Press Release #13 / Nov. 14, 2024
Dearborn Public School’s Virtual K-12 is accepting transfer requests in and out of the online-only school for the second semester, which starts Jan. 6, 2025.
The deadline to transfer in or out of Virtual K-12 is Dec. 1, 2024.
Virtual K-12 offers students at all grade levels a daily mix of synchronous (live) and asynchronous instruction. The school is open to students in first grade through high school from across Wayne County. There is no virtual kindergarten this year due to low enrollment.
Students in first through eighth grade are taught by Dearborn Public Schools staff and attend a combination of remote, live lessons on Zoom and asynchronous time supported with remote learning labs and tutoring. High school students attend a remote learning lab each day and complete coursework via an online, asynchronous learning platform. Highly-qualified, district staff will support students during learning labs, and students have access to other professional staff including a school counselor and social worker.
To enroll in Virtual K-12, families new to Dearborn Public Schools need to start by enrolling their child in the district at www.dearbornschools.org/enroll. Families already in Dearborn Public Schools who would like to move their child into Virtual K-12 can complete this Request to Transfer to Virtual K-12. Families who live in the district and would like to transfer their child back to their assigned neighborhood school should complete the Transfer Out of Virtual K-12 Form. Learn more in the Virtual K-12 transfer document.
Students would finish this semester at their current school, and then start the second semester at their new school on Jan. 6.
Virtual K-12 launched in the fall of 2021 to provide an online only education for students and families who experienced online learning during the pandemic and found it to be a good fit. However, for the 2024-25 school year, the state forced the district to scale back on the amount of live instruction provided to Virtual K-12 students and to instead create more asynchronous lessons that students completed on their own.
To be successful in virtual learning, students need an extra level of independence and self-discipline. They need to be able to complete their work with less supervision, and they need to be able to speak up and ask questions when they need help or clarification from the teacher. Not all students are well-suited for this style of learning. Parents should carefully consider the unique qualities of their child when considering if virtual school is right for them. Parents also should understand that putting their child in a virtual school may mean the parent needs to assist more to make sure students do their work on time, stay focused on their classwork, and interact with their teachers. For students in grades six through 12, state and federal testing and final exams are required to be done in-person at district locations.