A virtual learning environment may not be for all students.  Families should carefully consider the structure of the online learning environment and whether their student has the characteristics typically associated with success in the virtual environment.  These characteristics are outlined in the Parent Guide and Student Success Guidelines documents.

The program currently serves grades 5-8; however, districts access services for students according to their unique needs.  For example, in the past some districts partnered for grades K-5.  The grade structure each year depends on the needs of the partner districts.

There are no costs to students and families other than the typical student fees charged by your student’s home district.  Students must be enrolled in a school in your home district to be eligible to attend.

Yes, students enrolled in Low Country Virtual will need a device to access the courses.  Your child’s home district/ school will issue your child a device for use during the school year.

Students will need reliable internet access. High-speed internet is highly recommended as this provides the most reliable connection and best quality for video and streamed content. If your family does not have high-speed internet, local internet providers have low-cost options for qualifying families.

If additional textbooks or other supplies are found to be necessary, you will receive communication through your child’s assigned teacher(s). We are making every effort to use digital textbooks.  Additional information will be provided before the first day of classes.

Your student’s teachers will be available via email, office hours, scheduled class, or individually scheduled sessions. Your student’s teachers will provide live virtual academic instruction and support and learning opportunities.

Yes, your child’s IEP or 504 team will meet to review and identify individual services and supports necessary to meet your child’s unique needs and discuss whether FAPE can be provided in the virtual program.

Yes, we will offer Gifted and Talented services to students who qualify. We will also offer honors courses at the middle/high level for students meeting the appropriate criteria.

Yes, South Carolina regulations regarding mandatory daily attendance will be followed.

A calendar will be developed by looking at the calendars of the participating districts.  The program will follow a typical schedule, and the calendar will be posted on the program’s website prior to June 1, 2022.

Students will be asked to commit for the year; however, their withdrawing from the virtual program at the end of the semester will be an option that is contingent upon your home district’s policies.  

Enrollment in the  Low Country Virtual full-time K-8 virtual program will open at the end of each semester, as permitted by space/availability.  Districts must reserve seats for the year.

Synchronous learning happens in real-time/live. This means that you and your instructor interact at a specific, set time. Asynchronous learning happens on your schedule. While your teacher will provide materials for reading, lectures/labs/tutorials for viewing, assignments for completing, and exams for evaluation, you can access and satisfy these requirements on your own schedule, so long as you meet the expected deadlines.

Best practices in digital learning indicate that curriculum design and the developmental age of the student are factors that should be considered when determining the balance between synchronous and asynchronous learning activities.

Yes.  Occasionally, elementary and middle school students must take SC Ready, PASS, and other assessments offered by their district in a school building. Students that are English Language Learners will have to come into a school building to complete the ACCESS assessment.

Low Country Virtual is a shared services virtual program operated by the participating districts.  It is not a separate school.  Students will remain enrolled in their home school in PowerSchool, South Carolina’s Student Management System.

Students may participate in after-school extracurricular activities at the school where they are enrolled. Transportation to participate in extracurricular activities, special programs, events, and athletics is the responsibility of the parent.

Middle school student-athletes who wish to attend an NCAA Division I or II college or university in the future must ensure courses offered using a digital curriculum for initial credit and credit recovery meet NCAA guidelines.  The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has very strict guidelines regarding credit for courses taken online, including courses offered by Low Country Virtual.  Many online courses ARE NOT APPROVED by the NCAA. Be sure to consult with your school counselor to determine if the online course is approved for credit by the  NCAA.  See the Parent Guide for more information on athletic eligibility.

Every effort will be made to maintain relevant and appropriate workloads, but virtual learning often requires more independent work and attention from students to balance the absence of a structured classroom. Students will be provided schedules to assist in scheduling specific times for daily tasks.

The school will operate on a five (5) day schedule. Students will be engaged in online learning, class assignments, and independent activities for six to seven hours per day.  On Fridays students work independently, engage in small group instruction, attend virtual field trips, and participate in clubs based upon their interests.

Students need to attend their daily scheduled classes online as attendance will be taken daily for each course. There will be class and course requirements for all students. Students will participate in virtual whole class, small group and/or individual meeting opportunities. Scheduled classes and support opportunities are available and may also be scheduled individually based on students’ needs.  Students may also complete assignments independently at their own pace but must maintain appropriate progress and meet all deadlines.

Yes, enrollment decisions are made on a yearly basis. Current online students must complete the “Request to Enroll” process every year to be considered for enrollment.

Please see the “Request to Enroll” process in the Low Country Virtual Parent Guide.  You may also contact your child’s school or district for more information.

Any school-aged student who resides with a parent or legal guardian in one of the participating school districts is eligible to request enrollment in Low Country Virtual. To be eligible to enroll you must complete the enrollment process at your child’s home school district.

Yes, after interest is determined through districts’ surveys of families, and seats are requested by member districts, the estimated seats will be reserved. Students and their families must commit to the virtual K-8 school program for the 2022-23 school year no later than April 18.  Districts may opt in for the level of services that they desire.  For example, some districts are utilizing Low Country Virtual for just grades 4-5 or just middle school.

In order to plan for faculty/staff and course pathways, families will need to commit by the deadlines established by their district.

5-8 courses will be proficiency-based based on approval of submitted State waivers; however, students will be required to attend synchronous instruction. The amount of time spent in synchronous instruction will depend upon a variety of factors, including but not limited to, grade level (more synchronous for earlier grades), engagement and progress in courses, and  tier of support necessary due to achievement and performance, etc.

A separate BEDS code (SIDN) will NOT be established for Low Country Virtual. It is a virtual program rather than a virtual school that will allow students to remain in their home school/home district’s student information system (PowerSchool SIS).

Because a common online portal/online course enrollment system will be used, students from any partner district will log into this common system.

Yes, Low Country Virtual has a Student – Parent Handbook that is updated yearly and developed by partner district representatives who serve on the LCEC VIrtual Leadership Team.  

No, Low Country Virtual does not offer a full-time virtual program, many of the partner districts do have supplemental and/or full-time options.  We also partner with the districts to offer supplemental courses. For information on what your student’s district offers, please contact your district’s Virtual / Online Learning Office.

Team Leads will contact parents to schedule an IEP/504 meeting prior to the start of school for all students enrolling in the Low Country Virtual.  Meetings will be held at mutually agreeable dates and times, via teleconference or videoconference to plan for services. 504 committees will meet as needed to address any necessary adjustments to accommodations or services.

Parents may address concerns or possible IEP or 504 meeting needs with their child’s LCV Team Lead or for students with a 504, reach out to the LCV school administrator.  

Parents who are in disagreement or have concerns with the IEP/504 Plan should contact the student’s home school district’s Exceptional Children/Special Education Department.

If a student requires an accommodation such as a fidget or movement cushion in person, those required supplies will be sent home with instructions for appropriate use.

Classroom assessment/testing accommodations will be provided as they typically are during in-person instruction. If needed, school staff/parents will be given guidance around ways to provide required accommodations during testing in the virtual environment.  Some state and district assessments may not be allowed to be administered in a virtual environment. For those, the student(s) will be required to make arrangements to go to their home school.

Special education teachers and related service providers will be providing instruction in groups and one-on-one as appropriate for students’ goals. The IEP team may need to convene to determine each student’s related service needs in the online learning environment and the potential need for any face-to-face service delivery.  All direct services required will be delivered during the hours of the school day.

Special education teachers and related service providers will be providing instruction in groups and one-on-one as appropriate for students’ goals based on the IEP team’s determination of needs to provide FAPE. All direct services required will be delivered during the hours of the school day.

LCV staff will be providing instruction utilizing the research-based programs, however, these may look different from face-to-face instructional delivery.

Hearing and vision teachers will support access to curriculum and participation in the online learning environments for students with hearing and visual impairments. Services will range from collaboration and consultation with teachers to direct services to students in accordance with the IEP. Additionally, hearing and vision teachers will work with classroom teachers and team leads regarding the expectations for presentation of instructional materials. They will also assist families to understand how to implement appropriate accommodations such as closed captioning, educational interpreting services, and visual supports in the online environment. If a student’s IEP/504 plan calls for assistive technology supports, those will be sent home with the student with guidance for use. Assistive technology supports may need to be provided periodically in a face-to-face session.

Assistive technology team members will assist students and families with the implementation of appropriate assistive technology accommodations in online learning environments.  If communication devices are required per the IEP/504 plan, they will be sent home.

LCV Special Education Team Leads are available to provide behavioral intervention support as needed in the online learning environment, assist teachers with incorporating behavioral best practices in an online learning environment, consult and collaborate with parents/guardians as needed on behavioral strategies to support online learning in the home environment.

Students will be taught how to request and engage in deep pressure through activities that do not require physical touch such as push-ups, jumping in place, etc.  If a sensory item/support is required in the IEP/504 plan it will be sent home. Consult with your assigned Occupational Therapist for additional strategies and supports.

Low Country Virtual will work with students to ensure that these needs are met. 

All students with disabilities are general education students first and special education teachers should have access to the information being used with general education students as well.

For students who have specific behavior and/or social/emotional goals on the IEP, LCV teachers will continue to use additional curriculum and supplemental resources to teach and reinforce the specific skills identified in the student’s goals.

LCV Special Education Team Leads will progress monitor using a variety of tools, as described in the IEP goal. Many goals can be monitored virtually using some adjustments in administration, not necessarily format. Some goals may require collaboration with a parent or guardian to gather data. Teachers can access support in this process to learn how to administer these virtually and what technology and logistics to consider for progress monitoring.