It’s a mode of learning education officials have gone on record to protest against. Online learning is regarded as a last resort for the Guam Department of Education to employ in the event in-person instruction is off the table.

But now that students are back in the classrooms, with GDOE rolling out a variety of school schedules to do so, rumblings of virtual learning are brewing for some students – particularly for those whose campus is participating in alternating schedules.

GDOE Superintendent Kenneth Swanson confirmed with KUAM News on the first day of the school year that there’s already a plan underway for kids to attend class virtually.

“We’re working on activating an online process so the days they’re not at school, they still have instruction going on online," he said. "My goal is to have that all done by the end of September.”

It’s a plan that one Upi Elementary School parent we spoke with says she was never alerted to...

Samantha Baker’s child is on an alternating schedule attending classes at the D.L. Perez Elementary Campus.

Still, it’s an option she says she would support.

“The alternating schedule is OK, but I’m still not confident that my daughter is getting the full spectrum of what she needs to be learning," she said.

With the on-and-off schedule, she witnesses her daughter dealing with leaves her feeling like her child is missing out on getting the most from her learning experience.

“I feel like there could be more to this on-again-off-again if maybe the teachers could give work packets to them or something to do in between," Baker said. "This week, Alicia’s gonna get three days of school, then next week she’s only going to get two out of the five–she’s going to have like a four-day weekend, which is unheard of."

Now she hopes the online learning addresses the shortfalls...

Meantime, a final schedule for online learning and which schools will be affected remains in the air. But GDOE officials say an official announcement will be released to the public.