Orange County Public Schools to begin virtual classes for all students Aug. 10

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The first day of class for Orange County Public Schools has been moved up to Aug. 10, with all students learning on LaunchEd.

Face-to-face learning will follow for students who signed up for the option on Aug. 21.

Teachers return to work on Friday. The union argued pushing the start date back unfairly delayed teachers’ first paycheck.

The district on Monday morning was approved for Distant Learning Days from Aug. 10-20. All students registered for face-to-face or LaunchEd@Home will utilize LaunchEd during those days.

“This gives the teachers, students and families kind of some adjustment time - getting used to the LaunchEd program,” said David Grimm, an Orange County Public Schools parent.

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The school year was previously scheduled to begin on Aug. 10 but then was postponed to Aug. 21.

Those days will be instructional days, the school district said, and feature standard instructional time and will allow both students and staff to get comfortable with the system.

Parents and staff had until 5 p.m. Monday to choose between either in-person or online instruction.

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The union is still against in-person learning.

The district had written to the state asking if they might keep campuses closed, but the letter has gone unanswered.

“I know there’s still a lot of teachers who are concerned that have autoimmune issues and some underlying conditions whether it’s themselves or children at home,” Grimm said.

VIDEO: Orange County Public Schools to begin virtual classes for all studentsAug. 10 Orange County Public Schools to begin virtual classes Aug. 10.

Cox Media Group