Columbia Virtual Academy Marks 20 Years of Service to Families

This school year marks an incredible milestone—the 20th anniversary of Columbia Virtual Academy, the district’s accredited online “parent partnership” multi-district program. The longevity and strength of the CVA program rests with the staff’s ongoing flexibility to embrace new learning tools, technologies, and layers of state requirements. CVA staff diligently work to understand family needs and provide student-centered, high-quality education for those desiring to achieve their children’s education outside of traditional classrooms.

CVA has grown and changed significantly in the past 20 years. The Valley School Board first established the “Valley Home Program” in the fall of 2003 under Washington administrative fiscal rules governing Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) programs. Interest in this “parent partnership” program grew quickly. The first enrollment count included 76 students, double what the School Board had anticipated.

Enrollment jumped exponentially after the state legislature passed Senate Bill 5828 in 2005, clarifying basic ed funding and delivery requirements for digital/online learning programs, essentially allowing students to enroll from any location in the state. In 2006, the Valley Home Program was renamed Columbia Virtual Academy, promoting Family Choice Education under the values of personalization, flexibility, choice and control.

The CVA distance learning model was refined and operations shifted to streamline delivery of various services, including special education. As CVA was promoted statewide, enrollment continued to grow. By 2009, CVA-Central and district staff in Valley guided operations for 12 partner districts offering the CVA program. At its highest enrollment peak, the CVA consortium served close to 4000 students throughout Washington. 

The CVA program shifted again when state law and administrative rules governing ALE were majorly revised in 2011, affecting enrollment numbers and funding. But the VSD Board and administrators persisted to manage construction of a CVA building, develop online systems, gain accreditation, and shape CVA into the successful program it is today.

Click here for more: Story of CVA

The Valley School District Board of Directors meets the third Wednesday of every month at 6:00 p.m. in the Broadcast Studio at the Valley School District Office, 3030 Huffman Road, Valley, WA 99181.

Regular School Board meetings are held in-person with a virtual access option. For information about Board members or Board meetings, please contact Kim Horton, Executive Assistant, at kim.horton@valleysd.org or (509) 937-2771.
 

Information for virtual access to the meeting is included in the Board Agenda, which is also posted on the Valley School District website at least 24 hours prior to a meeting.  If you have any comments or questions, please email kim.horton@valleysd.org by noon on the Board meeting day.