WAPS Mulls Online Learning Addition

Facebook/WAPS

WINONA, Minn. (KWNO)- Winona Area Public Schools (WAPS) is preparing to return all grades to full in-person learning on April 8.  

WAPS, like other districts across the state, has discovered that distance learning has been working for some students. It’s led to many Minnesota districts seeking to add online learning offerings.

Communications Coordinator John Casper says the district is looking into offering online learning alongside in-person learning for the next school year. Casper says there’s some uncertainty surrounding where the pandemic will be next fall and how many families would be interested in online offerings. 

“If we were going to put an online program together we need to make sure we have enough students who want to take the online program,” Casper said. He said WAPS hopes to get a survey out to gauge online learning interest from district families within the next week.  

Casper said there is no legislation that would allow WAPS to offer distance learning and said an online program would need to be approved by the Minnesota Department of Education.  

Casper said there is a possibility MDE could authorize school districts to offer distance learning next year, in which case Casper said the district could use the extra year to best fit a distance learning program to WAPS family’s needs.