Illinois Virtual Schools & Academy is a public, tuition-based online learning program that serves students statewide, administered through the Lake County Regional Office of Education #34. IVSA is the only public program approved by the State Board of Education’s Virtual Course Catalog. The mission of IVSA is to provide a supportive and engaging online learning community for students that is based on the highest-quality instruction, partnering with local schools and districts to deliver rigorous curriculum and connected learning experiences.

Educating the whole child is core to the mission of IVSA and begins with the unwavering belief that every student can succeed. We foster a growth mindset and celebrate every student’s progress. Our highly personalized, interactive virtual model lets students learn where and how they learn best.

IVSA offers curriculum for grades K-12 including Honors, AP, Core, World Languages, Physical Education, Health, Electives, Fine Arts, Career, and Credit Recovery courses.

Yes. IVSA has multiple enrollment dates throughout the year. This flexible enrollment structure supports diverse student needs and school schedules.

Yes. Courses are offered full-time, part-time, and during the summer for grades K-12.

IVSA terms vary in length from 9 (summer) to 18 weeks. See the IVSA IMPORTANT DATES for specific start and end dates.

Academy tuition is $4000 per semester. Supplemental courses (up to 3 per semester) are $300 for original credit, $190 for credit recovery. Public schools may be eligible for course fee reimbursement through the ISBE IVCC program.

Students register through their local school or as a homeschool student. Contact your school counselor, or for homeschool enrollment email support@ivsaschool.org.

IVSA offers both synchronous and asynchronous courses. All instruction, assignments and assessments are housed within the online platform. Teachers provide support, feedback, and communication through the course. Full-Time Academy teachers are available daily; adjunct instructors may be available outside traditional school hours.

Courses include interactive content, videos, readings, practice questions, and projects. Students move through the content sequentially; skipping large portions is not permitted or effective for learning.

Original Credit courses include written assignments, discussion boards, research projects, and both auto-graded and teacher-graded assessments. Credit Recovery courses are prescriptive, using pre-tests to customize the path. All assessments in Credit Recovery are auto graded.

IVSA selects and reviews top-rated online curriculum aligned to Illinois Learning Standards, NCAA eligibility, and AP requirements when applicable.

IVSA offers core subjects (English, Math, Science, Social Studies) as well as Art, Music, PE, Test Prep, World Languages, Technology, Career, and Electives. Honors and Advanced Placement (AP) options are also available.

Most materials are digital. Students may need basic supplies like calculators and headphones. A few AP courses require textbooks – check the course catalog for details.

IVSA courses can be accessed from anywhere. Students often work from home, during study halls, or designated times in school. Consult your school to determine when and where IVSA courses will be taken.

Time varies by grade and course. On average, students spend about 45 minutes per day, per course on their coursework.

Academy students experience flexibility and structure. While daily schedules vary, students are expected to attend live classes, IMPACT sessions, Learning Labs, and teacher check-ins throughout the week.

Full-Time Academy students begin with the IVSA Welcome Meeting, Onboarding Session, Student Orientation Course and Diagnostic Assessments. Teachers and staff initiate communication early, so checking email regularly is essential.

IVSA prioritizes student safety and privacy:

• Tech Support can help with Internet safety tools and filtering software.
• All staff complete training in student privacy and online safety.
• Teachers build strong relationships with students and conduct regular check-ins.
• IVSA enforces strict anti-bullying/cyberbullying policies.
• IVSA complies fully with the Illinois Student Online Personal Protection Act (SOPPA)

Success requires time management, motivation, and communication. Students should use the syllabus and pacing guide to stay on track and communicate with their teachers regularly. Teachers hold office hours, and flexibility is available when needed.

Yes. Academy students may be issued a device as part of tuition. Supplemental students need to provide their own. A computer or Chromebook (not a tablet or phone) with stable internet is strongly recommended.

Students need only basic computer skills. Orientation and support are available to guide students in navigating Canvas and accessing course content.

IVSA Support provides technical requirements and assistance to schools and students.

Student progress is viewable by local school mentors, parents, and guardians via the IVSA dashboard. Teachers are the primary contact for progress questions. Academy students are also supported by their Success Coach and Counselor.

Students can communicate through email, phone, text, or messages inside Canvas. Teachers also have office hours for live support.

• Technical issues: email support@ivsaschool.org
• Course questions: contact the teacher
• Academy students: attend Learning Labs, ask your teacher, access on-demand tutoring, reach out to your mentor, meet with your success coach.

Asking for help early helps avoid academic integrity issues and keeps students on track.

Yes. Families or schools should share plans with IVSA so accommodations can be implemented. Accommodations for Academy students are a collaborative effort between the school and IVSA.

Supplemental Students: can drop a course within the first two weeks of a term (Drop-Grace Period) without financial penalty. After this period, tuition is non-refundable. Contact your local school Mentor to initiate drops.

Academy Students: can drop courses within the first two weeks of a term, but there is a $500 prorated fee if a student withdraws from IVSA after registering for the Full-Time Academy or the Next Chapter Credit Recovery program.

IVSA transcripts are generated upon course completion. Schools, students, and parents can access these. To send official transcripts elsewhere, contact support@ivsaschool.org.

Please reach us at info@ivsaschool.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.