Cobb Schools: Virtual Learning Option Here To Stay In 2021-22

COBB COUNTY, GA — Virtual learning is here to stay in the Cobb County School District for at least the next school year.

Cobb Schools students and staff will have the option to continue in a virtual environment for the 2021-22 academic year — but with some changes, Chief Academic Officer Jennifer Lawson said at the Thursday board meeting.

Virtual learning options are as follows: school-based, full-time online learning for pre-K through fifth grade; the new, full-time Cobb Online Learning Academy for sixth through 12th grade; Cobb Horizon Academy as a blended alternative school for high-school online learners; and the Cobb Virtual Academy for part-time online students in high school.

Pre-K through fifth grade full-time virtual

• Students will be enrolled in their home school and learn remotely.
• Students will participate in live instruction and learn independently.
• Geographic "clusters" will be created and though students will be enrolled at their home school, they may have teachers from another school.

Sixth through ninth grade full-time virtual

• Students will be enrolled at the Cobb Online Learning Academy, rather than their home school.
• Students will participate in live instruction and learn independently.
• Students may have teachers from various schools in the district.

Cobb Horizon Academy

• The academy will be set up for high school students taking a combination of in-person and virtual classes.
• Students will be enrolled at and attend Cobb Horizon High School, the district's alternative school.
• Teachers will be full-time and based at CHHS.

Cobb Virtual Academy

• CVA is a supplemental program.
• Students stay enrolled at their local school and would work independently.
• Classes are led by part-time, adjunct educators.

The district aims to have teachers either giving in-person or virtual instruction, but not teaching both simultaneously, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale said during the meeting. Some educators may still have in-person and virtual classes, but will be able to teach them separately.

Registration for virtual school options will open from March 22 through April 1 for sixth through 12th graders. Parents with students in elementary school will be able to register for remote learning from April 19 through May 2.

Virtual school requires a semester-long commitment for elementary schoolers and a year-long commitment for students in middle and high school. More information will be released about virtual learning at 5 p.m. March 22 on the district's website.

“There are students and teachers who are thriving in the online learning environment. So, it is incumbent to us to provide the opportunities that allow each student to succeed," Ragsdale said in a press release Friday. "Although we are anticipating that most Cobb students will return to face-to-face in August, online learning will continue to be an option for Cobb students and families for the long-term."