Why Should I Consider Choosing IDVA for My Family

Idaho Virtual Academy Frequently Asked Questions

Idaho Virtual Academy is a fully accredited charter school approved under the Idaho State Charter Commission. IDVA will be offering grades K through 12 for the 2013-2014 school year.

Why should I consider choosing IDVA for my family? The Idaho Virtual Academy offers many benefits to students and families:

 Comprehensive. IDVA provides a complete instructional program for students, with high-quality lessons, units, and integrated assessments combined into a comprehensive offering.  Flexibility. Recognizing that each child is unique, our adaptive learning program is customizable and designed to meet the needs of individual students.  Support. IDVA gives parents and teachers the tools, resources, materials, and guidance they need to ensure that students receive an education comparable to the best public and private schools.  Credibility. Affiliation with IDVA (and K12) brings with it the credibility of a respected educational program and the legitimacy of a public charter school. IDVA is fully accredited by AdvancED.  Materials. All instructional materials (including books, workbooks, loaner computer, loaner printer are provided by IDVA at no cost to the parent. Internet Subsidy Reimbursement is offered to families based on family income.  Individualization. The learning program is self-paced and adapts to the needs of individual students.  Planning & Progress Tools. The Internet-based learning program comes with easy-to-use planning tools and user-friendly academic progress reporting tools.  Community. Students and families can become active members of the IDVA community with online community features, events, local field trips, and other face-to-face gatherings.

Do I need to own a computer to attend? If you are enrolled full-time in IDVA, your family may be eligible for a loaner computer system (including computer, printer, software, to support the learning process. These computer systems and (non-consumable) materials are IDVA property and must be returned when the student leaves IDVA. IDVA will arrange for technical support and troubleshooting for these systems.

How much time do students spend on the computer? At IDVA, we believe in a balanced approach toward the computer. Computers help us provide you with effective assessment, planning, and time-management tools. As a result, you can spend more time personally interacting with your child. Computers also act as powerful learning tools that can motivate, stimulate, and keep children informed about the world around them. They do not, however, replace a solid education. Rather, they help facilitate one. That's why we use a unique multimedia approach that also includes a great deal of old-fashioned books, workbooks, and instructional materials.

What does it cost to attend the Idaho Virtual Academy? As a program of a public charter school, there is no tuition. IDVA provides all instructional materials for the program. However, students and families will be responsible for providing some consumable materials (such as printer ink and paper), as well as having Internet available in the home. There is, however, a $5 minimum per year/per student suggested contribution to go to a Booster Activity Fund to help cover costs of facilities rentals, park fees, and help for needy families to attend low cost school activities. These are voluntary funds and will not be associated with public or k12 funds.

What does IDVA provide to students and families?

 Leadership, support, and guidance from teachers and the rest of the IDVA staff  Textbooks, workbooks, teacher guides, phonics program, math manipulatives, maps, science supplies, CDs, art supplies, and more  Engaging lessons and integrated assessments  Easy-to-use planning tools  Academic progress reporting tools  Online community features and events  Live Grade Level Content lessons presented by State Certified Teachers  Special education services

Who is eligible to attend? Students living anywhere in Idaho with access to the internet may be eligible to attend the Idaho Virtual Academy.

What subjects will my child study? Our courses are: Language Arts, Math, Science, History, with elective choices that include Music or World Languages, and Art. There will also be other courses in the appropriate grade levels.

How do I enroll my child? Please go to the How to Enroll section on the website and follow the instructions. (http://www.k12.com/participatingschools/idaho) and follow the instructions. Enrollment is open for Kindergarten through 7th grade until February of each school year. 8th grade and high school enrollment is open into September for Fall Semester enrollment and opens again for spring semester enrollment in November. High School spring semester enrollment closes near the end of January.

How will I learn how to use the program? IDVA offers an onboarding program to teach both students and Learning Coaches how to use our Online School. All new students in grades K-8 are assigned to an onboarding specialist. During your time in the onboarding program, you will experience an introductory course in our Online School, attend online live orientations, and complete orientation tasks to ensure your success in our school. Once you have completed the required orientation items, you will be placed with your permanent homeroom teacher.

Does the program provide textbooks and other instructional materials? Yes, we provide all the textbooks and instructional materials that are needed to complete the program. These books and materials are sent to students' homes.

Who grades student work? On a daily basis, parents review student work and enter attendance and progress into our Online School. There are specific work samples that are requested by the teachers (k-5) throughout the school year. Middle school and high school have their own system of utilizing the teachers and requesting student work. Information on these requirements is located in the Middle School FAQ and the High School FAQ. Teachers assign semester and year-end grades.

Can my child work at his or her own pace? K-8 students are expected to complete 2-3% of progress a week in the Online school. However, we do our best to allow some flexibility and assist children as they work on an individualized plan that promotes growth and learning. In high school, students must follow a rigorous schedule set by the teacher, but have the flexibility to work in the morning, or afternoon, or all day, as their schedule allows. Due dates are set by teachers for each assignment. Grades are given for completing work. Work not completed by the deadline will be penalized.

What are the parents' responsibilities? Parents (or other responsible adults) guide students through the lessons and ensure that children are learning. The program provides helpful tools within the system for parents to keep track of their students’ schooling. Parents can--and should--view their student’s progress in all subjects on a daily basis. They also contact teachers when students are experiencing academic problems, help students manage their time and set goals, monitor student work, and fill out online daily attendance logs.

It should be noted that participation in our program requires a large investment of time by parents. The academic program is demanding, and requires approximately five hours per day of student work. Parents who are unable to make this commitment themselves may designate another "responsible adult" who can make the time commitment to guide students through the daily lessons, monitor their assessments, keep them on track, communicate with their teachers, etc.

What tests are required as part of the program?  Scantron benchmark assessments in Math and Reading for 3rd through 10th grade  K12 lesson assessments  K12 unit assessments  The Idaho Reading Indicator (grades k-3)  Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) (grades 3-10)  Face to face high school final exams at the end of each semester (all students taking high school courses)  State required SAT for high school juniors  Study Island assignments may be required, as well

Since students do not go to a school building every day, how do they interact socially? Throughout the year, students are invited to participate in book clubs, field trips, science fairs, spelling bees, musical groups, athletic contests, school picnics, and other social events. We expect regional and local clusters of students and parents to get together on a regular basis in their areas. We are also exploring new ways to interact socially using the powerful reach of the Internet. With online discussions and forums, new types of communities can be formed that are based not on geography and place but on shared interests. Booster Activities and frequency is based on parental involvement to run and hold such events. Volunteers for Room Mothers will be needed regionally to run these events for each homeroom class.

Is the program's network secure? Any records kept or transmitted electronically are subject to high standards of electronic security. Our network security system is state-of-the-art. We employ electronic firewalls and encryption systems, and we monitor and test the system regularly to ensure its stability and integrity.

What is the process for leaving the program if I change my mind?. We encourage you to work closely with your teacher to be successful in this method of schooling. Teachers will help you understand and properly use all of the tools that are available to help you succeed. Students benefit from continuity in their schooling. Your teacher will help you with any problems or questions you may have. However, our school is a school of choice and your student can leave the program at any time. If you do decide to withdraw your student, please notify your k-7 homeroom teacher, or 8th grade and high school advisor. They will help you with the withdrawal process and will give you the instructions you need to return any computer equipment and materials that we have provided for you.

How does this virtual program take attendance? At the end of each day, the responsible adult fills out an attendance log that includes all work completed (both online and offline) and time spent on task. Additionally, teachers contact the parent and/or student on a regular basis and will verify the parent's log of student work. Records are maintained at the IDVA office. Teachers and IDVA administrators review attendance logs on a regular basis to determine that students are on track to complete the 900 hours (for first through eighth grades) and 450 hours (for kindergarten). Student progress is another method that is used to calculate attendance. Students who are completing the suggested 2-3% progress a week will be on target for our attendance hours.

How does IDVA handle special education? A Director of Special Education and special education teachers ensure that children with special needs receive appropriate accommodations and services. Students with disabilities are served according to federal, state, and local laws regarding special education. The Idaho Virtual Academy, as a public charter school program, is open to all students. Children with and without disabilities will be admitted to IDVA on the same basis.

Does IDVA offer extracurricular activities? Because we are not a physical school, we do not offer a full array of extracurricular offerings. We will, however, use communications tools (such as newsletters, message boards, and the IDVA website) to post recommended, age-appropriate activities, identify interesting places for field trips, facilitate events and gatherings, and list suggestions from other parents about what is enriching their children's lives.

What is a charter school? A charter school is an independent public school of choice, freed from rules but accountable for results. Charter schools are incredibly varied—there is no single charter school model. Generally, there are four "pillars" that make up the charter school idea: freedom, innovation, choice, and accountability. Some believe that charter schools also serve a research and development function for public education—trying new models, testing their effectiveness, and replicating successful approaches.

The Idaho charter law states that "a charter school may operate free from specified school district policies and state regulations. Pursuant to contract, a local board of education may waive locally imposed school district requirements, without seeking approval of the state board. The state board may waive state statutory requirements or rules promulgated by the state board."

Can a student attend IDVA and another school simultaneously? Dual enrollment is allowed on a case by case basis. If you are interested in this option for Your 1st-12th grade student, please contact Julie Ingwersen at [email protected].

What kinds of students will this virtual program serve?

 Children looking for a challenging curriculum emphasizing both knowledge and skills  Children who are struggling academically  Children who are academically gifted  Children who have special needs  Children who attend unsafe or overcrowded schools  Children who are home schooling but might sign up for a public charter school program if offered the support of a quality curriculum, adaptive lessons, and qualified teachers  Children who are engaged in other productive endeavors (the arts, athletics, or community service, for example) that make it difficult for them to attend class during regular school hours  Children who are self-directed learners  Children who love computers and multimedia applications  Children who move frequently due to changing family circumstances

What is the cut-off date for kindergarten? A child must be five years old by September 1 to enroll in IDVA or any public school. No exceptions.