Holly Holland

Public Information Officer

holly.holland@cpsb.org

February 10, 2022

The Calcasieu Parish School Board is excited to announce the launch of the Virtual Instruction Program (V.I.P.) for those students in grades 9^th-12^th beginning next school year. This program will give students the opportunity to enroll in advanced courses while remaining on their own high school campuses. V.I.P. will provide all schools with access to a diverse menu of opportunities including dual enrollment courses through SOWELA Technical Community College, two new pathways, and courses that are of high interest to students but may not currently be available for various reasons. 

“The virtual learning component of education here in Calcasieu has grown tremendously over the last few years,” said Superintendent Karl Bruchhaus. “The addition of this virtual program at the high school level helps us equip students for not only a successful high school career but a successful career beyond their years with us. Opportunities available through this new endeavor will provide offerings to our high school students, regardless of the school they attend, in excess of anything that’s ever been available before now.”

Through this program, virtual learning will be defined as synchronous instruction with the teacher and student simply at two different locations. Included in the new Virtual Instruction Program are a Biomedical Pathway and an Engineering STEM Pathway, 16 new dual enrollment courses through SOWELA, and additional high school offerings. With the addition of these courses, over 2,200 new seats are available to students.

The benefits of students enrolling in V.I.P. courses include boosting their GPA with courses that count on a 5-point scale, earning course credits that transfer to other Louisiana universities, and distinguishing themselves from fellow classmates on scholarship applications. The program will allow students to develop a competitive edge when applying in the job market following graduation. 

“The educational landscape is constantly evolving,” said Dr. Doug DeVillier, V.I.P. Coordinator. “If we want our students to remain successful, we must learn to change with it. A virtual setting has become second nature in the world around us. Adapting to new demands is the key to our success. We are excited about the opportunities that V.I.P. is going to offer our CPSB students.”

The program, which will be run at the Lake Charles Boston Academy of Learning, will include three different groups of course offerings, all with different eligibility requirements. Interested students should speak to their school counselor to learn more about the program. Schedule requests are due by April 11.