For the 2021-22 school year, the State of Washington has allowed school districts to offer online learning for students who are unable to return to in-person learning due to health and safety needs. Following these guidelines from OSPI, Lake Washington School District will be providing an online option for the 2021-22 school year. 

Students and families that select this online option will be part of a district-wide school program that is separate from our neighborhood schools. The school will have its own teachers, programs and systems of support. Students that take part in the online option will be unenrolled from their 2021-22 neighborhood or choice school. 

Online courses will be aligned to Washington State Standards and taught by highly qualified certificated teachers. Core academic classes will be offered to all grades with electives available to high school students to support their progress on their High School and Beyond Plan. Not all classes and choice programs can be offered in an online learning model, due to staffing constraints. 

Lake Washington School District Online Elementary School: 

• Grades K-5  
• Based on enrollment, classes may be combined. For example, current enrollment shows that K/1 will be a combined class 
• Classes will be taught by Lake Washington School District teachers. 
• The daily schedule will follow the current elementary learning schedule, with limited asynchronous time each day.  
• Attendance will be taken daily. 
• Students will access instruction and lessons using Microsoft Teams and OneNote Class Notebook. 
• Grades will be posted to Skyward.
• Students and families may re-enroll in their neighborhood or choice school during the 2021-22 school year or for the start of the 2022-23 school year.

Lake Washington School District Online Secondary School: 

• Grades 6-12 
• The online school for secondary students will follow the state guidelines for an Alternative Learning Experience (ALE). Each student will have a Written Student Learning Plan that outlines monthly goals and monthly progress. More information about an ALE can be found on the OSPI website at this link: https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/learning-alternatives/alternative-learning-experience. 
• Classes will be taught by Apex Learning faculty. Lake Washington School District teachers will serve as learning plan advisers. More information about Apex Learning Virtual School can be found at this link: https://www.apexlearningvs.com/.  
• Students will participate in weekly synchronous and asynchronous learning activities. 
• Attendance will be taken according to ALE guidelines. 
• Students will access instruction and lessons through the Apex Learning Platform and through Microsoft Teams and OneNote. 
• Grades will be posted to Apex Learning, and final grades will be posted to Skyward.
• Students and families may re-enroll in their neighborhood or choice school during the 2021-22 school year or for the start of the 2022-23 school year.

Additional information, including course offerings and sample schedules, can be found online at https://www.lwsd.org/schools/online-learning-option-for-2021-22.

To enroll in the online option for the 2021-22 school year, please complete this enrollment application: http://bit.ly/LWSDonline2021-22. Applications must be received by June 30, 2021 to ensure proper staffing and course availability.

Richard Snyder 
LWSD Online School Principal