FAQs
Q: Are your courses recognized by colleges and universities?
A: FLVS has met the standards and requirements for accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and as a Distance Learning School by the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA). Both are accrediting agencies that most colleges or universities will recognize.
Q: Can parents or guardians monitor their students' progress?
A: Yes. Your student will have a user name and a password. You can use this information to access your student's gradebook. You are also encouraged to create your own Guardian Account and to contact the teacher whenever you need additional information.
Q: Can students from other states or countries be enrolled in your programl?
A: Yes! We enroll students from everywhere.
Q: Can your courses by used by students with special learning needs?
A: Yes. There are distinct advantages to an online environment for students with exceptional needs.
- Courses can be taken at an accelerated, traditional, or extended pace, depending on the needs of the student and a mutual agreement between the student, teacher, and parent or guardian.
- If the student does not "get" the material the first time they attempt it, they are allowed to try again, after receiving instructional feedback, to attempt for an improved score.
- Examinations are timed, but the learning management system can make adjustments if the teacher deems it appropriate.
Students with exceptional needs might want to start with just one or two courses to see if it is an appropriate fit. We provide a provision where most tuition is returned if the student opts out within the first 28 days
Q: Do you have real teachers?
A: Absolutely. Our teachers hold current certificates their subject area. Almost 100% are also classroom teachers. Some are National Board Certified. All were carefully selected and trained to be excellent online teachers. Our teachers are supported by experienced online instructional professionals who assist them in every area, from content to teaching strategies.
Q: Does this program work for home school students?
A: Yes. But there are differences. There are many fine home school organizations which require the parent to be the primary interface for a child's education. We are different in that our courses are actively taught by certified instructors. Students interact regularly with instructors via telephone, email, instant messenger, and other online communications tools. Some home schooled students use our program in total while others choose courses to supplement their home school curriculum.
Q: How do students get textbooks and materials?
A: Most courses are ready to go with all required materials included. In some cases, additional materials must be shipped. Cost is built into the tuition. Students learn more about course-specific materials during the Welcome Call.
Q: How do students get your courses listed on their local transcript?
A: Download the course description for the courses in question. Take this information to your student's local Guidance Counselor to confirm that the course will be credited on the local transcript. Most schools find that our courses meet or exceed their state standards.
You might be interested to know that our courseware is used, by licensing agreement, in more than 30 states across the nation, including Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia, and Wisconsin, and many more. In addition, our tuition program currently serves students from across the nation and even outside the U.S.
Q: How do students register?
A: To register, click here.
Q: How do your courses differ from traditional classroom courses?
A: Our courses are built upon a proven methodology that engages students and parents. As the largest virtual school in the nation, we have a long history of student successes to validate our program. We begin each course with a Welcome Phone Call where parents and students alike speak via telephone with the instructor. During the course, students can monitor grades and assignments daily (as can parents), and when students fall behind, the teacher proactively contacts them. There are Monthly Progress Reports and regular contacts with the instructor and with other students. We also include Guidance Counselors in our discussions about students and their work. We routinely monitor teacher’s contacts, assessments, and other work to ensure that teaching excellence remains at the highest level. Many students comment that they gain more from the online versus traditional courses.
Q: How long does it take to finish a course?
A: Courses can be taken at an accelerated, traditional, or extended pace, depending on your needs and a mutual agreement between the student, teacher, parent or guardian, and the guidance counselor. Most students select a traditional pace that completes a 1.0 credit course in two semesters or 36 weeks.
Q: How much do your courses cost?
A:Tuition is $375 for each semester (.5 credit). International students pay an additional $25 processing fee, making the total $400 per .5 credit. AP Courses are also and extra $25.00. Our tuition rates are an exceptional value for one-on-one instruction with a subject-certified teacher. Private schools often charge $8-10,000 per year for instruction; a full curriculum with our program is still under $5,000.
Q: How soon after registration can a student begin the course?
A: Students can normally start within three days from when we receive their registration information and tuition. We can often start a course same day.
Q: I hear there are lots of excellent reasons to take courses online, but how about a reason for me?
A: Well, how about this?
"The bell never rings." Ever been in a class and just when you’re finally "getting it," the bell rings and you’re off to some other activity? With online courses, you work at your speed, and you can stick with a lesson as long or as briefly as you want or need.
Or this?
You can REALLY be yourself. You don't have to worry about how you look (you shouldn't do that anyway) or how you dress, or any of the things that sometimes become pressures at traditional schools. No one is judging anything about you except the teacher who judges your performance against fair and clearly stated standards. You'll learn by just being you.
Or this?
You'll get connected. Online students typically find their courses to be livelier, and they interact more often with their online versus classroom instructor. Remember, for an online course you are not just one person in a big class. You can have one-to-one instruction as needed with your teacher, and you connect with students from all over to deliver projects created in a web-based world.
Q: I want to earn a high school diploma. Can you help?
A: We do not issue diplomas, but we can provide transcripts of all courses for your local districted school or home school organization who, depending on their policies, may issue the diploma. Florida Virtual School is a nationally recognized, accredited, and award-winning program, and the courses are aligned to national standards.
Q: If a student just needs one or two courses to complete a diploma, graduate early, or meet some other requirement, can you help?
A: Yes. Our complete middle and high school curriculum serves students for all these reasons and more.
Q: Is your program accredited?
A: Florida Virtual School is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Florida Virtual School is also accredited by the Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation (CITA)
Q: What happens after registration and payment? How do students get started?
A: During the registration process, students receive a User ID and Password which is sent to the email address provided by the students in their Student Profile. Use the User ID and Password to check back regularly. Once registration and payment are processed, you will receive a Welcome E-mail in your student email account. (It will not come to the personal e-mail address you posted in your Student Profile.) Once you make contact with your teacher, you will access your course(s) at the above Website using the directions in the Welcome E-Mail.
Q: What happens when students finish the course?
A: You will get a Final Grade Report. You will also receive an Official Student Transcript. Both of these documents will be mailed to your school district
Q: What if I still have questions?
A: Please contact Florida Virtual Global Services at 407-513-3587. Ask for Elaine McCall, principal of the Global School, or someone within the Florida Virtual Global Services department.
Q: What kind of students succeed in your program?
A: Our proven methodology engages you and keeps you interested, but there are a few tips to being a good online learner. First, track your pace. The pace chart, included in every course, is a resource you can print out to help you easily track your progress. Second, contact your teachers when you need them. They are there to help, so take advantage of it. Finally, communicate with your teachers if you are falling behind for any reason. They will work with you to keep you up to speed. .
Q: What makes Florida Virtual Global School distinctive as compared to other online schools and correspondence courses?
A: Many things!
1. Florida Virtual School, our parent organization, is perhaps the most award winning online school in the world, accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges.
2. The school and its administrators have been recognized for many achievements by organizations such as the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA).
3. As a public middle and high online school serving the entire state state of Florida, FLVS receives regular evaluations of its performance, and the school is the first in the nation to be funded only if students are successful.
4. How can so many pleased students and parents be wrong? FLVS saw more than 55,000 successful course completions in the 07-08 school year.
FAQs
