About Omaha Virtual School
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FAQ-General
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Will OVS waive the face-to-face requirement for students with high risk health conditions?
OVS requires a weekly face-to-face sessions for all learners. If your student is in the high risk category, please call their current school to begin the accommodations process. This will require documentation from your student's medical care provider.
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What is Omaha Virtual School?
The Omaha Virtual School (OVS) began in the 2016-17 school year as the first K-8th grade virtual school in the State of Nebraska. OVS is a program within Omaha Public Schools that currently serves K-12th grade students.
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How is OVS different from fully remote learning?
- OVS is a blended program that requires weekly face-to-face sessions at the learning center in the TAC building at 3215 Cuming Street.
- Most of the learner's week is spent at home working through the curriculum with the support of their learning coach (parent/guardian). There are limited live online classes. Teacher support is limited to scheduled support times.
- OVS is a program with high expectations and a rigorous curriculum.
- OVS requires strong adult support at home.
- K-5 students may need someone to help them for up to 6 hours per day while at home.
- OVS does not offer transportation, breakfast/lunch, sports or music and has a limited course catalog. There is limited access to counselors and OVS does not have a social worker on staff.
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What is blended learning?
In a blended learning model, students complete online coursework at home with the guidance of their parent/guardian or other individual close to the student who serves as their learning coach. To enhance online learning and focus on skills, students participate in an engaging, face-to-face class at least once per week. These activities include labs, guest speakers, cooperative learning opportunities and much more!
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Is there a cost to attend?
Omaha Virtual School is a free program within Omaha Public Schools. We provide a device and all the materials student need to be successful in the program.
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Does my student need their own device?
No. OVS supplies each student with a device to complete their work at home. Typical home office supplies, such as printing paper, are not supplied.
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What curriculum do you use?
Flexpoint Education Cloud provides content, curriculum and the learning management system for OVS Elementary grades K-5.
StrongMind is used with our Middle and High School students.
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Where will the face-to-face sessions take place?
The Elementary classrooms are located on the 4th floor of Omaha Public Schools Teacher Administrator Center at 3215 Cuming Street in Omaha.
The Middle and High School classrooms are located in the Career Center section of the same building.
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How long are face-to-face sessions?
K-5 students attend one half-day per week. 6-9th grade students attend 1 day per week. 10-11th grade students attend one half-day per week. Seniors are completely virtual. Due to limited space, middle school and high school students do not attend sessions on the same day.
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Are the face-to-face sessions required?
Yes, these are a necessary component to our learning environment. Research shows that the in-person element of blended learning increase student success.
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How many students are in each classroom during face-to-face sessions?
K-5th grade class sizes will be from 10-12 students. 6th-8th grade class sizes will be from 15-18 students, and 9th-11th grade class sizes will be from 18-20 students. These class sizes allow for us to manage students in small groups and maximize the space that we have available to us in the TAC building.
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How is my student's learning progress monitored?
The parent representative/learning coach helps facilitate and monitor the student's daily progress, based off the pacing guides that OVS teachers create and distribute. During online, live lessons and face-to-face class time, OVS teachers frequently measure students’ mastery of concepts to personalize learning. Our teachers also provide feedback and are available to answer questions for both the learning coach and the student. OVS provides a positive and caring support system. Student success relies on strong communication between the parent, teacher, and student.
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Are students required to participate in state testing?
Students are required to take state assessments and required to come on an additional day on state testing weeks to complete the test in our learning center.
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What if my student needs extra help?
OVS teachers have support times built into their week for any students that feel they could benefit from some additional time with their teacher. We also provide intervention for learners who qualify for additional supports in the areas of reading and math.
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Does OVS offer special education services?
Yes, OVS provides special education services.
FAQ-Enrollment
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When can I apply for the 2022-23 school year?
The enrollment window is currently closed.
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Who is eligible to enroll?
Any K-12th grade student who currently attends an OPS school is eligible to apply for Omaha Virtual School. New enrollments will be determined based on space and application criteria.
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What determines a student's acceptance into OVS?
In order to be successful in OVS, a student must meet the following criteria:- Independently motivated to learn
- Parent/guardian, or other adult close to the student, available daily to facilitate learning and keep the student on track.
- Ability to attend face-to-face sessions at least once per week at our learning center inside the Omaha TAC building at 3215 Cuming Street in Omaha.
- Provide consistent transportation to face-to-face sessions. We do not offer any transportation or vouchers for transportation.
- Other considerations include attendance at previous school, credit sufficiency (high school), and current/previous school recommendation/input.
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Is there a cost to attend?
Omaha Virtual School is a free program within Omaha Public Schools. We provide a device and materials for your student to succeed in a blended learning environment.
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Can Omaha Virtual School serve students with an IEP?
Omaha Virtual School does have special education services.