OASD eAcademy

Key Points

Choosing a fully virtual, yearlong school option is a big decision and is critical that families understand how eAcademy works and the student and parent expectations. See below for key points, including those specific for the 2020-21 school year.

• The OASD’s K-12 eAcademy is a 100% online, yearlong virtual school option open to all OASD families (K-12). NOTE: The majority of eAcademy instruction is delivered using a flexible, asynchronous format. Live class time instruction is provided several times during the school week, but is NOT scheduled daily. 
• Families that have chosen the eAcademy option will receive ALL instruction virtually for both semesters of the 2020-21 school year and must commit to staying in the program for the entire semester(s). NOTE: Elementary students are advised to commit to an entire year to avoid a curriculum disruption.
• Students track back to their home school and can return to face-to-face instruction next semester (or school year for elementary students). 
• This option is NOT the same as At-Home Learning during Spring 2020 OR the virtual learning (Model 4) option described in the OASD 2020-21 School Year Plan. 
• Parents/caregivers will need to be actively present to help assist all grade level students, but those students in younger grade levels will require more parent/caregiver engagement with instruction throughout the day. 
• Oshkosh eAcademy follows the OASD Academic School Calendar.
• eAcademy uses the interactive and rigorous FLVS (Florida Virtual School) curriculum aligned to Common Core State Standards and designed for virtual instruction. This is different from the OASD’s adopted district core curriculums (Bridges in Mathematics, Reading Units of Study, and Lucy Calkins Writing Units) that are aligned to Common Core State Standards and designed for classroom instruction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is eAcademy instruction recorded or provided in real-time? Both. Students will not attend class at a set time, but rather, access pre-recorded lectures and digital curriculum materials. Real-time learning will be implemented through the use of video conferencing, google hangouts, zoom, etc. Students and staff will also respond through email, discussion boards, collaborative documents, and using a variety of channels.

Will my student be on his/her computer for all work? Elementary students (K-5) can expect to spend about 75 percent of your time working on computer-based activities and the remainder will be spent putting those learned skills into action with hands-on activities.

• Computer-based activities: attending class time sessions, collaborating with classmates, reading, playing games, interactive learning tools, listening to audio clips, and watching videos.
• Hands-on activities: handwritten worksheets, coloring and matching worksheets, projects, performing experiments, and other hands-on activities.

What is Class Time? Class Time sessions are live, interactive lessons, allowing students and teachers to gather and work together in an online environment. During lessons, teachers provide individualized instruction and students gain a deeper understanding of the content, engage in activities, and collaborate with their peers.

Are courses taught by real teachers? Yes. At the elementary level, the OASD's eAcademy is taught by dedicated, certified OASD elementary teachers who are available throughout the week as needed. Teachers provide group instruction, as well as personalized, one-on-one guidance and feedback. Students are assigned a grade level teacher who will teach their core subjects. Students taking specials that require special certification will receive instruction from a teacher certified in that subject area.

How do I know If my child will be successful working online? Some questions you can ask yourself to determine if this is the right program for you include: Does my student enjoy working online? Will I be willing to make sure my student stays on task and keeps pace with the assignments? If the answers are yes, the OASD's K-12 eAcademy may be the right fit for your family!

To better understand eAcademy, especially at the Elementary Level, families are encouraged to read through the following resources:

• OASD FAQ - K-12 eAcademy.
• OASD eAcademy - Elementary Important Factors to Consider (includes a sample daily schedule and videos from OASD eAcademy elementary teachers)

To better understand eAcademy at the Middle and High School Level, families are encouraged to read through the following resource:

• OASD eAcademy - Middle/High School Important Factors to Consider (including a sample daily schedule and video from OASD eAcademy teachers)

Are you interested in learning more about the OASD's eAcademy or wondering if it is the right educational experience for you? Click the link below to complete the eAcademy Online Learning Readiness Checklist. This checklist provides an overview of eAcademy student responsibilities and is meant to help you decide if you are ready for online coursework.

OASD eAcademy Online Learning Readiness Checklist

Application

eAcademy Full-Time Enrollment Application

Process for OASD families requesting online classes:

STEP 1:  

• Full-time students in OASD Attendance Area: After the Full time Interest Form and Request for Transcript Form (if applicable) are received, the student and parent/guardian will be required to attend an informational meeting to discuss the appropriateness of the placement.  
• Part-time students/blended students: Student will request courses during the scheduling window at their home school. Part-time students do not need to complete the Interest Form.

STEP 2:  If not previously completed, parent/student will complete any necessary enrollment paperwork for the district.  This information will be used to create a parent/guardian account, and a student account in the eAcademy system.

STEP 3:  Student/and or parent will receive notification of requested course(s) and asked to submit student contract.  Upon receipt of the student contract, school counselor or eAcademy staff will notify the student of course approval.  

STEP 4: Upon course approve, middle school and high school students will be enrolled in a mandatory online orientation; elementary students will complete an orientation with their teacher and a parent/guardian. Successful completion of the orientation is required prior to the start of coursework.  Middle and high school students will have 72 hours to complete the orientation. Failure to do so will halt the online enrollment process. 

STEP 5:  Student will be enrolled in their requested course(s) upon completion of their orientation.  

Student Handbook - OASD eAcademy

Click the link above to learn more about the expectations and student guidelines for the OASD's eAcademy program.

Policy & Procedure Handbook - - OASD eAcademy

Click the link above to learn more about the policies and procedures, as well as mission of the OASD's eAcademy program.

Technology Handbook - OASD eAcademy

Unless specifically mentioned below all policies, guidelines, and warranties listed in the Oshkosh Area School District’s Student/Parent Handbook apply to any student enrolled in the district’s eAcademy program. Click the link above to learn more. 

WDLC - A Review of Programs and Partners

WDLC - The Value of Online and Blended Learning