FAQs – Our School – Virtual Academy of North Texas

Thank you for your interest in the WSISD Virtual Academy. We are excited to offer a school of choice option for families that find it beneficial to learn from home. Many of our families have chosen to attend our campus due to a desire for a home-school atmosphere, a need for scheduling flexibility for travel, competitive sports, or occupational reasons, and/or due to health concerns. Our fully staffed campus will provide an engaging, rigorous, and high-quality educational experience for our online students. We will provide an excellent educational experience, as well as opportunities for social emotional learning, relationship building, extracurricular participation, field trips, and family engagement events. Our students will be held to high academic standards as they are prepared for their future.

Do all students that apply get accepted into the Virtual Academy?

No. There is an application process, document review, and admission assessment (for students without STAAR scores) required for acceptance. All requested documents must be received before the review process can occur. Acceptance criteria includes passing grades on the 21-22 report card, passing STAAR scores, prior attendance and discipline review.

When is the deadline to apply?

We are accepting applications for the 22-23 school year at this time.

What is your service area?

Our service area is not limited, but students must commit to attending an in-person orientation for instructional materials and technology pick-up, required in-person assessment, and any required STAAR/TELPAS testing.

Is there a fee to participate in the WSISD Virtual Academy?

The WSISD Virtual Academy is a public, tuition-free school for students in kindergarten through 8th grade. *Families are required to pay a one-time, non-refundable technology assurance fee of $25. Students will be charged a fee for lost or damaged technology equipment.

Will my child still be enrolled at their home campus?

No, our campus is a stand alone school and students will be enrolled in the WSISD Virtual Academy full-time.

What is the attendance policy?

Remote Asynchronous Instruction
This method allows the WSISD Virtual Academy and our families the flexibility to earn daily attendance, Monday through Friday, through primarily asynchronous (non-live, self-paced) instructional methods OR through a combination of asynchronous and synchronous instruction.

Attendance will be documented (counted as present) if the student participates in one, or more of the following:

Daily progress in Canvas, the learning management system (LMS) that confirms students accessed;
Instruction by 11:59 p.m. each day;
Daily check in via teacher-student lessons and/or interactions that confirms students accessed instruction, and/or
completion/turn-in of assignments from student to teacher (potentially via email or online) by 11:59 p.m. each day.

We do request that students attend all live sessions the first two weeks to learn about our expectations, build a relationship with the teacher and learn all systems and programs that are utilized for virtual instruction.

For online testing purposes, students will have to attend live sessions when tests are proctored.

Synchronous (live) lessons will be recorded and posted in Canvas for students to refer to, as needed.

Students that are failing any subject(s) or not on grade-level with assessments will be required to attend all synchronous (live) sessions to remain enrolled in the WSISD Virtual Academy.

When students attend synchronous (live) sessions, they will be required to be in appropriate dress, WITH CAMERA ON. Students are expected to be in an appropriate learning environment with technology equipment and learning materials prepared and readily available during all lessons when attending live lessons. (Students will not be allowed to attend class from areas that will distract from the learning environment of others, like their bed, while shopping, watching tv, listening to music, etc.) Students may utilize virtual backgrounds to protect their home privacy.

Where can I get more information regarding Virtual Academy?

Information can be found on our district website at https://www.wsisd.com/apps/pages/virtualacademy.

Are school uniforms required for Virtual Academy?

We do not require uniforms, but our WSISD student dress guidelines will be required and can be found at https://www.wsisd.com/apps/pages/dress-guidelines.

Will parents or students ever have to physically report to a school building for instruction, meetings, or testing?

We will have a mandatory parent/student orientation when a student enrolls. During this meeting, we will discuss policies, procedures, expectations, etc. Technology devices and instructional materials will be issued at this time and families will be able to meet our teachers.

To remain enrolled, students may be required to report for assessments and, possibly, interventions at various times during the year. This may include, but is not limited to:

Beginning, Middle, and End of Year diagnostic testing for reading and math
Benchmark and STAAR/TELPAS Assessments
Students that are not academically successful may be required to come in for intervention/tutoring services

OPTIONAL activities for students may include family engagement programs, clubs, special academic activities, field trips, etc.

Where is the Virtual Academy located?

Our address is 8224 White Settlement Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76108.

Can I return back to in-person learning at any time?

Accepted students are asked to commit for one semester.

Can homeschool or private school students enroll into the WSISD Virtual Academy?

Yes. Students who are coming from homeschool without records will be asked to come in before school starts for a admission assessment.

If my child is enrolled in the WSISD Virtual Academy, who will teach them?

Students enrolled in the WSISD Virtual Academy will be instructed by certified WSISD teachers. Teachers will be available for conferences during their office hours and by email.

Technology Information

Will my child be issued technology?

WSISD is a one-to-one district. All students are issued a district device. Our new devices will have the touchscreen option.

*Families are required to pay a one-time, non-refundable technology assurance fee of $25.00. Students will be charged a fee for lost or damaged technology equipment.

What technology platforms will be primarily used for instruction?

Canvas, SeeSaw, Class Kick, and Google Meets will be used daily in addition to other academic programs. Classes will be offered synchronously and asynchronously depending upon the schedule. Synchronous (live) lessons will be recorded and posted in Canvas for students to refer to, as needed.

Instructional Information

Will students have access to all instructional content areas?

Yes. Students will be instructed in English/language arts, math, social studies, science, fine arts, physical education, etc. All teachers are certified. District grading guidelines will be in place.

Do students in the Academy work at their own pace, or do they follow the day-to-day bell schedule?

Students who are enrolled in the WSISD K-8 Virtual Academy are assigned a schedule of classes with courses designated for specific times and days of the week. On any given day, students may be working independently on follow-up or practice assignments, or they may have the option of receiving “live,” synchronous instruction depending on the schedule for the specific grade level. Synchronous (live) lessons will be recorded and posted in Canvas for students to refer to, as needed.

Will students with disabilities, served through a Special Education IEP or 504, be able to participate in the WSISD Virtual Academy? If my child receives dyslexia or speech services, how will those be served?

Yes, students with disabilities served through the WSISD Special Education Department will have equal access to the Virtual Academy through the open enrollment criteria. The district ensures to the greatest extent possible, that each student with an IEP or IAP will receive instructional services to meet the unique needs of the student as documented in their IEP or IAP.

Can my student participate in UIL activities if he/she is enrolled in WSISD Virtual Academy?

Yes, 6th through 8th grade students who desire to participate in UIL activities will be able to participate at the appropriate school campus (based on their proof of residency) as their schedule allows.

In middle school, which courses will my child take if they enroll in WSISD Virtual Academy?

For students in grades 6 through8, learners will follow a full schedule. They will carry the typical number of courses (six for most students) on their schedule. 6th-8th graders will be contacted before the year begins regarding elective choice and PE/athletic choice.

What curriculum will the WSISD Virtual Academy utilize?

All students enrolled in the WSISD Virtual Academy will have access to the high quality curriculum aligned with the state standards (TEKS) and developed by our district instructional department and teachers. Lesson quality, the amount of work assigned, the timing and pacing, and the order in which concepts are learned will follow our district scope and sequence. Students who choose to return to their home campus at semester should have a learning path that matches their peers.

Will students be attending classes daily from approximately 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.? 

Schedules will vary by grade level. Classes will be scheduled between 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Students that wish to participate in the live classes will need to follow the teacher’s schedule. Sample schedules may be viewed at https://virtualacademy.wsisd.com/apps/pages/WSISDVirtualschedules.

If a student needs extra assistance, will the school provide after school assistance? 

We will provide virtual and in-person tutoring as needed and as teacher schedule allows.

Will my child need a learning coach with them for Virtual Learning?

It is expected that an adult learning coach is with the student for assistance, as needed, to ensure that the student is making progress and completing assignments. Younger students will probably need more assistance.

Virtual Academy enrollment can be revoked at any time if student:

Is academically unsuccessful with grades and/or not on grade-level with assessments;
Fails to attend live sessions (if required due to failing grades or not on grade-level with assessments) and participate;
Does not adhere to guidelines regarding asynchronous attendance plan, behavior, assignment completion, etc.;
Has excessive unexcused asynchronous absences; or
Administration recommends withdrawal.