Frequently Asked Questions

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Virtual Academy will be a fully remote learning option during the 2021-22 school year that serves a limited number of students who qualify as medically fragile with documented health conditions or medical needs. It is the intent to have remote learning be an essential part of how we educate our students in future school years and Virtual Academy leadership will work with stakeholders over the upcoming year to define the vision for remote learning moving forward.

Students who are medically fragile and have sign-off from a physician via the COVID-19 Health Eligibility Form are eligible.

No. Students will need to apply and be approved as medically fragile by a medical committee overseen by the Office of Student Health and Wellness.

An application will be sent out to all families on June 18. Students who meet the medical fragility requirements and want to enroll in the Virtual Academy should apply.

To apply, have the COVID-19 Health Eligibility form submitted by a licensed medical provider [Medical Doctor (MD), Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Physician Assistant (PA) or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)]. 

Forms should be emailed to virtualenrollment@cps.edu or faxed to 773-553-1883 to the attention of Virtual Enrollment.

Yes, the deadline for applying to the Virtual Academy will be July 23, 2021. Applications submitted after this deadline (for example, if a student has a newly developed medical condition) will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Our KIDS assistance hotline (773-553-KIDS) contact information will be provided in communications to connect families with options for assistance with access to healthcare.

No, there will be no cost to schools or families to enroll in the Virtual Academy.

No, all students enrolled in a remote learning program need to be approved by the OSHW team and receive instruction centrally. This allows home sites to fully focus on in-person learning and allows us to meet the requirements of Illinois School Code 10-29.

For the 2021-2022 school year, the Virtual Academy will serve a limited number of students who qualify as medically fragile with documented health conditions or medical needs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In future years, the Virtual Academy may continue to serve medically fragile students and its mission may develop over time. Annual guidelines will be updated by Virtual Academy leadership with stakeholder input.

All students enrolled in remote programs in Illinois will need to be re-evaluated at the end of each school year to ensure the program is still the best fit for their learning needs.

Elementary school students will be given the option to transition back to in-person learning at the start of each quarter.

High school students or those enrolled in courses for high school credit will be given the option to transition back to in-person learning each semester.

Students who have documented medical need and are approved to enroll in the Virtual Academy will retain any goCPS seat in a district-run school when they transition back into in-person learning. Students who unenroll from the Virtual Academy to leave the district will lose their seat.

Students enrolled in CPS charter schools should contact their school for up-to-date information.

Yes, the process for obtaining a computer will be similar to the 2020-21 school year. The district will communicate any changes in how students will obtain a laptop.

Chicago Connected will continue to be a resource for students next year.

Yes, our nutrition services Team will continue to serve students in remote programming. The district will communicate how students enrolled in the Virtual Academy can receive meals before the beginning of the 2021-22 school year.

All Special Education services will continue to be available to students through the Virtual Academy. Related services will remain consistent with the student’s IEP.
 

Students who qualify for bilingual services will continue to receive those services while enrolled in the Virtual Academy.

Yes, all Virtual Academy students will be required to take all CPS and state assessments. This is a best practice, and is necessary according to state code.

CPS is optimistic that students enrolled in the Virtual Academy will still be able to participate in sports and extracurricular activities. We will be working with the Illinois High School Association and principals to determine what sports participation looks like.