Seattle school district to test full-time virtual classes in fall

Seattle students will return to all 104 schools for five full days of instruction in the fall, but the district is also offering a pilot option for full-time virtual learning.

A small group of K-12 students have the opportunity to enroll in the virtual learning pilot. It’s not clear yet how the district will prioritize interested students, but it’s encouraging families to consider the option if their student has thrived, or could thrive, in a fully remote setting. However, students with existing health issues or concerns, including emotional and mental concerns, will be prioritized.

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According to the district, those who could be prioritized include:

Students with an underlying condition that increases their risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Students who live in a household where someone in the household is at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19.
Students who have a mental health issue or other condition.
Students who experienced an increased sense of safety during remote learning.

The virtual pilot will not be available at all Seattle schools, so there is a chance a student will not be placed at their “home school.”

The district encourages families with questions to email tovirtualsps@seattleschools.org.

Expect updates about the plan, the schools that will offer virtual options, and instructions for enrollment in the coming weeks.

Seattle Public Schools, the largest district in Washington state, closed schools in March 2020 soon after the coronavirus pandemic began. Teachers taught virtually for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year and resumed remote learning again for most of the 2020-21 school year. Many students returned to classrooms in April to finish out the last weeks of school.

The last day of school in Seattle was Friday and summer break officially ends on Sept. 9 for the 2021-22 school year.

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