iPAL FAQs

Q: How much time will iPAL take each day?

Q: Which curriculum option will work best for my child? 

A: We have a few options for families to choose from and will work with you based on your needs to decide on one during the family intake meeting.  Please see the offerings listed on the website. 

Q: How long does the family intake meeting take? 

A: The intake process is a relationship building opportunity for iPAL and the family. We don’t want to rush families, so the meeting can take 30-60 minutes based on questions families have.  We want to make sure you are comfortable and ready to move forward after the intake meeting. 

Q: My student is HiCAP, how can iPAL support them? 

A: iPAL works closely with HiCAP staff at the district office to ensure student’s needs are met. We can adapt the curriculum to be more challenging as well as discuss advanced placement options with families as appropriate. 

Q: If my child enrolls in iPAL until school is open again, will they lose their spot in the Two-Way Dual Language program?

A:  If the student is enrolling in iPAL and staying within the Pasco School District, their spot will be held for them to return to their home school. 
If the student enrolls outside the district, their spot would be given up and should they return, they would have to be placed on the "wait list" to get back in at their home school. 

Q:  My child is part of the Spectrum program. Will they lose their spot if they are enrolled in iPAL?

A:  If students vacate their Spectrum placement, they will be placed on the wait list.  There would be no guaranteed spot upon returning to the home school, but they would still be served in high cap services while enrolled in iPAL.

Q:  Is there a Dual Language opportunity at iPAL?

A:  While we do not have teachers teaching in a dual language setting, the course work can be translated into other languages where reading content, quizzes and tests  are in the learning management system and students can change it to their language of choice. This does not apply to videos accessed in the curriculum.

Q: My student has an IEP, can they still do iPAL? 

A: iPAL staff works closely with SpEd department staff to ensure iPAL is an appropriate placement option for the student.  We want to ensure the student is placed in the best environment for learning for the student.  If iPAL is deemed to be an appropriate placement option, we work with the family and a certified SpEd teacher to ensure minutes and needs are met. 

Q: How long will we have to decide if we want to enroll our children in one of the online learning options?    

A: Parents can enroll their students starting in August. Facilitators will start making calls to families that indicate they are enrolling two weeks prior to school starting. We operate with an open enrollment policy throughout the year, so parents can decide at any point. We do encourage enrollment after the beginning of the year, which happens at quarter/trimester marks, but is not a rule. 

Q: Could iPAL enrollment be part time?   

A: For the 2022-23 school year starting online, we will need to enroll K-5 students at a full-time capacity. Grades 6-12 will still be able to have the option to be shared with their home school.

Q: Can my student start online only and then switch back to their home school halfway through the year?   

A: Yes, iPAL is an open enrollment system. Recommendations would be to transition back at quarter for elementary or trimester for MS/HS timelines.  

Q: If a student is enrolled in iPAL, Virtual Elementary or Parent Partnership, would they also attend their home school?   

A: Parents can choose either a full-time iPAL enrollment done through iPAL only, or a part-time enrollment where the students would attend some iPAL online classes, and attend part-time to their home school, so the student is “shared” between the schools. Some choose to do home schooling part time and iPAL.  

Q: Will iPAL still be the same, where there will be a physical lab at the school that students can attend for “teacher help” when needed?    

A: Students must arrange with their teachers to meet at the physica lab if they require assistance with any school work. All teachers have office hours available on Zoom on a daily basis.  

Q: Is space limited?    

A: No, currently, there is no enrollment number cap to the iPAL program. 

 Q: If families decide to do online exclusively, will the child be able to participate in school activities such as sports and clubs, etc. ?   

A: Yes, Pasco students in iPAL have all the opportunities to attend athletics, club/leadership organizations or other activities through their boundary school.  

 Q: Are classes like band offered through iPAL?    

A: Band is available through PIXeL in a virtual fashion. Middle schoolers may access band or orchestra through their boundary schools with parents providing transportation to and from the school.