- Leon County Schools
- FAQ's
Digital Academy FAQ's
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What is the deadline for enrolling my student in the Digital Academy?
July 13th
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What is the difference between my school’s Digital Academy and Leon County Virtual School?
The digital academy is a distance learning program offered by your child’s home zoned school that allows your child to remain connected to his/her zoned school.
Leon County Virtual School is an independent Leon County school that is staffed by Leon County Schools highly qualified teachers and staff.
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What will the day look like for students in the Digital Academy?
- Participating in courses through Canvas from home
- Receiving both synchronous and asynchronous instruction
- Receiving whole-group, small-group, and individualized instruction
- Receiving necessary accommodations and supports
- Engaging for developmentally-appropriate lengths of time
- Communicating regularly with peers and the teacher
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What will the Digital Academy schedule look like for an elementary student?
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What will the Digital Academy schedule look like for a high school student?
Sample High School Schedule Options FINAL
(PDF will open in a seperate window)
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What will the Digital Academy schedule look like for a middle school student?
Sample Middle School Schedule Options FINAL
(PDF will open in a seperate tab)
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Will there be live, digital instruction? If so, which digital conferencing platform will be used for that?
Weekly live instruction and scheduled 1:1 instruction appointment will be offered in the digital academy, Digital Conferencing will be through Teams
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Can video cameras be set up in classrooms for live instruction?
Due to student federal privacy rights we cannot live stream into the classroom.
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If we elect to do Digital Academy for the 9 weeks and switch to brick and mortar for the other 9 weeks, will our student have the same teacher/class?
Possibly, but not guaranteed. It is best to reach out to your school administration to discuss their digital academy scheduling plans.
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What if you can't be in a live course at 9am with the teacher because the parents work? Can we do it later, at 3pm for example?
Live instruction will be recorded and placed in Canvas for students to reference.
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How will attendance be taken in the Digital Academy?
Attendance will be taken in FOCUS daily and instructions on how to check in will be distributed to parents/students.
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Can a student attend some courses in person and some through the Digital Academy?
No. The Digital Academy serves the purpose of providing an alternative to the traditional face-to-face setting of the school day due to concerns about Covid-19. For this reason, students should spend the school-day hours in the Digital Academy off of the school campus.
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Can you do some digital and some face to face classes?
No, you have to choose Digital Academy or traditional school.
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Can a student move from Face to Face to the Digital Academy?
Yes. While the agreement made by families asks for a one-semester commitment to a schooling option, the district recognizes that certain situations may arise which would require students to move from a face-to-face setting to a digital academy setting. Within reason these requests will be accommodated. Due to varying concerns over safety and staffing, returns to a face-to-face option from the digital academy will not be possible.
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Can you go from the brick and mortar to the Digital Academy after school begins?
Yes, but you cannot go from the Digital Academy to brick and mortar after school starts. This is a 9 wk commitment to the Digital Academy.
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If we decided to do digital learning starting in August will they be able to switch to school at the end of the 9 weeks?
Yes
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In the Digital Academy, will there be paper packets provided to parents similar to the packets that were provided for the last 9 weeks of school?
There will be no paper packets for the Digital Academy. Students will be 100% electronic with Chromebooks and the Canvas LMS system
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Will the Digital Academy students receive a Chromebook?
Yes
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May I elect a Digital Academy at a school that my student does not currently attend, or is enrolled at?
No, the student will remain at their zoned digital academy.
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How do I elect, [or enroll] my student in the Digital Academy at my zoned or assigned school?
How to Select your 2020-2021 Educational Commitment Option
On-line FOCUS Educational Commitment Form:
1. Step One -
Login to your FOCUS portal using a web browser (Google Chrome preferred) OR the survey can be completed on the LCS FOCUS App.Important Note - All functions related to Parent Portal accts can be handled with this link - Parent Portal Account instructions
- If you do NOT already have a Focus portal account, you will need to register for a Focus Portal account. In order to be able to create an acct and attach your child, you must be listed as a Parent or Guardian with custody rights and your name must be entered EXACTLY as it is on file. If you get an error saying "no matching contact", please contact your child's school to verify your contact info on file is accurate.
- If you forgot your password, DO NOT create another account as it will cause significant problems, reset your password using the link above
- If you have an existing account but need to ADD another child to your existing acct, add an additional child using the link above
2. Step Two -
Once logged in you will be presented with Pending Forms for each of your children – all forms MUST be completed before you will be able to view anything else in the portal.
This is a screen shot of a parent with 3 students.3. Step Three -
Click on the green In progress button to access the form – Complete BOTH questions and then press Submit and Finish.4. Step Four -
Repeat completing the form for each additional child. -
If I choose to enroll my student in the Digital Academy, how will I know how to support them?
The Academic Services team is working on content to assist you in knowing how online options will look and how to provide academic assistance to your child. These supports will be available online in the 1:1 Initiative home page as “Teacher Resources.”
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What are the electives for the Digital Academy?
The electives differ per age group K-5, 6-8, 9-12. Please check your school sites digital academy page for the list of electives.
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Why is Spanish the only foreign language offered in the Digital Academy?
At this time, the only foreign language with online content readily available to be loaded into our LMS is Spanish. We are working diligently to find additional courseware.
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If my student is enrolled in the Digital Academy, can they also participate in extracurricular activities at the school?
Yes. If your student is enrolled in the Digital Academy, students who choose to participate in the Digital Academy may still participate in the after-school sports and activities available at their school site..
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Can a student in the Digital Academy play sports or participate in marching band at his/her local school?
Yes
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How will attendance be taken?
Attendance will be taken daily in FOCUS.
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Who takes Chromebooks home?
All students will have the opportunity to take their Chromebook home at prescheduled times throughout the school year based on their school site. It is expected that secondary students use their Chromebook regularly both at home and at school.
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Will my student receive training on Chromebook and Canvas? When will that take place?
Yes, we will be posting training for students and families for Chromebook and Canvas.
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Can Digital Academy students participate in Dual Enrollment?
Yes
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Will my student be able to receive virtual tutoring?
Weekly live instruction and scheduled one:one instruction appointments will be offered in the digital academy
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How will IB classes be offered in the Digital Academy?
We are working diligently to find approved, online International Baccalaureate course content. Dr. Williams, at James S. Rickards High School, would be your contact for IB at the high school level. Ms. Meyer is your contact for Fairview.
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I have an elementary student. Will my student still have special area courses?
Yes, the student will have Art and PE
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If my student is enrolled or will be enrolled at a school through School Choice, will my student still be able to elect the Digital Academy?
Yes, the student can enroll in the digital academy of the approved school choice school.
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Will gifted education continue to be provided in the Digital Academy?
Yes, please contact your school for their school-specific plans
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Please give clarification on ESE online schooling and therapies?
Families with students who receive ESE support should contact their child’s school. The Digital Academy will offer a full panoply of services including therapies.
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Will Physical Education be provided in the Digital Academy?
Yes
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Will my child’s 504 Plan be honored in the Digital Academy?
Yes
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My student receives ESE accommodations, or is enrolled in ESE Specific Courses. How will that work within the structure of the Digital Academy?
▪ For students attending remotely, ESE Specific Courses such as Access, Learning Strategies or Unique Skills will be embedded in Canvas.
▪ IEP and other group meetings with parents will be held face-to-face following CDC and district safety guidelines, remotely through MS Teams or with a combination of participants face-to-face or participating remotely.
▪ Individual Student Evaluations will be completed following CDC and district safety guidelines one-on-one with the evaluator.
▪ Related services such as Occupational therapy, Physical therapy, Assistive Technology, Vision, Hearing, Adaptive PE, Supplementary Academics, and Behavioral supports will be provided on campus or using remote learning set up for access through the Canvas platform.
▪ A variety of service models will be implemented that are sensitive to the students’ home situation and meet the individual needs as outlined in Individual Education Plans (IEP).
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What if my family doesn’t have internet connectivity at home?
Please contact your child’s school so that they may help coordinate Internet connectivity with you.