Virtual Academy Offered To Lower Merion Families

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA — With school districts across the county working to provide education for students amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Lower Merion School District has launched the Lower Merion Virtual Academy.

The virtual academy is a joint venture with the district and the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit's Montgomery Virtual Program.

Families who do not send their children to in-person classes can use the academy for all students, kindergarten through 12th grade.

>>>RELATED: Lower Merion School District Superintendent On Reopening: Letter<<<

Frequently asked questions and registration information on the virtual academy are available online here. Email LMVA@lmsd.org with any additional questions.

Registration closes Friday, Aug. 14. Students who register after the Aug. 14 deadline may not be able to start their virtual courses on time.

Enrollment is by semester. During the registration window prior to the start of each semester, students can choose whether they will re-enroll in LMVA or return to their home school for the upcoming semester.

Elementary students will have some synchronous instruction four days each week within the MVP program, with additional synchronous support provided by LMSD staff.

The majority of the secondary LMVA courses are delivered asynchronously, but LMSD staff will also provide synchronous support to secondary students. Asynchronous instruction and may be accessed at any time that is convenient to the student and their family. The program also includes opportunities to interact with live instructors when students have specific questions and to review assessments.

Students will be expected to log into their coursework five days each week and attendance information will be shared with LMSD, which will follow up on any attendance/participation concerns.

Parent/Guardian involvement is key for student success in online programs. While secondary students may have had experiences with online learning, full-time online programs like LMVA may take more self-motivation and self-discipline than in-person school. Elementary students will be experiencing an entirely new method of learning and will need adult monitoring and supervision. For that reason, elementary parents/guardians will be viewed as Learning Coaches for their children.