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Butler County schools are preparing virtual learning options for students for the upcoming school year.

Alabama counties were given numerous grants to help superintendents prepare for the approaching term, including a recent allocation of $100 million in federal CARES Act funds called Alabama Broadband Connectivity for Students. The new funds will aid in covering internet services and equipment for students in rural areas and those without at home internet services.

Schools have also received GEERs funding, which will provide mobile hotspots on buses for students.

For Butler County schools, each student second through 12th grade will receive a Chromebook, and students in kindergarten and first grade will receive a Chrome tablet after paying a $25 device fee and signing the BCSS Student & Parent Equipment Use Agreement and BCSS Code of Conduct Acknowledgement Form.

Teachers will provide assignments at least once per week for students to complete through the virtual learning platform.

“Teachers will also work with students each week on accessing and viewing their grades via online platforms,” administrators wrote in the county’s partially released Back to School plan. “Consideration will be given to those students that do not have internet access and will have to work offline and upload content when able to connect with WiFi.”

Students kindergarten through second will follow assignment direction from teachers while students third through 12th will be predominantly self-paced. Parents will have access to monitor student activity and to sample pacing documents to help students.

The official start date for students is Sept. 8, and parents can access more information regarding the Back to School plan at https://www.butlerco.k12.al.us/