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In a special called meeting on July 19, the State Board of Education approved 34 school district virtual learning programs for the 2021-2022 school year. The approved programs met enrollment criteria established by the South Carolina General Assembly and guidelines established by the State Board of Education that were derived from similar regulations pertaining to virtual charter schools.
"While all South Carolina schools are rightly prioritizing full, in-person instruction this upcoming school year, we know families in some communities were able to successfully navigate virtual learning and would like the option to continue," said State Board of Education Chair Dr. Kristi Woodall. "The districts whose programs were approved have demonstrated that they are able to meet the high expectations that we have set for virtual instruction and student participation."
Full time virtual learning programs were required to meet all the following guidelines which were adapted from similar regulations governing virtual charter schools.
Additionally, the General Assembly in the 2021–22 General Appropriations Bill, included a proviso that capped traditional school district virtual enrollment at 5 percent of the district's total student population.
Parents looking for virtual options in districts with and without their own virtual programs can enroll free of charge in VirtualSC, a free state-sponsored online program serving students currently attending public, private and home schools in grades 7-12 and Adult Education Programs. VirtualSC offers a wide variety of online course offerings including the full suite of Advanced Placement courses. Registration opens on August 18 for middle and high school year long courses.
South Carolina is also home to seven free online virtual charter schools that are available to students and their families statewide. They are:
**The State Board of Education has approved a total of 51 virtual programs. The full list can be found here.""