UCS offers families Virtual Academy, Remote Learning

Utica Community Schools families will be offered two options focused on educational excellence to begin the 2020-2021 school year: a remote classroom option with the ability to transition to in-person learning and a 100 percent on-line UCS Virtual Academy.

The Board of Education unanimously approved the plan at its August 10 meeting.

Classroom teachers will provide remote learning at least through the end of the first marking period, October 30. Over the next two months, the district will evaluate health and safety factors and consider a gradual and deliberate return for small groups of students.

The UCS Virtual Academy is a full on-line program taught by UCS teachers using district curriculum that directly parallels classroom instruction.

“The UCS back to school plan keeps our focus on educational excellence and the health and safety of our students and staff,” Superintendent Dr. Christine Johns said. “The options being offered this fall provide our families the same high-quality education that is the UCS standard based on the needs of each student.”

Both options provide UCS families with nationally-recognized UCS curriculum taught by highly-qualified UCS teachers.

Remote instruction will be taught by the UCS classroom teacher who will transition to in-person instruction depending on health and safety factors; the UCS Virtual Academy will be taught by a UCS teacher assigned to the academy and will continue to be 100 percent on-line learning, even when the district transitions to face-to-face instruction. If a student in the virtual academy chooses to return to face-to-face instruction, they will be assigned to the school in their attendance area.

“We want our students’ year to be memorable not because of COVID-19, but because they built great teacher student relationships, had opportunities to learn amazing things, and were inspired to achieve beyond what they ever dreamed,” Dr. Johns said.

UCS work groups consisting of staff members from across the district supported the development of the learning options being offered this fall.

In addition, a community survey of 14,000 respondents identified strengths and recommendations for improvement based on the services provided to students after schools were closed to face-to-face instruction in March.

Students involved in remote learning will receive instruction directly from UCS teachers during their day and work independently using pre-recorded lessons or content from district-approved curriculum resources.

The UCS Virtual Academy provides core subjects and electives and will be available for students in grades K-12. Students will be instructed by highly qualified UCS teachers that are certified by the State of Michigan.

Class days will follow traditional daily school schedules and calendar. Students will receive both live instruction from a UCS teacher as well as on-line content that will allow them to move at their own pace. Registration for the UCS virtual academy is now open for interested families at: http://www.uticak12.org/ucsvirtualacademy.

School begins in UCS on September 1, 2020. More information on the UCS plan is available at:

https://uticak12.org/ucsreturnplan.

Source: Utica Community Schools

Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Christine Johns

Http://www.uticak12.org