LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) students of all ages will have the option to learn virtually this school year.

During a JCPS Board of Education meeting in May, board members voted to make a full virtual learning year available to any 6-12th grade students in the district. It's called the Pathfinder School of Innovation. It was made possible by expanding Jefferson County High School, which had already offered students 16 and up the chance to earn a diploma through online courses.

That Pathfinder School of Innovation was only available for 6-12th grade students. Seeing rising cases across the Commonwealth, Superintendent Dr. Marty Pollio thought the district should extend the option for elementary students as well.

"I've been getting a lot of feedback around elementary school families who are concerned still about sending their child to school with the delta variant," said Pollio.

Speaking to reporters before the Board of Education meeting on July 27, Pollio said he wanted to give elementary students the option to learn from home, just like middle and high school students could. He made a formal recommendation before the Board of Education that night.

Once members approved, the next step was getting a one-year waiver from the Kentucky Department of Education. It's something JCPS did not have to do for the middle and high school Pathfinder program. However, that waiver is required to offer virtual learning for elementary students since they are so young. That one-year waiver means this is only an option for elementary students this school year unless JCPS applies for and receives a waiver again next year.

"That would expire at the end of the year and students would return to school, which is not necessarily the case for 6th-12th graders. I think that says a lot about the concern around teaching and learning virtually for the younger students. In the end, we want to support parents with options that may need that or be concerned about the health and wellbeing of their child, but also be willing at any time to say, you know, what we want to go back to in-person school and grant them that opportunity," said Pollio.

Pollio said those elementary students who choose a virtual learning option will be able to go back to in-person learning if they want. We asked a district spokesperson how that would work. Essentially, all elementary, middle or high school students who go to virtual learning will leave their host school to do so. However, those elementary students can apply to return to their brick-and-mortar school if they want.

As far as how this new program will be staffed, Pollio said it depends on how many students apply. This option just became available for elementary students, so it's not yet known how many will pick this option. However, enrollment for middle and high school has been open this summer, which could serve as an estimate for interest levels for elementary students.

JCPS said 300 middle and high school students are enrolled in the Pathfinder program and another 200 or more have applied. This is a program JCPS plans to continue into the future for those grades, but that is not the case for virtual learning in elementary school.

Interested families can apply for the Pathfinder program for an elementary student here. There is more information for families about the Pathfinder program for 6-12th grade students on the JCPS website.