According to the KVA Application Attestation, the new school will be open to students in fourth to 12th grades who are meeting grade-level readiness standards, have fewer than 10 absences, and are engaged and active learners. According to the release, the KVA will open with limited, open enrollment for KISD students as well as students from other school districts.
In addition to KVA, KISD will continue to offer in-person learning on campus in the 2021-22 school year. While specific details about in-person learning for the 2021-22 school year have not yet been announced, KISD Superintendent Jenny McGown said in an April 14 update that district officials anticipate masks will be optional for students and staff beginning June 1, allowing ample time for all employees who wish to be vaccinated to receive both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
"With just over 30 days to go in the 2020-21 school year, I can't tell you how proud I am of all that we've accomplished together so far," McGown wrote in the update. "And although it certainly has not been easy and everyone has made sacrifices for the greater good, we've been able to safely operate our schools all year, never once having to close a campus or even a classroom, and are now so pleased that 80% of our students are back with us in class, in person."
For students who prefer and are successful with remote learning, the KVA will be an option, pending full funding from the Texas Legislature. According to the KVA website, the new school will implement KISD core curriculum delivered by KISD teachers in a synchronous format. In addition to core classes, additional limited courses that will be included are electives such as Visual Fine Arts, Off-Campus Physical Education/Athletics, and limited Career and Technical Education Pathways. To view a complete list of KVA course offerings, click here.
Additionally, the KVA website said the new school will be a pure, standalone campus, meaning it will have its own class rank system and graduation, and KVA students will not interact with their zoned campus for any curriculum or extracurricular or club activities.
"Students enrolled in the Klein Virtual Academy will not have access to extracurricular activities for this school year," the website said. "Our intention is to launch a successful academic online school option for students. In order to be successful, families are asked to make, at a minimum, a semester to a year-long commitment."
Following the submission of a KVA Application Attestation, KISD students who meet the enrollment criteria will receive an application by May 5. Applicants who are not currently enrolled in KISD will receive the first part of the application that requests academic records by May 14.
"Enrollment confirmation in Klein Virtual Academy will not occur until the Texas Legislature adopts specific legislation to fund virtual funding for the 2021-22 school year," the website said.
The district will also host a Facebook Live event April 29 at 7 p.m. to provide families with additional details about the KVA. For more information about the KVA, click here.
