Frequently Asked Questions

FLEX Online School is a kindergarten through 12th grade online school for families who want online learning even after schools open again. Comprehensive Distance Learning (CDL) is not currently offered in the district. CDL was an online option for families who want to stay enrolled in and connected to their neighborhood school during COVID-19. Starting in the fall of 2021, all students who are not enrolled at FLEX Online will return to in-person instruction. 

CDL was modeled after a typical school day - students spent most of the day in Zoom classes, on a schedule that was very similar to a day in their school building. At FLEX Online, students work at their own pace through the curriculum, with regular, but less frequent, scheduled group and individual Zoom session. 

Elementary Students: There is short whole group instruction time daily and some days there is time spent with a teacher in small groups as well.  Students need an adult at home (Learning Coach) who guides them through the curriculum, helps manage the calendar of assignments and live meetings, and encourages learning and progress. 

Middle and High School Students: FLEX Online School is different from CDL in that we don't try to recreate a typical schedule with Zoom video conferences for each class period. We have blocks of time on each A and B day when our teachers are available to answer questions and go over homework. This gives students flexibility in how and when they complete assignments and opportunities to learn at their own pace.  It can also be a significant challenge for students who can't manage their time or don't feel comfortable asking their teacher for help or responding to their teachers’ communications. Teachers have frequent office hours and respond quickly to their students.

For students in special education:  FLEX Online School offers special education services in a Resource Room setting. FLEX does not currently have specialized programs. If your child is in a specialized program, FLEX may not be able to provide your student with a free appropriate public education (FAPE). If your student is placed in a specialized program, and you enroll your student in FLEX, your student's IEP team will need to meet to determine if your student's needs can be met with a Resource Room level of support. If your student cannot be served in a Resource Room setting, then the IEP team may determine that your student is not able to attend FLEX.

FLEX applications are accepted on a rolling basis, but enrollment, forecasting and classroom assignments happen at the quarter and semester breaks.

Flex Online School is a kindergarten through 12th grade online school in the Beaverton School District that provides curriculum and support services for grades K–12 in an online format. Families support students as they interact with BSD teachers to make progress on District learning targets.

Please visit the How to Enroll at FLEX Online School Page for more information about enrolling. 

2021-2022 school year: FLEX students may register online to pick up a free 5-day meal bag. Pick-ups will be on Wednesdays from 3:00 to 3:30 p.m. at either Beaverton or Westview High Schools. When students register, they’ll be asked to select a location."

There is no cost to attend FLEX Online School as long as students live within the BSD boundaries.

No. Residency in the Beaverton School District is required for FLEX enrollment. We cannot accept enrollments of students residing, even temporarily, outside of BSD boundaries in the Beaverton, Oregon area. Residency, for the purposes of this discussion means where the student’s head hits the pillow – where they physically reside.

Similar to other BSD schools, core courses include language arts, math, science, and social studies. Electives are offered at appropriate grade levels. For elementary students PE, Art and Spanish will be offered. Secondary offerings can be viewed on the Academic Planning Guide page. 

FLEX Online School uses the same learning objectives and standards as the other BSD schools. For more information about the curriculum or to see a demo please visit the Academics Page.

We don’t have a rigid structure like a traditional school. Our teachers will provide you with a pacing guide, progress monitoring and support. There will be opportunities for live interaction with instructors both as a class group and individually. The time of day students complete lessons and assignments can be set by your family.

We will have periodic live class sessions with teacher(s) based on student and class needs. These may include direct instruction and chances to interact with classmates. Teachers also may offer support or small group sessions. We encourage you to contact your teacher any time if you have questions or concerns.

See below for a few sample schedules. 

For K–8 students, parents, guardians and even some grandparents act as guides who serve as face-to-face learning coaches, responsible for the students' day-to-day activities. Suggested weekly lesson plans are provided. The lesson plans can vary to accommodate students' pace and abilities. 

In the high school program, learning coaches still play an important supportive role in helping students stay on task and ensure completion of their assignments. However, high school students are expected to manage their own time and academic schedule.

Along with the curriculum, FLEX Online School provides planning and progress tools to help students and families plan their day, including an electronic calendar with suggested daily lessons and an outline of the total time suggested for each module. At the secondary level, a built-in online tracking system helps students and families to determine progress in terms of pace and development.

Students who are self-motivated and like to work independently are often successful in online schools. This option is also a good fit for families who want the flexibility to work and learn at home with the support of qualified BSD teachers.

Some students enrolled in this school will complete work that is advanced for their grade level, while others will complete work at their grade level. Still other students will complete work supported by an IEP and a special education team.

FLEX Online School uses the same grade level standards and learning targets as other Beaverton schools. For a full list of standards, visit the District's learning target webpage.

The curriculum and learning platform are delivered online. This platform includes lesson plans, attendance tracking, planning and progress tools, resources, materials lists and much more. Students enrolled in FLEX Online School will need WiFi for an internet-connected device that is provided by the District.

Students will complete between 30 and 80% of their work online depending on their grade, ability to read and ability to work independently. However, they'll also do work offline: reading books, solving math problems on paper, drawing and conducting science experiments. Middle and high school students have more refined reading skills, so they'll spend more time online. High school students will spend an average of 6 to 9 hours per week for a regular course and 8 to 12 hours for an Advanced Placement (AP)® course. However, offline work will always be essential.

Family connection and partnership is a key part of school success. We'll provide ways for families to connect with one another both digitally and in person. FLEX Online School will host in-person (when safe) and video-conferencing events that allow families to build school community and relationships. The FLEX Online Community Support Organization or "FOCS" is our name for what is often called a "PTO" (Parent Teacher Organization). The FOCS is a volunteer-based organization that provides resources, programs, and support to FLEX Online students, teachers, and staff. See more information at https://flex.beaverton.k12.or.us/connect/pto

Throughout the year, our hope is to invite students to participate in events held at the school, per COVID-19 guidelines. With online discussions and forums, new types of communities will be formed, based on shared interests and not geography. Students can also join a variety of student-led or teacher-guided clubs, connecting them to their peers around the District.

FLEX Online School will provide all instructional materials needed to complete the program at no cost to families. These books and materials will be available for pickup at our school's physical location.

FLEX Online School will offer all English Language Development services virtually.  Courses will be available at the different language proficiency levels: newcomer, emerging and progressing. It's strongly recommended that a school’s comprehensive student team review whether the student is able to access the language services remotely. Additional language support may be needed, especially for newcomers and students at the emerging level.

Every public school must be accredited through the state of Oregon. FLEX Online School is working through the accreditation process, which typically takes about 2 years. FLEX opened in September 2020.

FLEX Online School works for students who need extra time or assistance to master a subject, as well as those who learn quickly.

For students in special education:  FLEX offers special education services in a Resource Room setting.  FLEX does not currently have specialized programs.  If your child is in a specialized program, FLEX may not be able to provide your student with a free appropriate public education (FAPE).  If your student is placed in a specialized program, and you enroll your student in FLEX, your student's IEP team will need to meet to determine if your student's needs can be met with a Resource Room level of support.  If your student cannot be served in a Resource Room setting, then the IEP team may determine that your student is not able to attend FLEX.

FLEX Online School is also designed to meet the needs of students identified as Talented and Gifted (TAG). 

FLEX Online School does not offer SUMMA or IB classes.For students who wish to participate in programs such as SUMMA or IB, they should remain enrolled in the school that offers those programs.