The Lafayette Parish School Board held a virtual meeting Tuesday about the Lafayette Online Academy.
Tonight's presentation included a Q&A with the academy's director, along with the head of the board's special education department, the head of the immersion program, and superintendent Irma Trosclair.
The deadline to enroll your child in LOA is August 3, 2020.
- What is the general coursework/curriculum at LOA?
LOA uses Edgenuity, a "rigorous" state-certified courseware that offers both basic courses and electives. There is no dual enrollment offered and there is a limited number of AP courses available. Students learn through pre-recorded video lessons and other virtual resources. While there is no live video (teachers will not be teaching courses live), students do have access to live support from Edgenuity and LPSS educators through email, phone calls, etc.
Edgenuity monitors student progress and will alert as to whether a student is ahead of the curriculum or needs extra remediation from teachers at base schools (a base school is the school a student is currently or was most recently enrolled in). LPSS is also working with principals at individual schools to identify an LOA facilitator who will be trained in the coursework to assist students.
- What is the application process?
If a parent is interested in signing their child up for LOA, you can do so on their website here. All applications are sent from LOA to base schools, where a school base level committee (SBLC) will then go through the applications and contact parents regarding further information. The decision to enroll a child will be a group one based on the child's individual needs.
- Do students need to provide their own devices?
It is encouraged that parents provide their children with devices, but anyone who needs a device can reach out to their base school for assistance.
- Will meals be provided to LOA students through LPSS? If so, how will we get them?
Yes, grab and go meals will be provided. Students would report to their base school at a particular time to receive their meals. More information will be released as LPSS works through logistics.
- What about athletics or extracurricular?
While LPSS hasn't seen specific documentation on statewide guidance, if a student was eligible for athletics at their base school, they will be eligible for sports while enrolled in LOA. Athletes must be enrolled full time. For other extracurriculars, parents should reach out to LOA and their child's base school to facilitate that process. There is not currently an immersion program through LOA, but immersion students can be given tools to have access to at home.
- Will my gifted/talented or special education student be able to enroll at LOA?
Yes, but all gifted/talented or SPED students' best option will be determined in a meeting with all parties involved. They will look at each child's Individual Education Program to decide what accommodations can be made, including but not limited to attending their base school, at-home activities, virtual learning, and in-person lessons from SPED teachers. Speech therapy will also be available.
- If I sign my child up for LOA but then decide it's not their best option, can we transition back to their base school? If my child attends their base school but then we decide it's not their best option, can we transition to LOA?
Yes, a student can transition to their base school from LOA. Staff will conduct a quarterly review and students will have the option to transition after a semester if they so choose. Students must remain with LOA for the entire semester (the first half of the school year).Families can switch to LOA during the school year, but are encouraged to enroll ahead of the deadline in order to appropriately staff and make adjustments at base schools. Enrollment will possibly reopen after the deadline and those adjustments are made.
As LOA has had to adjust their opening process due to capacity limits and interest, they will be releasing more information (handbook, AP classes, etc.) in the coming days.
Find more information on the Lafayette Online Academy HERE.
The meeting can be watched in its entirety below:
Wednesday, school board members will discuss the parish's reopening plans.
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