1. Huntsville City Schools Virtual School Option Policy
Johnny Giles
Chief of Staff
June 14, 2016

2. The Alabama Legislature Requires that Every School District Adopt a Virtual Education Option Policy Prior to the Beginning of the – 17 School Year
Huntsville City Schools will offer a virtual school option for students in grades 9-12.
The courses will be delivered through the ACCESS virtual learning program, locally developed courses and blended approaches. Any online course delivery not supported by ACCESS shall be accredited by a recognized institution.
Students must meet the following requirements:
Meet residency requirements outlined in HCS Policy 6.1.2
Comply with HCS Laptop Acceptable Use Guidelines
Have access to a reliable internet connection
Demonstrate grade-level proficiency in reading, writing and mathematics
Demonstrate grade-level proficiency on district assessment to verify grade level readiness, if a new student to HCS

3. The Alabama Legislature Requires that Every School District Adopt a Virtual Education Option Policy Prior to the Beginning of the – 17 School Year (cont’d)
Continuing Participation Requirements:
Meet virtual course attendance requirements (i.e., daily log in to course)
Maintain minimum overall B average for most recent grading period; students who do not maintain an overall B average will be placed on academic probation for one semester
Maintain appropriate course progression as measured by the completion of weekly assignments, quizzes and/or tests
Adhere to HCS Behavioral Learning expectations
Monitoring Performance and Testing Requirements
All courses will meet content standards of applicable Alabama Course of Study.
All tests, exams and mandated assessments will be taken in the presence of an approved proctor on a HCS campus.

4. The Alabama Legislature Requires that Every School District Adopt a Virtual Education Option Policy Prior to the Beginning of the – 17 School Year (cont’d)
Enrollment and Attendance
Enrolled in high school in the attendance zone in which they reside
Within HCS attendance zones will be limited to 50 students
Board reserves the right to establish an enrollment cap for students who reside outside of HCS zones
Extracurricular Activities
Students are eligible to participate in extracurricular activities in the school attendance zone in which they reside, provided no corresponding course is offered at the home school during the school day
Students must meet eligibility and residency requirements for interscholastic sports as determined by the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA).

5. Huntsville City Schools Virtual Cyber Academy
Dr. Tammy Summerville
Director, Magnet Programs
Dr. Stewart Thorson
Program Coordinator, Magnet Programs
June 14, 2016

6. Huntsville City Schools Will Offer a Virtual Cyber Academy (VCA) as a Virtual School Option for the School Year
This virtual school option is available for students in grades 9-12
The Virtual Cyber Academy (VCA) builds upon the legacy of the New Century Technology Virtual Strand that was the first of its kind in Alabama
The courses will be delivered through the ACCESS virtual learning program, locally developed courses (via edmodo, moodle, and other LMS options) and blended approaches
Students will participate in elective Cyber Security courses

7. The ACCESS Virtual Learning Program Is a Rigorous, Online Curriculum Sponsored by the Alabama State Department of Education
Completed 10 years of providing quality online courses aligned to current Alabama Course of Study
Recognized as the 3rd largest program in the United States
Provides over 116 courses in to Alabama students including Advanced Placement, Credit Recovery, and Credit Advancement
Three delivery methods exist: Web-based Instruction facilitated by Alabama teachers (typically nearby, but not within the same LEA), Videoconference Instruction, and the Franchise Model, which grants a school access to actual course content to be facilitated locally
Offered at no cost to local School Boards

8. Students Enrolled in the Virtual Cyber Academy are Eligible to Participate in Extracurricular Activities
Students in the VCA will be enrolled for ADM purposes in their zoned high school and will meet the same residency requirements as a traditional face to face student.
Act gives schools and local Boards flexibility to determine alternative attendance policies (i.e., logging in and participating in course can substitute as daily attendance).
Students enrolled in the VCA are eligible to participate in extracurricular activities at their zoned school to include interscholastic sports. Virtual students fall under the same AHSAA guidelines as a traditional students in terms of eligibility and residency requirements.

9. Students in the Virtual Cyber Academy Participate in State and District-wide Assessments and Held to Same Accountability Standards as a Traditional Student
Students in the VCA are enrolled at their zoned high school and must participate in all required State accountability measures including the full slate of ACT assessments as determined by grade level.
Because of the potential for asynchronous learning among VCA students, formative assessment will likely be measured and monitored through ACCESS or in non-traditional methods.
VCA students who complete the required HCS graduation requirements will receive a high school diploma from their zoned high school.

10. There Are Initial Eligibility and Continued Participation Requirements
Based on previous experience with virtual students and from knowledge gained from established virtual programs in Alabama, successful virtual students have strong skills in time management, have high levels of motivation, and are proficient in reading, writing, and mathematics.
The beta version of the online application asks prospective students to self-report their academic achievement and then reflect in several short essays aimed at determining motivation and time management.
Continued participation will be determined based on the students’ successful completion of the virtual coursework and maintaining an overall GPA of 3.0 in courses taken during the current academic year. Additional requirements include adherence to the HCS Acceptable Use of Technology Policies and the Behavioral Learning expectations.