ONLINE LEARNING FAQ

• What classes are available for my student to take virtually?

  See course catalog. Middle School Course Catalog, High School Course Catalog

• When will students have the opportunity to sign up for specific courses (whether Face-toFace or Remote)?

  Registered students will be contacted in April regarding course selection.

• Will all classes be available at the Cobb Online Learning Academy? 

  Advanced Content, Honors, and on-level courses will be available in all core subjects. A limited number of electives will be provided, but high school students may also choose from a wide variety of courses offered by Georgia Virtual School (GAVS).

• How will magnet programs be impacted? 

  Magnet programs are school-specific and will not be supported in the remote learning program.

• Will World Languages and upper-level/AP courses be available? 

  For middle and high school, Spanish will be available through the online program. For high school, GAVS offers a wide variety of language courses and AP courses. 

• Will band, chorus, and other fine art courses be available?

  Band and chorus will not be available through the online program. Some art courses will be offered.  

• Will remote student schedules be the same as Face-to-Face schedules? If not, what will the school day look like?

  Middle school schedules will include 4 academics and 2 connections. High school schedules will include 4 classes, with a mix of academics and electives. 

• How will students transition between classes?

  Online students will go to the appropriate live session in CTLS at the designated time.

• Who will determine the student’s specific schedule if he/she selects remote learning?

  Counselors and school leaders at the Cobb Online Learning Academy will schedule students into courses. 

• What about students who have attended CVA for select classes in the past, like band students and summer classes? Will they still be able to sign up for select classes?

  Yes, supplemental CVA classes will still be available to Face-to-Face students.

• Will virtual teachers be teaching from a district facility or school?

  All teachers will be teaching from the Cobb Horizon campus.

• Will school (both Face-to-Face and Remote) meet five days a week, or will Wednesday continue to be an instructional support day for everyone? 

  All students will have classes all five days a week.

• How will virtual classes look different in the new school year than remote learning has looked for the past year?

  Each virtual class will have a dedicated online instructor. Online teachers will not be teaching face-to-face and virtual students simultaneously. They will be planning their instruction solely for online delivery and will be focused only on meeting the needs of their online students.

• Which grades will be impacted/able to access the new virtual option?

  Pre-K-12.

• Will teachers remain “Live” during independent work? Will teachers remain connected (online) to assure student understanding once the “live session” has ended? 

  Online Teachers will provide students with a schedule that will indicate when they are available for immediate communication. Most Live sessions end with independent work time for students when a teacher would be live/available. Teachers will remain available after live whole group sessions to assist students as needed.

• How is this new program different from Cobb Virtual Academy (CVA) or Georgia Virtual School(GAVS)? 

  The new online school will be a full-time, online option for school district students. Cobb Virtual Academy and Georgia Virtual School will continue to offer supplemental (part-time) online course options to CCSD students. 

• What does it mean for Face-to-Face learning? 

  All CCSD Students will continue to have access to rich online resources through CTLS. CCSD has long recognized that students learn in a variety of ways. With the addition of a fulltime, online school option, all students, face-to-face or online, will have access to high-quality instruction and high-quality teachers. 

• What does the school day look like?

  Middle School Schedule and Scenario, and High School Schedule and Scenario

• How will advisement/homeroom work? 

  Students will attend advisement/homeroom based on grade level. Students will have the opportunity on designated days to connect online with their homeroom advisor and classmates. These meetings will be used to set weekly goals, discuss social and emotional health, build rapport, and connect with counselors for group learning opportunities. The Pledge of Allegiance and moment of silence will also be recognized at this time. 

• Will students be able to take all assessments remotely? 

  Cobb Online Learning Academy students will be expected to take all assigned assessments including those required by the district and state. Some assessments will require the student to be on a CCSD campus for the test administration such as state required Milestones assessments. 

• Will students be able to participate in activities like sports and extracurriculars at their previous/zoned school? 

  Students participating in the Cobb Online Learning Academy will not be able to participate in extracurricular activities at any other school. 

• Will the students graduate from the Cobb Online Learning Academy or the high school they are districted to attend? 

  Students will graduate from the Cobb Online Learning Academy.

• Which students are eligible to attend? Are there more criteria than just a student’s grade?

  Student must withdraw from current CCSD school and enroll in Cobb Online Learning Academy. Students must be eligible to attend a CCSD school before requesting enrollment at Cobb Online Learning Academy.

• How does the attendance process work? 

  Positive attendance will be based on a student’s interaction with a teacher during a given instructional period. 

• How many hours a day will my child be in front of the computer screen?

  See sample schedules. Middle School Schedule and High School Schedule

• Will it be synchronous or asynchronous learning? 

  Cobb Online Learning Academy will utilize both synchronous and asynchronous learning.

• How many days a week will online students be expected to be online?

  Five days a week.

• Will full-time, online students at COLA be provided with a laptop?

  Yes, all full-time, online students at COLA will be provided with a laptop.

• How will my child receive Special Education services? 

  Gen ed/ and special ed teachers. After choosing online learning, an IEP meeting will be scheduled. 

• How will my child’s social-emotional needs be met?

  Opportunities for Social-Emotional Learning will be provided throughout a student’s experience at Cobb Online Learning Academy, but primarily during the Advisement period. 

• How will my child receive ESOL services? 

  ESOL services will be provided by a certified ESOL teacher.

• When does registration for remote learning begin? 

  Registration opens on March 22nd, at 5:00 PM, and closes April 2nd, at 11:59 PM.

• What if parents want to change their choice mid-year (or at any time)? 

  Families choosing the Cobb Online Learning Academy are encouraged to enroll for the entire school year. 

• When will school start? 

  August 2, 2021.

• When will the community be given more details?

  Additional details will be released in the coming weeks on this website.

• Do parents who want their students to return to Face-to-Face have to register too?

  Only students who wish to participate in the full-time online program must register.

• Will Special Education students be able to participate in online learning?

  Students served in the Special Education program are eligible to participate in the Cobb Online Learning Academy. The students will have access to the courses outlined in the course catalog. IEP services will be provided virtually if that option is selected. Students served in a Specialized Program in Special Education (PK – 12) will have a virtual option; however, the modified curriculum is not offered through the Cobb Online Learning Academy.

• My child is currently attending a local school on an approved student transfer. What happens if he/she attends the Cobb Online Learning Academy and then wishes to return to Face-to-Face instruction at a later date?

  When a student withdraws from an approved transfer school, the approved transfer ends. As a result, if the student wishes to return to face-to-face instruction after enrollment at the Cobb Online Learning Academy, he/she would be enrolled at the locally zoned school and not the previously approved transfer school. Students may re-apply for a new transfer in accordance with specific school transfer rules and timelines.

• If I have additional questions related to online learning, who do I ask?

  Please email any unanswered questions to learningeverywhere@cobbk12.org where it will be sent to the best person to give you the quickest, most accurate answer.

*For additional questions regarding Middle School registration, please contact 770.426.3550.

*For additional questions regarding High School registration, please contact 770.426.3352.