If in-person school hasn’t been working for your student, there might be another option.
Enrollment at Milwaukee Virtual School, a Milwaukee Public Schools charter school, is open until Friday, Sept. 18.
Enrolling is the easy part. The harder question for families considering the switch is whether virtual school is the right fit for their student.
Is virtual school right for your student? Here’s what you need to know.
Why families consider virtual school
Milwaukee Virtual School Principal Will Luedtke said transportation, work and concerns with their current school are some of the top reasons families move to the school.
“We also have families who are looking for an academic challenge and want the flexibility virtual learning provides,” he said.
What kind of student thrives at Milwaukee Virtual?
Luedtke said students with strong time management and organizational skills typically fit in well with the virtual school environment.
It’s also important that parents or guardians are involved in their student’s virtual learning and work with the team on a regular basis, he said. When the school is unable to contact families, it can create challenges for students.
Students who don’t engage daily tend to struggle, Luedtke said. The school reviews progress and attendance daily, so it can spot problems quickly.
The school also requires internet access. Luedtke said they work with families to provide internet when needed, but don’t rely on hotspots.
“Hotspots are not as reliable as broadband internet for consistently participating in instruction and completing assignments,” the principal said.
What does a school day look like?
Students in grades six through 12 set their own schedule but must work for a minimum of 60 minutes per day in each course. Students can work extra time on weekends if they’d like.
Students in K4 through fifth grade receive 60 minutes of face-to-face instruction with a teacher each day, taken along with computer-based instruction and a workbook.
Students can also participate in school activities like prom, science fairs or theater, and play sports. Milwaukee Virtual School can connect students to a local MPS school to take part in their events.
Some state assessments require students to attend in person, Luedtke said.
What if the school doesn’t end up being a good fit?
Milwaukee Virtual School’s frequently asked questions page says students stay enrolled through the end of the semester. Families who want to return to in-person school can do so at the start of the next semester.
What about students with disabilities?
Milwaukee Virtual School accepts children with certain disabilities or special needs, according to the school’s website.
Luedtke said the district’s special education team reviews a student’s Individualized Education Program, also known as an IEP, to determine their best approved placement.
MPS staff provide special education services like occupational or speech therapy, Luedtke said.
Students learning English
Luedtke said an English as a second language (ESL) teacher provides services to English language learners.
Milwaukee Virtual School’s program also offers text to speech and text translation in over 50 languages, he said.
How to submit an application
You can submit an application online here. If your child is currently a Milwaukee Public Schools student, you do not need to upload transcripts or proof of address.
Luedtke said families can generally expect a response one business day after they complete an application.
Once a family is cleared for enrollment, Milwaukee Virtual School invites them to an onboarding event with an overview of the program and to receive supplies, including a Chromebook and access to all course materials and software. Luedtke said onboarding events happen daily.
“After students and families complete the paperwork at the orientation, they are able to log in and begin work in 48 hours,” he said.
Alex Klaus is the education solutions reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.
Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.
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