About Our School

Flexible scheduling allows students to take more or fewer classes per grading period as needed.

Learners can move faster or slower each grading period based on ability level and time available.

Those with consistent interruptions to a regular school schedule find success with our Alternative Learning Experience:

Washington certified teachers hold live online classes 2x per week in every credit area for graduation.

Excellent instruction delivered with kindness is our goal.

Significant variety of choice available as fully asynchronous courses:

Our students are:

Pacific Crest Online Academy fosters a caring community of online learners who support each other in accomplishing their individual learning plans. We deliver flexible, dynamic, and relevant virtual learning opportunities for every learner to receive high quality instruction in a student-centered environment.

 

Pacific Crest Online Academy (PCOA) is Richland School District’s fully online, teacher-directed, tuition-free public school. Students connect online to teachers, classmates, curriculum, and resources, while learning from home with the support of their parents.

 

PCOA serves students in 6th through 12th grade. We serve all levels of students, whether at grade-level, advanced, or struggling. Learning experiences are provided both asynchronously (through online reading assignments, activities, and videos) and synchronously (through live online classes, small groups, individual support sessions, and office hours). For High School courses, students earn 0.5 credit for each course. High School courses are NCAA approved and meet graduation requirements. We offer Honors and AP courses. 

 

Pacific Crest Online Academy offers a combination of asynchronous and synchronous learning to best meet the individual needs of each student:
 

This type of learning can take place at any time. Your children can work at the times that they are most alert and when best fits in their unique schedules. Asynchronous learning includes reading texts, watching videos, taking notes, working on projects, and a myriad of learning activities. Our teachers provide pacing charts so you and your children know if they are track to finish by end of the grading period, but you have flexibility on the moment-to-moment when the learning occurs.
 

This type of learning takes place at a specific time. However, instead of the 6 1/2 hours per day that are scheduled in a traditional brick-and-mortar school, only part of the day is scheduled and the rest of the day is flexible for you to schedule in your own individualized way.

Synchronous Learning consists of live teacher-scheduled sessions. These could include:

Students have their own learning plans, with syllabi and pacing charts specific to the courses they are taking. Students must make two-way contact with each of their teachers every week. Every month, each student's progress is reviewed and determined if it is adequate to complete the course on time. If a student is not making adequate progress, then an intervention plan is developed for the student.

 

STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING: DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HBI & ALE

In accordance with the Alternative Learning Experience Implementation Standards, reference WAC 392-550-030(10), a school district or charter school that provides alternative learning experience courses or course work to a student must include a description of the difference between home-based instruction pursuant to chapter 28A.200 RCW and the alternative learning experience course(s).

Summary Description

Home-Based Instruction

• Is provided by the parent or guardian as authorized under RCW 28A.200 and 28A.225.010.
• Parent has filed an annual Declaration of Intent with the district.
• Students are neither enrolled nor eligible for graduation through a public high school unless they meet all district and state graduation requirements.
• Students are not subject to the rules and regulations governing public school, including course, graduation, and assessment requirements.
• The public school is under no obligation to provide instruction or instructional materials, or to otherwise supervise the student’s education.

Alternative Learning Experience Courses

• Are authorized under WAC 392-121-182.
• Students are enrolled in public education.
• Students are subject to the rules and regulations governing public schools, including course, graduation, and assessment requirement for all portions of the ALE.
• Instructional materials used for coursework meet district standards and are free from sectarian control or influence.
• Learning experiences are:
• Supervised, monitored, assess, and evaluated by certificated staff (weekly contact and monthly review).
• Designed learning experiences planned together with student, parent and teacher.
• Provided via a Written Student Learning Plan (WSLP).  Provided in whole, or part, outside the regular classroom.