ABAD-AP Virtual School
Definitions
Academic pacing guide means a document created or adopted by the school district which outlines the amount of course content covered during each portion of the school year.
Educational equity means every learner has access to the resources and educational rigor they need at the right moment in their education regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, language, disability, family background, or family income.
Virtual instruction means teaching and learning that takes place through digital means and can be synchronous or asynchronous.
Virtual school means an educational institution operated by a school district in this state which offers virtual instruction. Virtual schools generally do not maintain a physical facility, and learners and teachers are geographically remote from one another. Learners can enroll in these schools through open enrollment.
Military-connected learner means a learner impacted by a military-directed reassignment or mid-year relocation.
Virtual School Requirements
The District endorses the offering of full-time virtual instruction through three grade level virtual academies for learners in grades K-12 in accordance with state law and administrative rules.
The virtual academies are an alternative academic environment for learners who desire a different approach to the traditional school setting. The courses offered in the virtual school shall align with the District's approved curriculum and standards for learning.
The District prioritizes educational equity by identifying and removing institutional barriers and other factors that obstruct access and opportunity to a quality, virtual education. Learners regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, disability, or age, will have an opportunity to enroll in the one of the District’s virtual academies.
West Fargo Public Schools acknowledges that online learning is not for everyone. The District, in consultation with the parent/guardian and learner, shall assess learner readiness to determine if virtual instruction is right for them. Learners must participate in a meeting with their school counselor and/or the educational team most familiar with their learning needs to determine readiness and appropriateness for virtual instruction. Learners are required to attend a mandatory Virtual Academy Orientation session to ensure a clear understanding of expectations, resources, and responsibilities in the online learning environment. As with learners enrolled in traditional schools, the 504 or IEP team shall have decision-making authority for learners with disabilities enrolled in the virtual school.
Qualifying Learners in grades K-5 may transfer into or out of the virtual school prior to the start of the school year or at the trimester breaks. Learners in grades 6-12 may transfer into or out of the virtual school prior to the start of the school year or at the semester breaks.
Learners enrolled in the Elementary, Middle, or High School Virtual Academy must maintain expected progress in their courses for their age, grade, and ability level. Expectations will be communicated to the learners and parent(s)/guardian(s) by the teacher at the beginning of the course. Learners unable to meet the expected progress in their courses may be required to return to in-person instruction.
Learners participating in extracurricular and/or cocurricular activities must adhere to district policies, academic pacing guides, and grade requirements to maintain extracurricular eligibility.
Virtual learners shall participate in all state and district-wide assessments in the same manner as learners enrolled in traditional instruction.
Learner attendance will be recorded on a regular basis. In addition, the District shall verify the attendance of learners participating in virtual instruction by monitoring the learner's progress on academic pacing guides.
Registration for virtual instruction will coincide with the District course registration schedule and deadlines.
In accordance with state law, open enrollment shall not be denied to any approved virtual school, and non-district resident learners shall be allowed to open-enroll into the West Fargo Public Schools Virtual Academy. Military-connected learners, learners with medical conditions unable to physically attend school, or learners moving out of state may enroll early or remain enrolled and attend West Fargo Public School Virtual Academies but only for the duration of the current school year. A cost-sharing agreement with a learner's resident district may be used to allow non-resident enrollment in the virtual school.
Teachers employed with the West Fargo Public Schools Virtual Academy shall receive professional development specific to virtual learning.
Additional information for the West Fargo Public School Learning Academies can be found on the District website.
Adopted: 07/28/25
Reviewed:
Revised: