Class Policy:  Students must start their virtual class prior toCount Day or they risk being removed from the class without warning. Students must also show sufficient and consistent progress on their virtual class throughout the semester. Students must meet the minimum number of hours or lessons outlined below in their non-core virtual classes by the end of the semester for the course requirement..  The registration form checkbox states that students will complete or attend 80% of classes for which they are registered.   

Grades are not assigned, but progress will be monitored by our staff every month to address issues as they arise and help students resume activity.  If a family has login or computer or internet issues, please notify us immediately so we can help.  Students who do not meet the minimum  virtual requirements by consistent progress and have poor semester-end results will be placed on a probationary status for the next semester.  A student on probationary status needs to complete 80% of the previous semester’s work plus 80% of the current semester’s work in order to return to good standing.  If the student still demonstrates poor compliance during the probationary period, the student is at risk for not being able to continue in the Partnership the semester thereafter.

80% of the following goals needs to be achieved:

• Rosetta Stone Languages:  Completion of 16 hours for Elem, 20 hours for MS, and 24 hours for HS as determined by Rosetta Stone.
• Powerspeak Languages:  Completion of 45 lessons for Elem, 60 lessons for MS, and 75 lessons for HS.
• Florida Virtual: Completion of Semester 1 of any elective class offered.
• Sky Trips (Reading Rainbow): Completion of 12 hours, combination of 6 hours video and 6 hours reading minutes.
• The Animation Course: 80% attendance at classes and good participation reported by the company.

Computer Requirements:
All virtual classes work best with a high speed internet connection.  Some dial up connections and air cards will not permit the programs to function properly.  If you have a slow connection, you may want to plan on attending the open hours at the computer lab available at the Berrien Springs Virtual Learning Academy or plan on using a high speed connection at your local library for your virtual classes.  A laptop may be checked out at the Virtual Lab upon request if available.