District Associate Superintendent Catherine Gillach and Online Learning Manager Andrea Altepeter both recently said the district-run virtual school will address student needs for alternative learning pathways.
"We have learned over time that not every student learns the same way at the same pace," Gillach said. "... So this really just provides a flexible option for some students."
While students have had access to individual online courses through the state-run North Dakota Center for Distance Education (NDCDE), Gillach said the Grand Forks Virtual High School (GFVHS) will give the district more control over shaping the program and allow for increased support for students.
"Barely over a third of our kids were actually passing those classes, the ones offered by the (NDCDE)," Gillach said. "... (Students) need somebody who's going to be on top of things, monitoring their stuff, reaching out to their parents, calling their parents if needed. And I think that's the service that we're going to be able to offer that's a little bit different from what NDCDE offers."
The NDCDE program had a 36 percent failure rate in the 2023-2024 school year. Gillach said while the district does not condemn the program, the failure rate strongly influenced district leaders' decision to open GFVHS.
Gillach said GFVHS will be a flexible model for students who have to work full time, have passions outside of school, have anxiety that deters them from the in-person model or those who learn better in a virtual and adaptable format. Students will be able to create their own schedule as long as they are on track with their hours and credits.
Classes will be offered through the online learning management system Edgenuity. All course work will be through the platform, with teachers and other support staff grading and checking in with students throughout the semester.
Despite their excitement for the program, both Gillach and Altepeter said the virtual model is not the solution for every student. Altepeter meets with every family before enrollment to determine if online learning is right for their student.
"When you're in school ... you can raise your hand and a teacher will walk to you and give you that support that you need within a matter of minutes," Altepeter said. "Whereas, if you're working in that virtual setting, you need the motivation to log on and complete your work and stay on pace. I think you have to be a little bit more self-reliant and self-sufficient."
She said some families have decided after the meeting that the virtual model is not a good fit.
For students who do decide to enroll in GFVHS, they are required to have weekly check-ins with a mentor teacher. Students can get additional support in office hours outside of their weekly meetings and a licensed special education teacher will be doing direct service minutes with students on Individualized Education Programs (IEP).
The projected cost of the GFVHS is $168,230. This includes $108,999 in staffing, $6,686 in additional support and training and $52,545 in Edgenuity software. Edgenuity does serve other needs in the district, so the cost specifically for GFVHS is a $19,500 increase.
Gillach said the program will be funded like in-person programs, with a majority of the cost being covered by state aid.
"What's paying for the Virtual Academy is the same sort of funding sources that pay for all of our programming across the district," she said.
The district gets around $11,000 per student, with virtual students being allotted a little less than students in-person.
Altepeter said forming an open line of communication with families is important in the process.
"We do like to communicate right away and form that partnership," she said. "Also just sending those weekly updates. Parents will be connected to their students through the Edgenuity platform as well, so they can see their grades, see their progress in real time."
For classes that cannot be offered in the virtual model, students will have the option to take in-person classes at Red River High School, Central High School or the new Career Impact Academy.
"We've been really upfront with families that we're not going to be able to replicate the full array of courses that are offered on campus," Gillach said. "And I think they accept and know that trade-off."
One of the major trade-offs when students shift to a virtual model is the lack of built-in social interaction. Gillach and Altepeter discussed the limits of the current virtual high school model and their hopes for increased collaboration in the future.
"We have talked about the 2.0 version already, which would have some collaborative work projects," Gillach said, "... so that there is a bit more of that community."
Twenty-five students will be starting at GFVHS this month. There is an orientation for virtual students before the start of school, at which they will meet their teachers and peers, get set up with any necessary technology and learn tips for success in the online environment.
While the enrollment period for GFVHS has been closed since May, it will open again for the spring semester in December.
Altepeter said she is looking forward to giving kids another pathway in the virtual setting.
"There just is a great positivity and energy when students are talking about their goals," said Altepeter. "I think it's really exciting that families or students who have not felt successful in our traditional brick-and-mortar setting, are excited about the upcoming school year and what it could bring to them.
© 2025 the Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, N.D.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
