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	Why should I consider choosing IAVSP for my child(ren)? The Iowa Virtual School Program offers many benefits to students and families: Comprehensiveness. IAVSP 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. IAVSP 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 the Pocahontas Area Community Schools brings with it the credibility of a respected educational program and the legitimacy of a public school. Materials. All instructional materials (including books, workbooks, loaner computer, loaner printer, and Internet connection) are provided by IAVSP at no cost to the parent. 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 IAVSP community with online community features, events, local field trips, and other face-to-face gatherings. Do I need to own a computer to attend? No. Each enrolled family will be loaned a computer system (including computer, printer, software, and Internet connection) to support the learning process. These computer systems and (non-consumable) materials are instructional property and must be returned when the student leaves IAVSP. IAVSP will arrange for technical support and troubleshooting for these systems. What computer skills are required? Very few. Use of the computer is an important part of the program, but in the early grades it is the parent (or other responsible adult) who interacts with the computer. The program is easy to use. How much time do students spend on the computer? At IAVSP, 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 Iowa Virtual School Program? As a program of a public school, there is no tuition. IAVSP loans students a computer system and 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). What does IAVSP provide to students and families? Leadership, support, and guidance from teachers and the rest of the IAVSP Staff Books, workbooks, manipulatives, maps, and art, science, as well as other supplies necessary to complete our program Engaging lessons and integrated assessments Easy-to-use planning tools Academic progress reporting tools Online community features and events Special education services Computer, monitor, printer, and Internet connection loaned at no cost Who is eligible to attend? Students living anywhere in Iowa may be eligible to attend the Iowa Virtual School Program. The State of Iowa defines enrollment requirements and eligibility in the open enrollment laws. For more information about whether your child qualifies or about openings at IAVSP, please call 712-335-4840. What subjects will my child study? Language Arts, Math, Science, History, Music, Art, and Physical Education. 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 of this website and follow the instructions there. 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? A certified teacher grades student work. On a day-to-day basis, parents review student work, and physical work is sent to teachers periodically for their expert review. Teachers assign semester grades. Can my child work at his or her own pace? Absolutely. The program is designed to be self-paced and flexible. What are the parents' responsibilities? Parents (or other responsible adults) guide students through the lessons and ensure that children are learning. They also contact teachers when students are experiencing academic problems, help students manage their time and set goals, monitor student work, and fill out daily attendance logs. It should be noted that participation in our program requires a large investment of time. Parents who are unable to make this commitment themselves may designate another "responsible adult" who can make the time commitment to guide the student 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? K12 lesson assessments K12 unit assessments Other standardized tests (such as the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, ITBS) 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. 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? Students can leave the program at any time. This is a school program of choice. All you have to do is formally notify IAVSP administration of your intention to remove your student from the program and return IAVSP materials and equipment that were provided to 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 IAVSP office. Teachers and IAVSP administrators review attendance logs on a regular basis to determine that students are on track to complete the 5.5 hours per day or 180 days of attendance. How does the IAVSP handle special education? IAVSP ensures 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 Iowa Virtual School Program, as a public school program, is open to all students. Children with and without disabilities will be admitted to IAVSP on the same basis. Does IAVSP 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 IAVSP 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. Can a student attend IAVSP and another school simultaneously? No. Students cannot attend IAVSP and another public school at the same time. Are the teachers certified? Yes. They also are qualified, energetic, and committed to the IAVSP mission. 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 5 years old by September 15, to enroll in IAVSP.