We’re also following the flight delays and tomorrow’s impacts after a plane crash at RDU. Plus, Only on WRAL, why a high school student is not allowed to participate in one of the most important events of his life.. and how he and his family are fighting for him to graduate. Watch WRAL-TV at 11 p.m., and search for these and other stories on WRAL.com.

On WRAL at 11: Cooler weather tomorrow morning but we’re about to warm up. When and where temperatures top 90 degrees

Have you noticed an unusual smell or flavor in your tap water over the past few days?

What's wrong with Raleigh tap water? Algae bloom at Falls Lake behind the smell, color

'Earthy and musty:' Here's why your tap water may taste strange this weekend in Raleigh

Athens Drive Magnet High School and Conn Magnet Elementary School won national awards Saturday at the Magnet Schools of America's annual conference.

Top two magnet schools in the US are in Wake County

Athens Drive High School

All assets associated with the tag: Wake County Virtual Academy

Wake County Virtual Academy Coverage

The Wake County Public School System sent an email to parents Tuesday night informing them that the district would not have virtual academy next year.

Virtual academies could disappear across NC schools next year

Wake County schools could return to remote learning

Wake County parents preparing to send their children back to in-person learning after getting them vaccinated have discovered it's not as easy as previously promised.

FINISHED DOWN 461 >>> PARENTS IN WAKE COUNTY PREPARING TO SEND CHILDREN BACK TO IN-PERSON LEARNING AFTER GETTING THEM VACCINATED ARE LEARNING IT'S NOT AS EASY AS THEY EXPECTED. >> SO WHY IS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM BACKTRACKING ON ITS POLICY FOR STUDENTS TO TRANSFER BACK INTO CLASSROOMS? >> Reporter: A SEAT AT HOME IS WHERE LIAM HAS GONE TO SCHOOL SINCE HIS FAMILY MOVED TO FUQUAY-VARINA SHORTLY AFTER THE START OF THE PANDEMIC. >> TWO YEARS NOW, HE'S DOING SCHOOL AT HOME. >> Reporter: HIS MOM IS READY FOR HIM TO BE DONE WITH THE VIRTUAL ACADEMY. >> AS SOON AS HE WAS OF VACCINATED, I WANTED HIM TO GET BACK TO SCHOOL. >> Reporter: AN E-MAIL ASKED TO MAKE A YEAR-LONG COMMITMENT UNLESS VACCINES ARE WIDELY AVAILABLE, THEN IT WOULD BE REDUCED TO A SEMESTER. >> MY EXPECTATION IS THAT WOULD HAPPEN BUT OF COURSE IT HASN'T. >> Reporter: THE SCHOOL SYSTEM SAYS IT'S REASSESSED THE POLICY BECAUSE OF THE DISRUPTION CAUSED BY LARGE SCALE TRANSFERS, THE COMPLEXITY OF THE SCHEDULING PROCESS, AND VIRTUAL CONTINUITY OF STUDENTS. ANY TRANSFERS ARE NOW DECIDED ON A SCHOOL BY SCHOOL BASIS AS SPACE ALLOWS. >> AT SOME POINT THEY HAVE TO MOVE KIDS BACK TO IN-PERSON ANYWAY. WHY WAIT UNTIL SUMMER? WHY NOT MAKE THE CHANGE NOW AND OPEN IT UP. >> Reporter: A PRINCIPAL FOUND A SPOT FOR LIAM NEXT SEMESTER. >> HE'S SO EXCITED. IT'S A STEP TOWARD THE NORMAL THAT WE HAVE BEEN MISSING FOR SO LONG. >> THEY WANT PARENTS TO BE PROACTIVE AND CONTACT THE

District officials say moving from Virtual Academy to Wake classrooms will be decided on case-by-case basis

Wake parents looking to move children from Virtual Academy to classrooms face new hurdles

District officials anticipate emergency approval of a COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 soon. But allowing virtual academy students to return to class in person could mean learning disruptions for some virtual academy students and potentially in-person students

Virtual academy student switch at semester poses planning challenges for Wake officials

WCPSS Virtual Academy to remain another school year

Sunday is the deadline for Wake County parents to enroll their students in Wake County Public School System's Virtual Academy. But, their policy says once parents do that, students can't come to school physically. 

'Her education is going to suffer.' Wake parents fight to change Virtual Academy policy

Family challenging WCPSS Virtual Academy rules 

Sunday is the deadline for Wake County parents to enroll their students in Wake County Public School System's Virtual Academy. But, their policy says once parents do that, students can't come to school physically.

30 SAY IT IS AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION AND ARE ASKING ANYONE WITH INFORMATION TO CONTACT THE ROCKY MOUNT POLICE DEPARTMENT. >>> ONE PERSON IS SERIOUSLY HURT AND TWO OTHERS INJURED AFTER A STABBING OVERNIGHT IN RALEIGH. HERE IS THE SEEN ON CREEKSIDE DRIVE JUST AFTER 2:00 AM. POLICE FOUND TWO PEOPLE THERE WITH STAB WOUNDS. A THIRD PERSON ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL SOON AFTER THE STABBING. POLICE SAY THEY ARE FOLLOWING UP ON THE INVESTIGATION. THEY HAVE NOT RELEASED ANY INFORMATION ON POSSIBLE SUSPECTS OR THE VICTIMS' IDENTITIES. >>> TWO MEN ARE FACING CHARGES INSIDE A CHARLOTTE AREA MALL AFTER SHOOTING. POLICE EVACUATED THE CAROLINA PLACE IN PINEVILLE. INVESTIGATORS SAY TWO PEOPLE WHO KNEW EACH OTHER STARTED FIRING GUNSHOTS INSIDE THE MALL. A 32-YEAR-OLD AND A 24-YEAR-OLD ARE BOTH FACING CHARGES AND ARE BOTH BEING TREATED IN HOSPITALS FOR INJURIES. >>> WAKE COUNTY PARENTS, CHECK YOUR CALENDAR. TODAY IS THE DEADLINE TO ENROLL YOUR STUDENT IN VIRTUAL ACADEMY. THE DISTRICT POLICY SAYS ONCE YOU DO THAT, YOU CAN'T COME TO SCHOOL PHYSICALLY. PARENTS WHO HAVE CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ARE FRUSTRATED. WRAL'S MICHELLE MacKONOCHIE SPOKE TO ONE FAMILY WHO IS TRYING TO CHANGE THE RULE FOR THEIR YOUNG DAUGHTER. >> Reporter: TO ENROLL YOUR STUDENT IN WAKE COUNTY'S VIRTUAL ACADEMY OR HAVE THEM ATTEND SCHOOL IN PERSON, PARENTS MUST MAKE THAT DECISION TODAY. PARENTS, LIKE PATRICK WINTERS. >> WE REALLY DON'T WANT TO BE STUCK IN VIRTUAL ACADEMY. >> Reporter: HIS CHILDREN WOULD BE IF HE MADE THAT CHOICE FOR HIS THREE-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER . >> SHE IS IN PRE-K RIGHT NOW. >> Reporter: SHE HAS AN AUTO INFLAMMATORY DISEASE THAT PRIMARILY AFFECTS HER BRAIN. SHE REQUIRES FULL-TIME ASSISTANCE WHEN LEARNING. >> SHE CAN'T STAND UP. SHE CAN'T MOVE BETWEEN CHAIRS. SOMEBODY HAS TO HELP HER DO THOSE THINGS. YOU CAN IMAGINE WHEN SHE IS AT HOME, IT IS ONE OF US, EITHER MYSELF OR MY WIFE. >> Reporter: TO HAVE HER IN SCHOOL WITH THE HELP OF A TEACHER WOULD BE IDEAL. RIGHT NOW HE SAYS BECAUSE OF COVID HE IS NOT COMFORTABLE YET. HE IS ALSO NOT COMFORTABLE SENDING HIS TWO SONS TO IN- PERSON LEARNING BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF POSSIBLY BRINGING SOMETHING HOME. >> OUR KIDS ARE LACKING A LOT, INTERACTION, EDUCATION AND IN MY DAUGHTER'S CASE, HELP. IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO PUT HER IN VIRTUAL ACADEMY. I WANT TO HAVE MY KIDS IN SCHOOL. EVERYBODY RECOGNIZES THAT EDUCATION AT HOME IS NOT THE SAME LEVEL OF QUALITY AND SOMEBODY LIKE MY DAUGHTER, WE CANNOT PROVIDE THE SAME SERVICES. >> Reporter: HE IS TRYING TO CONVINCE THE SCHOOL BOARD TO CHANGE HIS POLICY. >> I THINK THIS POLICY PROBABLY UNINTENTIONALLY IS DISCRIMINATORY AGAINST SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN AND CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES BECAUSE MANY OF THESE FAMILIES ARE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO ANYTHING BUT IN ROLL IN VIRTUAL ACADEMY. IT IS PUNISHING PEOPLE THAT DON'T REALLY HAVE A CHOICE.

Thursday, April 1 is the deadline to sign up for Wake County's Virtual Academy.


It's the final day for WCPSS students to register for Virtual Academy

Kid, mask, classroom

Families said they are considering how to balance safety and the importance of socializationt hat comes with in-person learning. 



Wake families weigh options as Virtual Academy deadline approaches 

Deadline approaching to decide in-person or online for Wake students 

Wake County Public Schools had the first day of its virtual academy Monday, marking the start of the 2020-2021 school year.

DEVELOPING SITUATION. >> THE LOGISTICS OF HOW THEY'RE GOING TO MOVE ALL THESE EVENTS. THANK YOU KEELY ARTHUR . >>> THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ARE STILL WAITING ON DEVICES FROM THE DISTRICT. JOE FISHER IS LIVE WITH MORE ON THIS STORY. >> Reporter: GOOD AFTERNOON. WE SPOKE WITH THE SUPERINTENDENT THIS MORNING WHO SAID THAT THE DISTRICT'S DESIRE IS TO HAVE ALL TEACHERS TEACHING FROM THE BUILDING. YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE SOME CARS HERE AT HOLLY SPRINGS ELEMENTARY. THE DISTRICT IS GIVING FLEXIBILITY TO TEACHERS WHO DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE COMING TO THE BUILDING. I SPOKE WITH THE CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER WHO SAID THAT SOME STUDENTS HAD PROBLEMS LOGGING ONTO THEIR COMPUTERS. SOME HAD TO HAVE THEIR PASSWORDS RESET. ALL IN ALL THINGS WENT PRETTY WELL. WITH JUST MINUTES TILL THE START OF CLASS THIS MOM IS TRYING TO DOWNLOAD GOOGLE MEET. WHEN IT DOES NOT WORK SHE QUICKLY SWAPS IT OUT FOR A LAPTOP JUST MOMENTS BEFORE HIS TEACHER STARTS TAKING ATTENDANCE . THE FAMILIES FAMILY ROOM IS NOW THE CLASSROOM , WHERE HE WILL WORK ONLINE AS PART OF THE VIRTUAL ACADEMY. >> WE MADE AN AREA FOR ARTS AND CRAFTS, MADE IT EASY SO WE DON'T HAVE TO RUN AROUND LOOKING FOR STUFF. >> Reporter: AFTER TWO WEEKS ORIENTATION HIS SCHEDULE INCLUDES TWO HOURS OF LIVE INSTRUCTION EVERY DAY >> I'M EXCITED TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS. >> REPORTER:'S MOM EXPECTS A FEW VEGAS BUT THE HEALTH OF THE FAMILY IS WORTH THE BUMPS IN THE ROAD. >> IT MIGHT WORK TODAY AND NOT TOMORROW. IF IT DOESN'T WE WILL JUST HAVE TO ADAPT. >>> GO WITH THE FLOW AND ADAPT. THAT'S WHAT THE THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS ARE HAVING TO DO IN WAKE COUNTY. THE DISTRICT STARTED THIS RIVETING 44,000 CHROMEBOOKS AND HOT SPOTS. COMING UP TONIGHT YOU WILL HEAR FROM THE DISTRICTS CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER AND WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY ABOUT WHEN ALL STUDENTS WILL BE EQUIPPED AND

Wake County holds first day of virtual academy

In many cases, that camera will be the eyes of the teacher, but students are not required to turn it on.

Computer cameras not required to be on for Virtual Academy in Wake County

Computer cameras not required to be on for Virtual Academy

Virtual learning, which has become a go-to option for many parents and students who have expressed concerns over safety in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, was the topic of conversation Tuesday at a meeting of the Wake County Board of Education, just hours after Gov. Roy Cooper said public schools across North Carolina can reopen next month with limited attendance and continued online instruction.

Wake working out how students will learn online, whether Plan B or Virtual Academy

Classroom

Wake County's Virtual Academy will offer online-only instruction for the coming school year. 