By Taylor J. Hale

 Staff Writer

STEVENS POINT – Stevens Point school district leaders have officially approved the e-Learning program. The program will be utilized by area students in grades 7-12, during school cancellations.

The program will allow young learners to study, work and submit assignments from home.

“The DPI has now encouraged school districts to be innovative in using virtual learning time, or e-learning, to provide instruction for students,” said Connie Negaard, director of secondary education.

Board members noted that students in grades 7-12 are provided with a laptop and internet accessibility tools by the district. The e-Learning program could give students a chance for a seamless education, regardless of inclement weather, professional development days, widespread sickness, or other severe situations.

“All of our students from grades 7-12 have a device,” Negaard explained. “And in addition, any families or students who might have internet connection problems, we provide them with tools to get (online). So every student has a laptop and internet.”

Funding and supplies for student devices and internet tools came from a prior Sentry Technology Initiative.

Staff added that the program would not provide “busy work,” but an “authentic” learning experience.

“We can’t have teachers posting an assignment that will take two or three hours for one class,” Negaard said.

District personnel would notify students and families before an expected e-Learning day, and students would not utilize e-Learning during severe circumstances like area power-outages.

The supplementary digital learning platform will utilize Schoology, a popular education software already used within the district.

Time spent in the online learning environment would count toward standardized DPI attendance minutes.

Contact Taylor J. Hale at [email protected] with Portage County news and information