The Donegal Virtual Academy (DVA) is an online virtual academy for the Donegal School District. Our Academy is made up of Donegal learners in grades K-12 and is often considered a “school within all schools of the Donegal School District”. DVA uses multiple content providers to provide many engaging educational experiences for our students. Our elementary students in grades K-5 use courses provided by Accelerate Education & SchoolsPLP while our students in grades 6-8 primarily use courses through SchoolsPLP & Schoology. Our high school students utilize SchoolsPLP, E-Dynamic, Accelerate Education, Schoology & Edison Learning for their course providers to provide the most core and elective classes as possible.
The Donegal Virtual Academy uses an asynchronous mode of learning that allows a student and family to schedule when they will engage in their online learning. All of a student’s content is available to them twenty four hours a day. In addition to asynchronous instruction, a student’s teacher is available via email, phone, or through Zoom meetings. At the elementary level, a student’s teacher will reach out to schedule small group live sessions as well as sessions for progress monitoring.
If your child is a current Donegal School District student, please contact the school counselor or principal of your child's school.
If you are new to or are transferring to Donegal School District, please contact the District Registrar, Larissa Shaver at (717) 492-1338 or
larissa.shaver@donegalsd.org.
If your child has specialized learning needs or has an individualized education plan (IEP), please contact the Director of Special Education and Pupil Services, Todd Travitz, at (717) 492-1313 or todd.travitz@donegalsd.org.
Students remain enrolled in the Donegal School District. This allows students to earn a Donegal School District diploma and the ability to seamlessly participate in extracurricular activities and athletics.
Flexible learning options and student monitoring: The learning program and curriculum are adapted to fit student needs. Parents/Guardians are provided access to monitor their student’s performance.
Highly engaging curriculum: The online curriculum is state-of-the-art and designed to be engaging while targeting multiple learning styles. Additionally, students can select from a wide variety of courses and electives to best meet academic needs.
Proven methods with innovative techniques: DVA is backed by SchoolsPLP, EdisonLearning, Accelerate Learning,Schoology, and E-Dynamic, with years of proven results and innovation in education.
All students will receive a computer for use in DVA.
The ability to schedule Zoom/Teams tutoring sessions with a DVA teacher.
Transfer easily between in-person learning at DSD and virtual learning in DVA, should a student desire to change where he/she is educated.
"Success is Our Virtual Reality" shapes the decisions that the Academy makes and it shapes the supports that are put in place to help increase each learner’s success. Our goal is to help each student achieve their own optimum level of success and to help them reach the next step in their educational journey. The Donegal Virtual Academy looks at all stakeholders as valued and active participants in our students’ education, and we look to forge positive and long lasting relationships with our families. The Academy believes in a "triangle approach" to student success. At the apex of the triangle is our learner, and at the base of the triangle is the family and DVA. TheDonegal Virtual Academy and our families serve as a strong foundation and support system to help our learners achieve the highest level of success within our Academy.
For more information about the Donegal Virtual Academy:
Contact Mr. Andrew Sparmblack, Supervisor of Personalized Learning.
Email: andrew.sparmblack@donegalsd.org
Phone: (717) 928-2902
If your child has specialized learning needs or an individual education plan (IEP), please contact the Director of Special Education and Pupil Services, Mr. Todd Travitz.
Email: todd.travitz@donegalsd.org
Phone: (717) 492-1313
The Learning Lab
“Success Is Our Virtual Reality!”
One of the challenges of online education is the lack of face-to-face interaction. This is a powerful mode of support and communication for every learner. To provide a truly unique experience to online education, the Donegal Virtual Academy offers “The Learning Lab” where students can schedule to come into the Lab for tutoring, support, and a quiet learning environment. The Learning Lab has increased its number of locations and now has two functioning Labs. These Labs are located at Donegal Junior High School (grades 6-8) and Donegal High School for grades 9-12.
The Learning Lab is a non-traditional educational space where students are free to collaborate with each other, use various resources within the Lab, and seek help as help is needed. This allows each learner to receive a classroom experience and still have an individualized approach to their learning.
Tiered Support System:
The Donegal Virtual Academy utilizes a tiered system of supports for every student in the Academy. These online supports are designed to help organize a student and to make their online environment similar to an in-person environment regarding organizational supports for success. Our team meets monthly to review each student and their progress. During this meeting we note grade/attendance changes, effectiveness of given supports, and Tier shifting if needed. Although we meet monthly, if the team finds that additional supports are needed, we will add them at that point with further discussion at the next meeting.
Our vision is that “Success is our Virtual Reality” and our system is in place to have each student experience academic success and to keep every student in the Donegal Virtual Academy. Each student within the tiered system has their own set of supports that are unique to the individual student.
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