Closing the COVID Learning Gap with Online School
COVID-19 has been challenging in many areas, but it’s been especially hard on U.S. schoolchildren. One study found that students were four to five months behind by the end of the 2020-2021 school year, with parents and teachers forced to help kids play catchup during the most recent school year.
To close that gap, many parents are turning to online schools. Unlike the emergency distance learning options seen during the pandemic, education experts have carefully crafted online education options. If your young learner is trying to make up for lost time, here are some ways online school can help.
How Online School Helps Close the Gap
If the pandemic taught families anything, it’s that disruptions can happen. No one anticipated the shutdowns in 2020 and all the uncertainties over the last two years.
Online school provides a much more reliable alternative to traditional classroom learning. It can supplement in-person classes or act as a total substitute. Attending class from anywhere, at any time, gives students and their families flexibility never before seen with education in the U.S.
But the best thing about online school is that it’s tailored to each student’s needs. Online schools like BlueSky work with students and their parents or caregivers to develop programs designed for them. Students still take courses that meet all state standards and graduation requirements, but they can hone in on areas where they need the most work. BlueSky has accreditation through Cognia (NCA-CASI), meaning that the school not only meets rigorous established standards, but that it has demonstrated its commitment to continuous improvement of its curriculum, programs, and operations.
At Blue Sky, students choose between two major scheduling types, allowing them to find the best fit for their unique needs.
Group Pace:
Students attend at least one live session each week with this option. The benefit of this option is the community that comes with interacting with other students, but you will have to show up at a fixed time.
My Pace:
With flexible start and end dates, students attend classes at a time that works for them. Students can work ahead to finish early and can take additional classes if approved by their counselor.
Parents and caregivers are a big part of a student’s educational journey. BlueSky strives to encourage that involvement, by working with caregivers and students to develop a customized curriculum. This takes into account a student’s learning style, credit requirements, skill level, personal interests, and more.
But BlueSky doesn’t just work to meet a student’s educational needs. Every student has a support team that includes an advisor, counselor, and school social worker. If students or caregivers have any issues, help is always available. BlueSky puts a student’s emotional and mental health above all other factors when designing a learning plan and providing one-on-one support.
If you’re interested in learning more about online schools, consider BlueSky. We’re currently enrolling for the 2022-23 school year. You can go all-in as a full-time online student or choose BlueSky to supplement your in-person education. For more information, visit our enrollment page here.
