Virtual Tri-Cities schools. The new option for not returning to classrooms

While many Tri-Cities parents are upset students can’t return to classrooms this fall, dozens of others are looking at online schooling as longer-term choice.

Richland and Kennewick already are creating virtual schools as an option for parents who aren’t ready to send kids back into classrooms or just want something different than the temporary online alternative.

And Pasco is working to expand its 8-year-old iPAL program for an expected influx of new students.

While these programs get compared to the distance learning Tri-City students will be attending for at least part of this school year, they are expected to outlast the current COVID-19 outbreak.

“The mission, as I see it, of the virtual school is to really provide the highest quality educational experience that we can that is equivalent or similar to a traditional school,” Jesse Buchholz, the Richland district’s recently hired director of online learning.

He describes the virtual school as “our full-time, fully online virtual school.”

Richland students have until Aug. 19 to enroll. Kennewick plans to open registration for its online academy on Tuesday, Aug. 11, after a 5 p.m. webinar.

And Pasco parents and students must register by Aug. 21.

Richland schools

Buchholz was brought into the district in early July as the head of online learning — a position that aims to integrate technology across of the district.

One of his first tasks was to create an online school that will mirror the types of programs and classes that are available in classrooms. One example he looked at was Spokane’s virtual school, which has been around more than a decade.

“Our goal is not to put the material online, put a textbook up there, call it a day and let everyone free for all,” he said. “We want to create a very interactive learning experience for everyone.”

The courses will have a mix of prerecorded lessons along with live segments, such as study sessions, classes and office hours.

A key benefit of virtual school is flexibility, Buchholz said.

The program will give students the ability to work where they want and when they want. They will receive a set of lessons similar to what they would learn in a traditional classroom.

The teachers will be from the Richland district, but administrators have not said how many teachers would be involved. They are adding courses as they’re needed by students.

Students will have a weekly contact with their teacher, whether by email or phone or a virtual face-to-face meeting. If the teacher doesn’t hear from a student for more than 20 days, the district will intervene.

“Parents will be in the loop as far as those things are concerned,” he said. “We want them to be as much in communication loop as possible, so that way parents are communicating with parents about how things are going and as a bigger picture over the month.”

In turn, the Richland district is asking for a year-long commitment from parents and students who want to be in the virtual school.

Families can find the transfer form on the district’s website and take it to the district’s office or email Lynne.Wiskerchen@rsd.edu.

Kennewick schools

Kennewick leaders would not share details on their KSD Online Learning Academy until after their Aug. 11 webinar.

They are offering to let students choose the academy and then transfer out when circumstances change, according to the district’s website.

Pasco schools

While Richland and Kennewick’s virtual school plans are new, Pasco created an online academy years ago to serve parents who were interested in homeschooling.

The all-online program called iPAL offers classes from kindergarten to 12th grade.

Even before the recent announcement that schools would be online this fall, there was a growing interest in the program, said iPAL administrator Deb Thurston.

And a town hall meeting is expected soon for interested parents.

They use an online curriculum called Edgenuity, and have three full-time teachers assigned to the program along with other part-time teachers who help with the high school courses.

The software helps track how long a student is active working and provides parents with weekly progress reports.

Pasco is asking students to commit to attending for at least a trimester, but Thurston said they want to be flexible since she realizes that online learning isn’t for everyone.

Students who are disciplined about their work and can keep to a schedule tend to do better.

And parents also need to commit to their role. Thurston described it like a three-legged stool where the school district, parents and student all need to be involved.

Parents and students must register by Aug. 21. For more information about iPAL check the district’s website.