Virtual and Alternative School

Joplin Virtual Program FAQ's

If a student is virtual through Joplin are they still considered a Joplin Schools student?
Yes, they are still considered a Joplin Schools student and can attend the events at their home school that they would attend if they attended the traditional setting.

Do the virtual students follow the same Joplin School calendar as the traditional students?
Yes, they follow the same Joplin Schools calendar.

Is attendance counted on virtual students?
Virtual courses does not go by attendance, they go by course completion. Teacher monitors will be looking at time spent in course and actual working time of students. If students are not meeting the time requirements or making progress there will be a phone call made to parents/guardians by the teacher monitor.

What is the time frame for each grade level?
All virtual students will be enrolled in 7 courses unless they are a hybrid student (1 to 6 courses)

Elementary students – Will be working in Acellus. Students will work in steps in Acellus in each course. A student has completed their lessons in each course once the star turns yellow.

Middle School students – will be given the core subjects – A full-time virtual student should be working 4 to 5 hours a day. Teacher monitors will be logging daily how long a student is working. The family can set the education schedule for their child(ren).

High School students – will be given two semester courses, as advised by their JHS counselor, at a time. They will have 27 school days to complete these two courses. Once a course is complete and they have taken the end of course exam they will be assigned a new course. A full-time virtual student should be working 5 to 6 hours a day. Teacher monitors will be logging daily how long a student is working. The family can set the education schedule for their child(ren).

*****Times that students work are set up by the family. The teacher monitors will be looking for the following:

Elementary Students finish the days lessons that are assigned to them
Middle School and High School Students - are required to spend between 5 to 6 hours a day on the courses that are assigned to them. Courses should be in the color code of blue or green. If red then the parent will be contacted.
All students at all grade levels can work longer to finish the courses earlier.

The classes that are given online given the same content as the traditional student?
Yes, the online programs – Acellus and Edgenuity are built using the MO standards and are aligned by grade level and subject.

Will there be tutoring for the virtual students?
24/7 Embedded tutoring in Edgenuity
Acellus tutoring will be offered by the virtual teacher monitor

Is closed captioning offered in Acellus and Edgenuity?
Both programs offer closed captioning options. Some of the courses in Edgenuity, that are older, may not have the closed captioning option.

What if my student has an IEP or 504 plans?
Please reach out to their case manager at their home school, by email, and set up a meeting time to discuss online learning.

Is the virtual learning that took place in the Spring the same thing we will see if we put our child in Virtual learning for this Fall?
No, the Joplin Schools Virtual Program is through either Acellus or Edgenuity, which are MOCAP approved vendors. They will have a teacher monitor, access to tutoring and will come in to take the end of course exams in a lock down browser situation. All COVID-19 procedures will be in place when a student comes in to take an exam. Parents/Guardians will also have access to the program that your child(ren) are enrolled in with a username and password. Parents/Guardians will also receive emails updating them on their child’s(ren) progress.

Will Joplin Schools provide a device for my student to use?
All virtual students will have access to a device for check out from the district.

Can parents get a username and log-in to actually look at both the Edgenuity and the Acellus program?
We cannot give you a username and password without having to buy a seat from the companies. But I can give you to the link to some videos that show Acellus and Edgenuity.

Acellus   Edgenuity

Will parents/guardians have access to view students progress and grades?
Parents can set up a parent portal in Edgenuity and Acellus. Reach out to your students virtual teacher monitor to set it up.

If a student starts traditionally or virtually and then decided in the middle of the semester to transfer to virtual or traditional could that be done?
Changes in the way a student is learning, traditional to virtual or virtual to traditional, can only be made at semester.

Where do students go to take their end of course exams?
They will schedule a time with their teacher monitor to come into the Roi S Woods Campus to take the cumulative test for each course they complete. All COVID policies will be in place.

Is there a FB page for the Joplin Online we can follow?
Yes, Joplin Schools Online and Alternative School Facebook Page

How do you accommodate IEP? 504? Speech?
All students that have an IEP, 504, or need an accommodation, must set up a meeting with their case manager to discuss online learning.

What does 2 semester courses mean at the high school level?
A semester course is either a 1/2 of a year long course or a semester course.

What about elective classes? Are they included?
Yes, elective classes are included.

When they need to test what are the days and time frames that will be available? Is it solely on the parents to get them back and forth for the testing?
The test will be scheduled by the teacher monitor. Times and dates will be discussed when scheduled.

What if a child wants to graduate early?
If a student wants to graduate early they have to talk to their counselor and they will advise them on what and how that can happen if it is possible.

Are they able to complete more than one days worth of curriculum in 1 days time?
The students can work as much as they would like beyond what the daily requirements are.

If you have additional questions, please call 417-680-5123 or email shellytarter@joplinschools.org