Pleasanton to offer virtual academy
District to provide permanent distance learning for some students
PLEASANTON >> While many students have struggled with distance learning during the pandemic shutdown, some, like 12-year-old Charlie Read, like it because it gives him the opportunity to pursue other interests.
Sitting through online group classes for hours can get somewhat boring for the high-energy boy who has no trouble completing assignments quickly, his mother says.
But still, she and other parents have told the Pleasanton Unified School District their children would prefer to continue with some version of distance learning next school year, when classrooms are expected to be filled with students again if the number of COVID-19 cases continues to drop.
The district listened and the school board recently voted to establish the Pleasanton Virtual Academy starting this fall, which will enroll more than 100 students.
“I don’t think I would have done this if it wasn’t because of COVID. I needed another solution for him,” Catherine Read said in
an interview. “I’m so glad because as a family, we do need that flexibility.”
She said the flexibility of a virtual academy should enable Charlie to fully participate in extracurricular activities such as skiing, playing basketball, skateboarding and art. It’ll also give his family some flexibility, since they won’t be limited to only weekend excursions if Charlie can take off anytime as long as he finishes his schoolwork.
The academy is essentially an expansion of independent study and distance learning, where students in grades K-12 can decide when and where they would like to learn their lessons and do their schoolwork. Although similar to independent study, the newly established academy will eventually offer students a physical learning center as well as in-person options post-pandemic.
“Virtual Academy is designed for students who might need some flexibility in their day-to-day,” Heather Pereira, the district’s director of educational options, said in an interview.
Academy teachers will prerecord their lessons and students can watch the videos on their own time.
“Attendance” is measured only by the completion of a student’s assignments and homework, Pereira said.
Teachers will also have a weekly check-in with students for feedback and to answer any questions.
Read said Virtual Academy will give students the support they would normally get from a public school but with some of the benefits of home schooling. Read and her husband can be more involved with their son’s schoolwork, checking to make sure he understands a lesson before moving forward.
Charlie said in an interview he really likes the concept of having more free time.
“It’s just like, when you go to school in person, you’re usually there till 2 and don’t get to see your family till 3,” he said. “I can start at 7, finish my homework and have more free time.”
He said recess and lunch time at school just make the day longer.
Charlie anticipates the only “bad thing” about attending Virtual Academy would be not regularly seeing his friends every day.
Although there are no grade requirements to get into the academy, students will need to make adequate academic progress, Pereira said. If they don’t, they will have to return to the physical classroom.
The academy also will be open to students outside the Pleasanton district, Pereira said, adding she isn’t aware of any similar program being offered in Alameda County.
For Heather Johnson, an independent study program teacher with a teenage daughter who’ll attend the academy this fall, the program will give students more personalized learning.
Johnson said her daughter Addison, a junior in high school, had been spending most of her day on the computer and barely left her room during distance learning. She became overwhelmed trying to keep up with all the teachers’ assignments and started to slip, her mom said.
“I just don’t think Addison felt seen,” Johnson said.
Now that she’s in independent study, Addison can see what work she has ahead for the whole week, from the same teacher. Although she is still on a computer for her lessons, her schedule is more flexible. Her teacher was able to work with her to develop a more personalized plan for getting her work done and setting her goals for the week.
“The reason I started it, it was just a better fit for me,” said Addison, 15.
With independent study, and soon to be Virtual Academy, Addison said she feels more in control and productive.
Once the pandemic wanes, academy students will get more chances to socialize. The school plans to organizing such events as movie nights and bowling nights for students — and parents — to get to know one another.
High school-age students in the academy will be allowed to “dual enroll” in a regular district comprehensive school to take part in sports, clubs or an elective class. And they’ll still get to attend proms or dances at the comprehensive schools.
Addison said she plans to dual-enroll at Foothill High so she can continue taking her American Sign Language classes and participate in extracurricular activities her senior year.
The academy will also have a learning center on the district grounds in the fall, where students can drop in for tutoring. Pereira said when the time comes, students will be offered field trips and more hands-on experiences, such as ceramics classes.
The district currently has 120 students enrolled for fall. More information about the academy is available at pleasantonvirtualacademy. com.