CLAY COUNTY – Clay Virtual Academy is an option for parents with children who aren’t comfortable with them returning to school this August.

The Clay County School Board is in continued discussion about how the district should return to school in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and it’s unknown at this time if students will return as they normally would, if wearing masks if mandatory, if a hybrid model will be implemented or if students will continue distance learning. For parents not comfortable with a future where children are back in school this August, the CVA’s doors are open.

“We’ve always been an option but with everything going on, we want to provide more attention to the school,” CVA Principal Amanda Stillanou said.

CVA is a standard public school. There are teachers, a principal, a guidance counselor, clubs, a yearbook, a graduation ceremony and more. It’s different in that it doesn’t require onsite classroom participation. Studies can be completed, for the most part, from the comfort of your home. In a world where some might be uncomfortable going out in the public, onsite campuses are proving to be a popular option.

Schools may open for the 2020-21 school year as usual, with a few differences. Face masks could be required, along with a plentiful supply of hand sanitizer and soap. And social distancing might be implemented. That’s all still up in the air but for parents not wanting to risk coming into contact with the virus, CVA is easy to enroll in.

Stillanou said that since the coronavirus, there has been an influx in parents looking into CVA as an option. CVA is a franchise of Florida Virtual Academy and as such, runs in the same way. The only difference is that the teachers, administration, tutors and guidance counselors are in Clay County.

“We have standard courses, honor courses and options for dual enrollment,” Stillanou said. “We also offer one-on-one tutoring, on-site tutoring in Orange Park and more.”

All of this is to say that education at CVA is not much different from education at any other school in the county. One important distinction is that the school doles out grades in semesters, not quarters. Stillanou said. This means if someone enrolls, they must commit to a full semester.

Students that enjoyed the recent foray into distance learning might think this is what CVA offers, but it’s different. CVA is its own platform with its own rigorous standards-based curriculum. Students are expected to stay on pace on their own volition and as such, should be students with good time-management skills.

Parents on the fence about this option can visit oneclay.net/cva and go through some sample lessons.

“This allows parents and students to experience CVA without signing up for it,” Stillanou said. “If they decide it’s right for them, we welcome them.”

If it turns out the virtual academy is the right for them, enrolling in the school is as easy as hitting the enrollment tab on the website and filling out the required information. Stillanou said there isn’t a definitive solution for getting internet-connected devices to students that need it, but she said the district is looking to make it happen.

“We want parents to know that we’re an option for them,” Stillanou said. “We’re an A-rated public school with the same education standards as any other school in the district. We’re here for your children.”