Online Learning (BVL)

BVL is an ideal environment for a motivated learner who seeks the independence of completing coursework that runs parallel with the Bellingham Public Schools (BPS) high school curriculum, and who wants to learn asynchronously and work remotely.  

Bellingham Virtual Learning (BVL) is an alternative learning environment of Bellingham Public Schools. BVL provides instructor-supported online courses to high school students working remotely. BVL courses are not the same, but are similar to high school courses offered at BPS high schools.  

It is important to note that BVL courses alone will not provide a pathway to high school graduation. BVL courses do not offer CTE credits, which are required for a Bellingham Public Schools diploma.

BVL classes are taught through the learning platform Imagine Edgenuity. BVL courses are asynchronous. Asynchronous means that students move through courses at their own pace and are not bound by scheduled class periods. Students are expected to log in and complete course work daily. To earn credit in a BVL class, students must complete 100% of assigned coursework. 

BVL is a choice-based Alternative Learning Experience. Each BVL student is assisted by a BVL support teacher. This support teacher manages each student’s Washington State Learning Plan. BVL supp0rt teachers provide encouragement, pacing guidance, help to monitor and report progress, and support to facilitate student success. Students are expected to maintain regular weekly contact with their BVL support teacher. 

Successful BVL students are confident, motivated, independent learners with strong reading, study, note taking, organizational, and technology skills. It is important to note that online courses are not for everyone. Students will need to schedule time to work on their courses in order to be successful. Students who struggle with time management, course completion and self-motivation may not find success with BVL coursework. Imagine Edgenuity provides translation, closed captioning, speech-to-text, and transcripts for many lessons. However, students who are significantly behind grade level in reading may struggle to complete the academic content on their own.  

BVL students benefit from the support of their families. Families are welcome to reach out to BVL staff at any time. Families should plan to assist in monitoring their BVL student's progress in coursework by requesting weekly progress reports and regularly reviewing progress inside Imagine Edgenuity account. Please encourage your BVL student to participate in the support offered by our BVL staff. 

Students must be registered in Bellingham Public Schools.

In collaboration with the student and their family, the home high school counselor helps students choose BVL courses and get registered.

It generally takes around a week for BVL registration to be processed. 

Then, students and their families will be contacted to set up an orientation with your BVL support Teacher. 

At the BVL orientation meeting students will: 

• Check out a school district laptop if they don’t already have one 
• Learn how to access school district email 
• Learn how to use the Imagine Edgenuity Platform and how to track progress  
• Decide a schedule and mode for weekly communication with BVL support teacher 
• Decide which courses to start focusing on 

BVL Students register for 2 –8 BVL courses per semester. 

Home high school counselors help students choose BVL courses. 

Home high school counselors register students for BVL in collaboration with the student and consult from the family and school support team. 

Registration and enrollment decisions are best made as a team, and your home high school personnel including school counselor, IEP teacher, MLL teacher and others will help. 

Please see the BVL course list and additional information here. 

All BVL students are required by law to have a unique learning plan. The WSLP includes the requirements for the student, state standards, learning targets, performance objectives, timelines, certificated teacher information, and instructional materials used. The WSLP must be shared with the student, a parent/guardian, and school counselor or principal before a student may begin BVL. 

• BVL uses Imagine Edgenuity platform as the instructional materials for all courses. 
• The learning targets, state standards, timelines and certificated teacher information will be written on the WSLP.   
• All BVL course descriptions are provided in the BVL course catalog. 
• Individual course syllabus, course schedule and coursework are available within Imagine Edgenuity and available for each course via the student’s Imagine Edgenuity account or printed upon request. 

Students enrolled in BVL are required to have weekly contact with their BVL support teacher. 

Examples of weekly communication: 

• An assignment/test/activity submitted to an instructor and feedback received from instructor. 
• Phone call, Teams, Zoom or in-person meeting with course instructor or BVL support teacher 
• Back-and-forth communication via email, text message or ParentSquare message with course instructor or BVL support teacher 

Adequate, regular progress in BVL courses is required to maintain enrollment. 

Adequate progress BVL means regular, on time completion of coursework AND weekly contact and communication with BVL support teacher.

Coursework and courses are expected to be completed by due dates.  

Students need to keep pace in their online courses equal to what is written in their WSLP.

If a student does not make adequate progress, the student’s BVL support teacher will create and share a Student Intervention Plan with the student and family. Students are required to discuss this Intervention Plan with the BVL support teacher and make adequate progress to remain enrolled in BVL. 

After a student intervention plan is created, if a student does not begin to show adequate progress, the student will not be able to remain enrolled in BVL. Special circumstances, such as a medical emergency, may be considered. 

Students are expected to complete all courses they are registered for within the same semester they are registered.  

To earn credit, students are expected to complete 100% of assigned coursework. 

Students earn credit by completing 100% of a course. Course progress can be monitored in the student's Imagine Edgenuity account.  

BVL students are registered by their counselor for 2-8 courses per semester, and they have the opportunity to register for more courses if all registered courses are completed prior to the end of the semester. 

A typical pace for a full-time student is to complete 8 courses per semester. A full-time student, registered at the beginning of the semester will work about 1-2 hours on each course each weekday.  

It is recommended that students focus on no more than two or three courses at a time, completing all courses by the end of the semester. 

Students and families should contact their BVL support teacher right away if students are struggling.  

Grading in online classes follows Bellingham Public Schools policy and procedure 2420. Students earn letter grades when their course is completed. These grades appear in Skyward only after the course is completed. 

If students need to drop or withdraw from a course, students must work with their home high school counselor.

BVL letter grades and percentages:
A: 93 - 100%
A-: 90 - 92.9%
B+: 87 - 89.9%
B: 83 - 86.9%
B-: 80 - 82.9%
C+: 77 - 79.9%
C: 73 - 76.9%
C-: 70 - 72.9%
D+: 67 - 69.9%
D: 60 - 66.9%
NC (No Credit): 0.00 - 59.99%

Note: all assignments, projects, quizzes, tests, etc. must be attempted prior to awarding a letter grade and credit using this scale.

Other grademarks which may be assigned include: Drop, W (Withdraw) and Inc (Incomplete). For more information about grademarks and grading practices in Bellingham Public Schools, please see policy and procedure 2420.

All students enrolled in BVL courses are Bellingham Public Schools students and are accountable to the policies of our school district.

Key policies and procedures regarding online learning, student behavior, use of electronic resources and academic honesty include:

• Online Learning, policy and procedure 2024
• Electronic Resources, policy and procedure 2022
• Student Discipline, policy and procedure 3241

Academic integrity and honesty are as important in online courses as they are to in-person classes. Students enrolled in a BVL online course are expected to conduct themselves honorably with regards to their academic work. This includes, but is not limited to, refraining from all forms of cheating, including academic dishonesty, prohibited uses of artificial intelligence (AI), and plagiarism. Violations may result in loss of credit on assignment(s) or for the entire course. Violations will also result in parent/guardian contact and documentation in the student's discipline file. Repeated violations of academic dishonesty or extreme cases may result in further consequences such as removal from the BVL program.  

1. Go to Imagine Edgenuity. We recommend you bookmark this site for easy access in the future. 
2. Choose "Log in with Office 365" 

    

3. Type in your Bellingham Public Schools login information for Office 365. This is the same username and password that BPS students use to login to their district devices and Office 365.
4. You may be asked to verify your district email address and password the first time. After verification, the learning platform Imagine Edgenuity will open. You will view an introductory video, then begin your learning assignments.