to save learners from snow
'Virtual snow days' are seen as a way to ease pressure on school calendars and maintain the required number of student contact days.
Also, online work keeps students involved in material, making it less likely they will have a learning deficit going into standardised testing in the spring, proponents say.
Because districts are required to be in session for a certain number of hours or days, losing time to weather can mean extending the school day or cutting spring break or summer vacation, reveals the Denver Post.
“Even if you can't continue on at the same pace, being able to keep students on track can make a huge difference,” says Doug Levin, executive director of the non-profit State Educational Technology Directors Association.
Virtual learning, which has been widely used by colleges and universities for years, is becoming more viable for younger students as teachers and administrators grow comfortable with the technology.
Online learning also saves money because districts don't have to pay for transportation, electricity and custodians.
Quad City Times reports that officials in several local school districts said the idea of requiring students to participate in 'virtual snow days' hasn't ever come up.
“We're always open to new ideas, but it's nothing that's been on our radar to date,” said Dawn Saul, spokeswoman for the Davenport Community School District.
Same goes for the East Moline School District, where superintendent Kristin Humphries said access to technology would be problematic for many families.
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