Warren Schools Launching Warren Connect For Online Learning

The Warren County School System is launching a dedicated school for personalized learning called Warren Connect.

Students in grades 3-12 are eligible. Director of Schools Grant Swallows said interested students would be zoned exclusively to Warren Connect.

Swallows said that dedicated virtual learning was a necessity last school year, this year it’s about looking towards the future.

“Some students learn better in different ways and basically that’s what differentiation is,” Swallows said. “It’s our job to make sure that we’re hitting all students where they can learn and where they need to learn.”

Swallows said the plan is to get applications posted online for Warren Connect by Friday, to start accepting qualified students before August 11. Swallows said that input from the student’s zoned school will play a role in applications.

He said this ensures students who did not succeed in virtual learning have a chance to remain in the classroom.

“Teacher, counselor, principal input, of course last year if they did virtual learning they were at their zoned school,” Swallows said. “If the student applies, then we’ll turn around and ask the zoned school how they did in the virtual environment in the previous year. That will give us an idea, it’s about making the best decision for the kid. It is not necessarily something that we’re just opening up to everybody. We want to put in kids that can be successful in this environment.”

For students that are accepted, Swallows said teachers will be local for grades 3-8. Swallows said that a district vendor partnership with Edgenuity will be used for high school students to ensure all courses can be offered with a certified teacher.

“We’ll have some synchronous and asynchronous learning,” Swallows said. “If it’s synchronous they (teachers) will be online with them at that time. If it’s asynchronous then it could be where they’re watching a video that’s been recorded or doing work that’s been uploaded for them and doing that on their schedule.”

Swallows said this is not the system’s first time doing online, personalized learning but it is a first with a dedicated school. Swallows said that with 29 new virtual schools opening this fall, it was about getting out in front of the trend, using the school’s experience with the online learning method.

“It will be fully virtual, fully online for them,” Swallows said. “They will be asked to come in and do some things in a building, testing for one. They’ll have an in-person orientation but at the end of the day they will be doing all their learning online.”

Swallows said the anticipation is to have the application window open for a couple of weeks. Swallows said that while the intention of the program is for students who excel in the learning method, there is a known need for families with COVID health concerns.