DEARBORN — The deadline this year for students to commit to transferring into or out of Dearborn Public Schools Virtual K-12 School is My 6.
Virtual K-12 provides students with an entirely online learning experience. Students receive live lessons daily during school hours with Dearborn Public Schools teachers. Classes follow the district’s curriculum, calendar and schedule. The program is open to any students who live in the Dearborn Public Schools district.
Parents can learn more about Virtual K-12 and ask questions during a Zoom meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. April 20.
Parents wanting to complete transfer paperwork to move their child to a different Dearborn Public School next year should go to vk12.dearbornschools.org and complete the online transfer form to start the process.
All the required paperwork must be submitted by May 6.
Parents of students who live in the district but do not attend one of the district’s other 36 schools will need to start by enrolling their child in Dearborn Public Schools. That can be done by going to the district’s Enrollment webpage.
Those considering transferring into the online school may first first go to the school website at vk12.dearbornschools.org to learn more about what it takes to be successful in an online learning environment.
This year was the first full year for the separate Virtual K-12 School. About 561 students in kindergarten through high school attend the online school.
For continuity and staffing purposes, students and families are asked to commit to Virtual K-12 for the entire year. Knowing enrollment in May gives the district time to start planning for staffing for next school year before teachers go on summer break. Students who transfer out of Virtual K-12 would return to their home school when the new school year starts in August.
While virtual learning became popular during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, DPS had been planning to start an online learning program even before COVID hit. Parents may feel that online learning continues to be a good fit for their child for a variety of reasons ranging from health to cultural preferences.
Virtual K-12 will continue to operate as long as there is enough enrollment to maintain the school, district officials said.
The online school requires students to go to a school to pick up materials periodically and for state-required testing. High school students will also be required to take finals in a school building.
Virtual K-12 students agree to have their cameras on during class. Middle and high school students would still be allowed to participate in sports and other extracurricular activities at what would have been their home school in the district. Students who graduate from Virtual K-12 will have their own special celebrations including prom, seniors honors night and graduation.
Virtual K-12 also provides students the full support staff available to traditional students including counselors, social workers, resources teachers and English language development specialists.
“While we know that online learning is not a good fit for most students, some families have found that virtual learning meets the needs of their child,” Supt. Glenn Maleyko said. “For those families, we are glad to offer the opportunity for them to continue to learn in our community and to continue to be part of the Dearborn Public Schools family.”