NH State Representative Steven Smith

VLACS Information

Posted on August 9, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

These questions are geared towards students who enroll without it being part of district curriculum, but it may help. ~ Steve

Answers To Your Frequently Asked Questions About VLACS!

We’ve gathered some commonly asked questions to provide you with the latest information regarding our programs. We hope you find these answers helpful as you prepare for the upcoming school year!

Q: I’ve heard you are no longer accepting students?

A: We are accepting student enrollments. Some courses have waitlists, and we are hiring and training new instructors to increase our capacity. We are experiencing an unprecedented rate of growth and may reach a limit due to budget constraints, but we are not at that point now.

Q: If there is a waitlist for a particular course, can I still enroll?

A: Yes. As seats become available, students will be assigned based on the order in which the enrollment was received.

Q: How long will it take before a waitlisted course is opened?

A: It’s hard to know given the historic number of enrollment requests we are processing. Please know that we are working hard to meet the needs of students.

Q: What if a course enrollment is not available on the opening day at my local school?

A: Please contact your local school for an answer to this question. One option is that students can work at an accelerated rate in courses in which they are enrolled while waiting for seats to open in another course.

Q: Are you hiring new instructors to expand your capacity?

A: Yes, we have hired 60 new instructors since July 1, and we are now advertising for another group of elementary, middle, and high school instructors.

Q: Is there a limit to the number of courses that a student who is full-time at another school or homeschooled can complete at VLACS?

A: Yes, part-time VLACS students (i.e., students not enrolled as VLACS full-time students) may earn up to six credits between July 1 and June 30.

Q: Does VLACS follow a traditional academic year calendar?

A: No, students may enroll in a course at any time, can work throughout the year, and progress at a pace that meets their academic needs.

Q: Can students withdraw from a VLACS course?

A: Yes, at any time.

What Are My Student’s Options at VLACS?

VLACS currently offers part-time enrollment options for K-12 students. Our learning catalog includes a wide variety of robust and rigorous, competency-based courses taught by certified and experienced instructors. We also have a full-time program available to middle and high school students. The full-time admissions process is outlined here.

While you explore our programs, discover all of your student’s options here.

If you have any questions about our programs, or would like to receieve one-on-one support, please contact us at 603-778-2500! You can also attend any of our informational sessions –

Full-Time Program Webinar Registration

– August 11 @ 7:00 p.m.

– August 17 @ 11:30 a.m.

– August 24 @ 7:00 p.m.

Exploring VLACS – A 360 View Webinar Registration

– August 12 @ 11:30 a.m.

– August 18 @ 7:00 p.m.

– August 26 @ 10:00 a.m.

Elementary Education Webinar Registration

– August 10 @ 10:00 a.m.

– August 19 @ 7:00 p.m.

– August 25 @ 7:00 p.m.

A Guide For Parents: 18 Questions About Online Learning

Download our Ebook and discover answers to 18 commonly asked questions about online learning.

View Ebook

vlacs

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Aug. 7 – Scams, Open Enrollment, and Farms

Posted on August 7, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Open Enrollment

If you have health insurance through one of the state programs, like WellSense, August is the time to make any changes. There are three programs to choose from, and a comparison is available when you log in to your NHEasy account. If you do not have health insurance, this is a great time to apply at NHEasy – Gateway to Services

Be Careful Out There

Despicable characters like to prey on people when there is some calamity going on, like a pandemic. Here are some things to be aware of:

Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued a report regarding an increased amount of activity around online shopping scams. The full content can be read here: https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ncas/current-activity/2020/08/05/fbi-reports-increase-online-shopping-scams on their website.

Here is more from the FBI Internet Crime (https://www.ic3.gov/media/2020/200803.aspx), a well done write-up from AARP (https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/online-shopping.html ) updated back in March of this year, and one more from the FTC (https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2020/07/scams-online-sales-when-orders-dont-arrive) centered around COVID online scams.

No government agency will call you and demand credit card payments. If you have a question about a sketchy call, get their info and call back once you’ve checked them out. ~ Steve

State expands COVID-19 testing to 19 hospitals

https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/state-expands-covid-19-testing-to-19-hospitals/article_fb63fa66-64f6-5869-86f8-ee97da7c9930.html

More than 5,000 properties to get broadband access

https://www.unionleader.com/news/health/coronavirus/more-than-5-000-properties-to-get-broadband-access/article_5d554b55-cbdc-517b-ae7f-b274992530d9.html?block_id=664693

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – August 6th, 2020

On Thursday, August 6, 2020, DHHS announced 25 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 6,742 cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in New Hampshire. Several cases are still under investigation. Additional information from ongoing investigations will be incorporated into future COVID-19 updates. Of those with complete information, there is one individual under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 68% being female and 32% being male. The new cases reside in Strafford (8), Rockingham (5), Carroll (2), Cheshire (1), and Merrimack (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (4) and Nashua (3). The county of residence is being determined for one new case.

Hospitalizations

One new hospitalized case was identified for a total of 699 (10%) of 6,742 cases.

Community Based Transmission

Five of the new cases had no identified risk factors.

Deaths

DHHS has also announced one additional death related to COVID-19.

• 1 male resident of Rockingham County, 60 years of age and older

Cumulative Positive Tests by County

Belknap 113
Carroll 93
Cheshire 96
Coos 16
Grafton 103
Hillsborough – Other 1,235
Hillsborough – Manchester 1810
Hillsborough – Nashua 762
Merrimack 460
Rockingham 1665
Strafford 346
Sullivan 40

Map of Cumulative Positive Cases Map of Current Positive Cases Summary

New Hampshire 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Summary Report

(data updated August 6, 2020, 9:00 AM)

NH Persons with COVID-191 6,742

Recovered 5,941 (88%)
Deaths Attributed to COVID-19 419 (6%)
Total Current COVID-19 Cases 382
Persons Who Have Been Hospitalized for COVID-19 699 (10%)
Current Hospitalizations 21

Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories,

Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) 168,465
Total Persons Tested at Selected Laboratories, Antibody
Laboratory Tests 27,611
Persons with Specimens Submitted to NH PHL 37,804
Persons with Test Pending at NH PHL 1,093
Persons Being Monitored in NH (approximate point in time) 2,950

Number of Specimens Tested by Date of Report to NH DHHS

Information above, and archived daily updates are available here: https://www.nh.gov/covid19/news/updates.htm

Regional Information (total positive test results, deaths)

Look-back period is 1 week.

NH: 6,742 positive test results 419 deaths (1 week ago: 6,544 positive test results 415 deaths) (+198/+4)

MA: 119,874 positive test results 8691 deaths (1 week ago: 117,098 positive test results 8595 deaths) (+2776/+96)

ME: 3,997 positive test results 124 deaths (1 week ago: 3,737 positive test results 118 deaths)

VT: 1,445 positive test results 58 deaths (1 week ago: 1,377 positive test results 56 deaths)

CT: 50,245 positive test results 4,437 deaths (1 week ago: 48,232 positive test results 4,410 deaths)

RI: 18,950 positive test results 1,014 deaths (1 week ago: 18,148 positive test results 1,001 deaths)

NY: 423,637 positive test results 32,294 deaths (1 week ago: 419,081 positive test results 32,362 deaths) (+4,556/NA (number down)))

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August 6 – UNH Plan and Stimulus Stall

Posted on August 6, 2020 by Rep. Steven Smith

Stimulus Talks

Those of you receiving PUA noticed the $600 drop in payments this week. This is not the only program that stopped suddenly because the federal government does not seem to understand that when they miss a deadline, it affects people. Hopefully, statements made publicly by politicians on both sides do not reflect their actual positions, which seems to be “gimme everything I want or no deal”. Here is an example:

Original White House offer on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance – $200/wk
Original House position on Pandemic Unemployment Assistance – $600/wk

You smart Yankee traders already know that the result is going to be around $400 per week. This isn’t rocket science. The deadline was last week and they couldn’t figure that out. One side wanted $600 period or there would be no deal. I guess they won since you got nothing. This type of scorched earth politics has to stop. They get the headlines, and you get the shaft. ~ Steve

Trustees approve university system plans

By DANIELA ALLEE NH Public Radio

Published: 8/5/2020 3:07:56 PM

The Board of Trustees of the University System of New Hampshire approved reopening plans for UNH, Keene State and Plymouth State on Tuesday.

Those plans include on-campus and in-person instruction for students. The university system is also offering online options for students who do not want to return to campus.

“I think we know we’re taking a real risk, but a managed risk,” said Donald Birx, president of Plymouth State University. “I think we’ve minimized that risk as much as possible. I think there’s a lot of rationale and reasons to hold in-person classes.”

More at NHPR

Attorney General’s Office reviews Mass. rule taxing workers from NH

https://www.wmur.com/article/attorney-generals-office-reviews-mass-rule-taxing-workers-from-nh/33526250

Online learning tool offered to NH schools

https://www.wmur.com/article/online-learning-tool-offered-to-nh-schools/33526804

NH DHHS COVID-19 Update – August 5th, 2020

On Wednesday, August 5, 2020, DHHS announced 27 new positive test results for COVID-19. There have now been 6,719 cases of COVID-19 diagnosed in New Hampshire. Several cases are still under investigation. Additional information from ongoing investigations will be incorporated into future COVID-19 updates. Of those with complete information, there are two individuals under the age of 18 and the rest are adults with 37% being female and 63% being male. The new cases reside in Rockingham (5), Hillsborough County other than Manchester and Nashua (5), Cheshire (2), Belknap (2), Carroll (1), and Merrimack (1) counties, and in the cities of Manchester (7) and Nashua (3). The county of residence is being determined for one new case.