Parents and guardians can register their students to Greenville County Schools’ full-time virtual program now for the 2021-22 school year until Tuesday, Feb. 9, the school district announced on Jan. 21.
Those interested in enrolling their students in the program must be enrolled in GCS, and parents need to have a BackPack account.
The school district will staff the virtual program based on the interest shown in this first open window. A waitlist will open in April. GCS officials note this is based on the pandemic receding. If COVID-19 numbers have not improved, the school district will open up more windows for families to sign up.
Once a student is registered, families will be contacted by a school counselor to help select the student’s courses.
In an email, school district spokesperson Tim Waller said there have been a few changes to the virtual program for the 2021-22 academic year.
“First, there will be an increased emphasis on attendance in live sessions. Students will be expected to participate in live sessions at scheduled times. Exceptions based on extenuating circumstances must be approved, in advance, by the virtual administrator,” Waller said.
Additionally, parents and guardians wishing to change to the brick-and-mortar program will be able to request the change — though, Waller said, families are asked to do so at the end of a nine-week grading period. Finally, students in the GCS virtual program will not be scheduled by school, but by their grade levels and academic records.
Exclusions to the virtual program include specialized programs like the Charles Townes Center or Language Immersion, according to Waller.
