KNOX COUNTY, Tenn. — Knox County parents can sign-up their students for virtual schooling next year. Parents can apply now through 4 p.m. on Friday. Families will be notified in June if their student is approved for virtual learning.
Students will un-enroll from their base school and enroll in the virtual school. They will not be able to participate in extra-curricular activities.
Officials said that the process will follow standard transfer procedures and students who meet the prerequisites and are approved will be notified.
Schools will have paper forms that parents can submit to apply for a transfer to virtual learning. An online application is also available here.
Students who are accepted into virtual learning will not be able to participate in extra-curricular activities at their former base school since they would need to unenroll from it.
The number of available spaces is limited to 1,500 at each of the district's virtual schools for elementary, middle and high school students, according to state policies. A student's prior academic performance will be considered when deciding who can enroll in virtual learning. They cannot have gotten an 'F' in a core class during the Fall 2020 semester.
Home internet services must meet KCS requirements, and assistance is available. Students will also need to take tests in person. Parents and guardians will also need to sign an agreement after attending orientations on virtual instruction.
Elementary school students will also have an identified "learning coach" that will supervise students throughout the day. Parents will be expected to also pick up additional materials during the year.
Students will have the chance to return to in-person instruction at their base school, if they want to. However, after leaving a virtual school, they will not be able to return during the 2021-2022 school year.
They will still have access to AP and honors courses in virtual schools.
There will be a waiting list system for transfer requests. More information about virtual learning and the 2021-2022 school can be found on the Knox County Schools' website.