This morning it’s a typical Thursday at Georgia Cyber Academy – Georgia’s largest public school. The 9,000 students will attend their classes as usual, supported by GCA’s 700 teachers, administrators, and staff. Each student and each employee will do this from the location of their choice, presumably their home, and will be in full compliance of Governor Brian Kemp’s directives for social distancing.
Georgia Cyber Academy delivers instruction in a 100 percent virtual setting. There are no physical classrooms. Each student is provided a computer and are connected via the internet to their class. Their teachers are also connected via broadband. Each can see the other with cameras, for direct one-on-one interaction.
While other Georgia public school students began a state imposed break today, Georgia Cyber Academy’s students across the entire state will continue their regular schedule. Only the central office staff will have their routines slightly changed, now also working from home using the school’s automated platforms to conduct school business.
“We’re extremely grateful to provide continuity to our students’ families as well as our staff during these stressful times,” said GCA’s Head of School, Angela Lassetter. “Our school is different, and our difference is one of our great strengths.”
There will be some minor changes for students in the weeks ahead. All field trips have been cancelled for the foreseeable future. In order to continue the benefits of these educational experiences outside the classroom, administrators are working to replace them with “virtual field trips.” Students will use the same technology that creates their classroom to virtually take them to places of cultural and educational significance.
Georgia Cyber Academy is a public charter school authorized by the State Charter Schools Commission, and serves students from all of Georgia’s 159 counties. The SCSC renewed GCA’s charter last month, noting the school’s “significant academic growth” and implementing a new curriculum this year. As a public school, GCA serves students tuition free from all backgrounds and with all educational abilities. Admission to GCA is granted via a lottery process, which is conducted through an independent third party to ensure fairness.
“Every day is an opportunity to learn, and to be better than we were the day before” she said. “I’m gratified that GCA’s approach and technology allows our students and staff to find some normalcy in a time when so much of the world is anything but, and to stay on their paths of achievement.”
