ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Beginning Monday, some Orange County students will be switching up how they learn. Friday was the deadline for parents to make any changes to how their children have been learning since the start of the school year.
What You Need To Know
- Deadline ends to finalize in-person or virtual learning
- Changes can be made up until 4:30 p.m. Friday
- More: Find contact informatio for your child's principal
Orange County mom Staci York says at first it was a no-brainer to have her autistic son Jayden do virtual learning. But then the district announced that parents could switch their child's learning situation if they wanted to.
“I was up all night, like pros and cons, back and forth,” York said.
While Jayden was doing well with LaunchEd at home, his social skills are deteriorating rapidly, she said.
“All the hard work that we have strived for his entire life, we’re kind of back to square one,” she said.
School district spokesman Scott Howat said officials are hoping those already doing LaunchED will stay with it.
“Because we believe that is still the safest learning model for our children and all of our students,” he said.
It will also mean fewer teachers will have to move around, he said.
But York says for her it’s worth the risk, knowing her son will be able to socialize and continue to progress.
“Speaking to his pediatrician, he said kids will get it but they’re gonna be OK ... I don’t want to cocoon him for who knows how long this is gonna last,” she said.
"We Have to Take Inter Account Their Mental State"
At the beginning of the school year, Jawanza Sparks decided it would be best for her two sons to stay home to learn online with OCPS’s LaunchEd learning option.
She says that’s made for quite a busy home.
“There’s a lot going on at home between the sister, the dog, me, my husband,” said Sparks.
Sparks says it’s been difficult at times for her younger son – who’s in third grade – to concentrate. So she’s now decided to send him back into the classroom.
“We have to take into account their mental state,” said Sparks. “So, I think letting him go back to school helps him out with his confidence.”
Sparks reached out to her son’s school last week to make that change. Changes made will determine how students learn for the next nine weeks of school.
Sparks’ older son will stay at home to learn. Despite safety concerns, Sparks says she feels comfortable with her younger son going back into the classroom.
“I’ve been up to the school, and they seem to be really responsive as far as taking temperatures, making sure kids have on masks and things like that,” said Sparks.
Orange County Public School administrators say the changes to a child’s learning method is a nine-week commitment, but if a child has any major issues with the adjustment they always have the ability to reach out to their principal with concerns.
Parents in Osceola County also had the opportunity to switch their kids’ learning options until noon Friday.
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