K-8 Students in CUSD Go Virtual, Too

First there was the , which is scheduled to debut in September. Now comes a virtual K-8 from .

According to a district flier, the program will feature mostly online offerings, but the students can join in music and art activities at their home elementary school.

Capo Unified spokesman Marcus Walton did not return a reporter’s messages with questions about the new program.

The name of the program is Capistrano Virtual School, and credentialed teachers will support the students as they complete online coursework, the flier says.

The students will also participate in workshops, field trips and other activities, which will vary in theme and topic, throughout the year, the flier states.

Middle school offerings include math up through geometry, grade-level courses in English, social science and science, PE and Spanish 1A and 1B.

Items at the new school’s website were posted by Meg Ervais, who is listed as the administrator for Capistrano Home School, CUSD’s homeschool option.

The district is hosting an information meeting for parents interested in the program 6:30 1 p.m. May 1 at the CUSD headquarters, 33122 Valle Road in San Juan Capistrano.

Orientations for parents wishing to enroll their children will be held in August, according to a Power Point presentation at the school’s website. 

Each family will be assigned a Capistrano Virtual School teacher/adviser. All Capistrano Virtual School teachers are certificated CUSD  teachers and have experience teaching a variety of grade levels and/or courses, the presentation states.

Teachers will be available by phone, e-mail and in person throughout the month to assist families, according to the slide show. They will evaluate student work as it is completed online and provide ongoing feedback on the work reviewed.

Parents and students will be required to attend a conference at the end of each semester, according to the slide show. Students receive credit based on the work they complete each attendance month. 

Students participate in all regular district and state testing. Tests are administered in the Capistrano Virtual School office, the presentations states.

Capistrano Unified already offers online education through a charter school, Capistrano Connections Academy. However, when area students choose that option, the district loses the funding to the charter, which is also a public school.