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By Cole Trahan

Parents can now enroll their students for TCSS’s virtual academy for the 2021-2022 school year. The registration deadline is Monday, June 14, 2021. Enrollment in the Troup County Virtual Academy is for one semester period, according to the registration forms.

“Hosting registration early allows us time to ensure parents and students are notified in a timely manner as well as provide the necessary staffing supports,” said TCSS Director of Public Relations Yolanda Stephen.

Stephen said the virtual academy was mainly created in response to COVID-19. Though students were able to take online classes last year, she said this upcoming school year will be the virtual academy’s first.

The virtual academy is for students with a demonstrated history of success in academic environments that require self-driven learning, according to the TCSS website. Before students can be accepted into the academy, the school system must review their academic histories, attendance and access to necessary resources such as a reliable internet connection. Additionally, once a student is accepted into the virtual academy, their progress will be regularly reviewed. If a student doesn’t make sufficient progress, they may be required to attend school in person.

At the middle school level, virtual academy students will attend real-time classes Monday through Friday from 8:20 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.

They will get a daily one-hour lunch break.

At the high school level, virtual academy students will attend blended, real-time classes Monday through Friday from 8:15 – 3:20. They will get a daily half-hour lunch break.

“Blended means students will participate in the same real-time lessons being delivered to in-person students,” explains the high school registration form.

At a Troup County Board of Education meeting in May, CHS principal and incoming secondary curriculum director Jonathan Laney explained why virtual high school classes would be blended. Because there are more course offerings for certain subjects at the high school level, more teachers are needed to teach variations of the same subject. He used the various types of math classes as an example.

“In high school, we offer ten different math classes,” Laney said. “So, you don’t need just one virtual math teacher; you need multiple in order to provide all those.”

Stephen said that high school classes will follow a block schedule, whereas middle school classes won’t.

For the sake of equity, virtual academy students will be provided with uniform digital backgrounds.

To access the registration forms, visit troup.org. Scroll down the page to the news and announcements section and click on the virtual academy text.

If a student is already registered with the TCSS, their parent should submit a completed registration form to the student’s school. Otherwise, the student’s parent should submit the form to TCSS at the Administrative Services Center at 100 North Davis Road.

Completed forms can be mailed to 100 North Davis Rd., building C, LaGrange, GA 30241.