Students will be registered to their school of residence, or if a transfer to a different school was requested, to the school requested. If there is a particular program at a school site within the district the student wishes to attend but the school is currently not taking transfers, the student can be assigned to the school through the virtual learning program. Students will then be placed on a priority list to transfer over if an opening at their grade level is made available. Due to the specialized program offered at their school sites for the Dual Language Immersion program, Dolores Huerta International Academy and Redwood Elementary will not have this option.

In general, transferring from the virtual program to a brick-andmortar school should not be significantly different from transferring between two traditional schools. The virtual program established by the district will have a different curriculum than the school sites though. It is recommended that if a switch back to the school site is desired, this be done at the semester level for the elementary school sites and once the current enrolled courses at the secondary level have been completed. Virtual schools are designed to deliver a rigorous academic curriculum.

The structure of a virtual classroom varies. In the FUSD model, students regularly log in to a learning management system, or LMS, a virtual portal where they can view assignments, access course materials, monitor their progress on lessons, contact their teachers for support, classmates and support services.

Important distinctions between the virtual learning model and the hybrid distance learning model currently in place within the district include a separate learning curriculum, access to teachers for instructional support staggered throughout the day, asynchronous learning (learning occurs anywhere, any time, and at their own pace), co-teaching support between teachers and parents, integrated technology strategies within the learning platform to name a few.

The virtual classes established in this program typically have an asynchronous, or self-paced, portion. Students complete coursework on their own time but still need to meet weekly deadlines, a format that offers flexibility for students and families.

Some virtual courses may also have a synchronous component, where students view live lectures online and sometimes participate in discussions through videoconferencing platforms such as Microsoft Teams.

The virtual learning program will have in person options embedded within the program to provide additional supports for students who may require a more one-on-one approach for lessons. Students may complete team-building activities with other students, projectbased learning assignments, and at the high school level may have on site lab options required for their science courses. Students will also have the option of attending their home school for elective and supplemental courses such as music, dance, CTE courses, and physical education.

Social interaction is key to the building of soft skills for students. Virtual students need to socialize just like their traditional school peers. Virtual students may attend their home school to participate in gym, art or music classes, and after-school and summer enrichment courses. Virtual students may be offered field trips and other events. Students will be expected to engage in online class discussions, group work, and if a course has a synchronous component or requires students to travel to campus for completion of a course. Students at the secondary level who are interested in competing in athletics will have the opportunity to participate in the sports offered at their home school.

Just like in traditional classes, the workload varies – but don't expect your courses and assignment to be easier just because it's done virtually. Virtual learners should be expected to spend 15 to 20 hours a week on coursework. That workload, of course, may vary between full-time and part-time students. A lighter course load likely means less study time to complete the coursework.

Virtual course assignments depend largely on the selected course. But in general, students should expect assignments similar to those in the typical brick and mortar school setting, such as research papers, assessments, as well as online-specific assignments unique to the virtual learning programs. Virtual students will also be required to complete group projects where students communicate virtually, as well as remote presentations.

Progress monitoring of student completion of coursework is usually embedded within the established curriculum. If an exam requires an in-person assessment, such as Advanced Placement exams, teachers will coordinate with students to administer the exam in a setting within the school site. If a student is unable to attend a site within the district, administrators will work with the teacher, student, and parent to locate a testing site. Students may also take virtually monitored exams online, where a proctor watches via webcam or where computer software detects cheating by checking test-takers' screens.

Prospective students looking for how to start online college should visit the admissions page for the school. They should also understand the requirements for the degree program of interest to them, considering that there may be a higher threshold for certain majors compared with general admissions, experts recommend. While the registration process for online and on-campus classes is often similar, prospective online students should review the course type and requirements before enrolling, experts say. They should also understand the requirements for dropping classes.

Online students need to socialize just like their traditional school peers. In state-run virtual schools and those aligned with individual districts, students may attend school to participate in gym, art or music classes, and after-school and summer enrichment courses. Public and private online schools may offer field trips and other events.

Other socialization options can be found through museums and athletic facilities and organizations such as the YMCA. Families of online students can take advantage of community-run sports and enrichment programs, including after-school programs such as Mad Science. Homeschooling groups exist across the country and provide regular opportunities for students to play sports, attend art or music classes and build bonds.

Students of virtual programs turn in homework, write assignments, complete projects and take quizzes and tests. Work may be submitted via email or through Microsoft Teams. Teachers grade projects and written pieces. Students who participate in the virtual learning program will complete the same district assessments and the same statewide assessment tests all students within the district complete. Students will continually be monitored for their progress in mastery of standards and continuing assessments by their teachers. With this ongoing progress monitoring, students and parents often express an added benefit over traditional brick-andmortar schools.

In the virtual learning program, especially at the elementary school level, learning coaches (often parents) play a significant role in giving students the attention they need. This differs from the more independent, self-guided nature of online secondary courses. Learning coaches may facilitate communication between students and their online teachers. They are critical to providing structure, motivation and guidance as students move through the curriculum. Students will also get support from their online teachers and other students using tools such as video conferencing, discussion boards, email or telephone. This model is created to establish a circle of support between home and school.

The virtual learning program within the district is free to students. All necessary materials needed to be successful in the program will be provided by the district to students. Students will be provided computers, instructional curriculum and other items free of charge. The district is currently working on free internet access to all students within the district. If additional support is needed for internet access or additional materials, families should work with district administrators for these needs.