Oak Harbor Virtual Academy (OHVA) is a web-based educational program serving Kindergarten through Twelfth grade students.  The program provides instructor-led online courses to students. All instructors have valid state certifications in their subject areas. OHVA presents students with an interactive learning experience, not a textbook online. All OHVA curriculum mirrors the scope and sequence of content taught in Oak Harbor Public Schools. 

Online learning offers a unique experience and certain flexibility that is not available in a traditional classroom. While the online environment is a great alternative for some students, it is important to ensure it will be a good fit for you, your child, their style of learning, and that it can fit well with other commitments.

Because the state considers online learning an Alternative Learning Experience (ALE), students have many more responsibilities than they would in a regular classroom learning experience. Rules, which call for weekly progress and contact from each student in every course, help ensure that students are set up to succeed in the alternative environment.

A New Learning Experience

Washington state ALE rules govern how students must perform in online courses. Students are required to maintain weekly contact and weekly progress to remain in good standing. If a student has 20 days of no contact and no progress, intervention and/or a drop from the student's online course is required.

Weekly Contact: According to Washington state law, students must have weekly personal contact with their instructors. Direct personal contact shall be for the purposes of instruction, review of assignments, testing, reporting of student progress, or other learning activities. Students are required to maintain contact a minimum of once a week.
 

Regular Progress: One of the advantages of OHVA is that it allows for a flexible learning environment. Students may work on their assignments when and where they would like. At the same time though, Washington state law requires students to make academic progress in their online courses.  Student progress will be evaluated against progress benchmarks which are clearly defined in the course for each month.

• An assignment/test/activity posted to Blackboard that an instructor grades and/or provides feedback on
• Email exchange with the teacher
• Phone call with the teacher
• Face-to-Face with teacher
• Electronic exchange with teacher: Discussion Board, Blog, Instant Message

OHVA works best for families that:

• Have an internet connection and working computer they can use daily
• Are able to set a realistic daily schedule to work on their online coursework
• Are motivated, self-directed, and an independent worker
• Are technologically savvy and check their student email daily
• Are comfortable communicating with their teacher over email and the phone
• Are good at reading instructions and following written directions
• Have good organizational skills
• Reach out for help when they need it! We have many resources for students who need help.
• Guide and encourage their student to login daily and stay on pace
• Utilize Skyward, ParentSquare, and other communication resources to monitor their student's progress
• Have a reliable computer and internet connection at home away from undue distraction
• Communicate regularly with their student’s virtual teacher