Foundational to IUSD’s Continuous Improvement Efforts and the District’s core mission is the belief that we must see learning through the eyes of our students and shape instruction to meet their needs. In other words, there is no one size fits all approach to teaching and learning.
To this end, IUSD Virtual Academies (IVA), which contain elementary and middle/high schools, are uniquely positioned to meet the needs of students, who benefit from a non-traditional classroom environment. Similar to the District’s brick-and-mortar schools, IVA students have access to IUSD curriculum in a collaborative environment with experienced and talented teachers. However, through a blend of real-time synchronous (live) and independent asynchronous (offline) learning, IVA students work in a flexible environment that is tailored to meet and support their educational needs from home. This unique approach to academic excellence has also awarded both elementary and secondary virtual schools the California Distinguished School Award.
It Starts with the Teachers
Like any other program in IUSD, it starts with teachers and serving students, which is why we’re here. Our teachers are experienced with innovative virtual learning practices and strive to create an exceptional online classroom for their students with a focus on community building.
This high-quality teaching and experience is not going unnoticed. Families often cite the outstanding teachers and flexibility IVA offers as the reason they continue their enrollment. Beyond the academic rigor of the program, teachers actively recognize and respond to the importance of the social-emotional needs of all students.
An IVA elementary parent said, “It is an honor and privilege to be a part of IVA. We love the flexibility the school gives us and the communication that is provided to us by both the teachers and the school. We always feel like we are in the loop with our child’s learning and educational journey.”
Flexibility to Meet Students’ Learning Needs
Dr. Rebecca Roberts, Principal of IVA Middle and High School and Director of Alternative Education, says that while some may associate virtual learning with COVID and emergency distance learning, IVA is different in that it is a planned and intentional high-quality curriculum developed by IUSD teachers to meet the District’s high standards. She also notes that virtual learning is not new to IUSD.
“IUSD has made significant investments in virtual learning over the last seven years, to support and meet the needs of all IUSD students,” said Dr. Roberts. “The District is committed to helping all learners achieve at high levels. IVA provides an important option for students, who may work better independently or who may need more individualized learning for a variety of reasons.”
When surveyed, many parent responses appreciated the IVA option for their children. One parent wrote:
“As a parent, I have truly enjoyed every bit of the IVA experience this year. Both of my kids have thrived in your program. They have grown tremendously with their time management skills, in addition to independence.”
IVA offers similar experiences to in-person schools with the benefits of virtual learning. Many experiences and features in IVA mirror those of in-person schools, coupled with benefits for both students and families that are unique to virtual learning. This includes:
- Students have daily synchronous learning online including opportunities for in-person experience, access to field trips, one-on-one teacher support and participation in social activities, athletics, student leadership (ASB), performances and more.
- Live, online teaching is balanced with independent, offline, learning and work-time to provide structured-flexibility for students and families. In general, students who are intrinsically motivated to take responsibility for their learning, benefit greatly in this program.
- The use of technology allows for students to collaborate, create and communicate in innovative ways and students are able to develop and practice skills like risk-taking, patience, time management, and self-regulation on a daily basis.
- Both schools are focused on building a strong school-wide community and culture to meet students' social, emotional and learning needs.
- Both schools have engaged PTAs to support students and families, and IVA Elementary was recently recognized as a PTA School of Excellence.
- At the secondary level, it’s beneficial for students who work better independently or who may need different pacing with regard to instruction. It also supports students who may suffer from social pressures or who need flexible timing and the ability to learn from various locations. It offers consistent access to education that is more difficult with an in-person learning environment to students who may work or for children in unhoused families.
To learn more about experiences within IVA, please take a moment to view the following video:
These are only a handful of the many benefits offered by the IUSD Virtual Academies. To learn more about IVA Elementary, click here and to learn more about IVA Middle and High School, click here.