FAQs
General FAQs
What grades does Iowa Virtual Academy (IAVA) offer?
IAVA offers full-time enrollment for grades K–12. Students interested in enrolling must submit an application during the Iowa Department of Education's open enrollment window. Your kindergartner must be 5 years old before September 15 of the upcoming school year to enroll.
What does it cost to attend IAVA?
Because IAVA is a public school program, there is no tuition. We provide Iowa-licensed teachers and instructional materials. Families are responsible for providing some common household materials (such as printer ink and paper). Our enrollment consultants can help address your technological and computer questions and needs.
What subjects will my child study?
Language arts, math, science, and history are the core courses. There are also courses in the appropriate grade levels, such as music, art, physical education, and health. Visit our elementary, middle school, and high school academics pages for more details.
What are the physical education requirements?
IAVA recognizes the important role of physical education in the education of our students. The Iowa Healthy Kids Act requires 30 minutes of physical education each day for students in grades K–5 and 120 minutes per week for students in grades 6–12. The in-home nature of the online school model requires parents to assume the primary responsibility for the implementation of physical education activities. Teachers will provide the Learning Coach with resources and information concerning the physical education and the Healthy Kids Act requirements.
Does IAVA provide textbooks and other instructional materials?
Yes. We provide textbooks and instructional materials, which are dependent on the student's grade level and the courses they're enrolled in. High school students receive fewer books and materials than elementary and middle school students.
How much time do students spend on the computer?
We expect that students will spend no more than 15 to 30 percent of their school time on the computer in grades K–5, 50 to 70 percent in grades 6–8, and 80+ percent in grades 9–12. We believe in a balanced approach toward education. Computers help us provide you with effective assessment, planning, and time-management tools. Computers also act as powerful teaching tools that can motivate, stimulate, and inform children 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 traditional books, workbooks, and instructional materials.
Can my child work at their own pace?
The elementary program is self-paced and flexible within the parameters specified by state law and student needs, based on benchmark assessments taken at the beginning of the school year. Middle school and high school students complete lessons in synchronous and asynchronous sessions and are expected to complete, quizzes, tests, and other assignments in a timely manner.
Do you provide curriculum for students with special needs?
Depending on a child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP), we can tailor learning to meet their needs. To discuss your child's needs with us, please contact our office, and we will put you in touch with our special education team.
Can you accommodate the accelerated learning needs of my advanced learner?
The beauty of our program is that it is flexible enough to meet children where they are in any given subject and take them where they want to go. Grade placement assessments, completed as part of the enrollment process, allow us to place your student in the appropriate level of curriculum. So, for example, if your fourth grader is doing math on a sixth-grade level and reading on a fourth-grade level, we can tailor lesson plans to meet your student's abilities.
How do students interact socially?
Throughout the year, students will be invited to participate in school outings, field trips (e.g., to historical sites, museums, zoos), picnics, and other social events. Local students and parents can get together on a regular basis in their areas. Students can also take advantage of a wide variety of online clubs.
Will this program intrude into my home?
There are no home visits as part of the program and no other intrusions into your home.
Where can I find the most recent Iowa school report cards?
Under the ESSA, beginning with information from the 2017–2018 school year, report cards must be posted annually on district websites. (ESEA section 1111(h) (1) (A), (B)(iii) and (h)(2)(A), (B)(iii)). At the core of the Iowa School Report Cards is the belief that all students can grow, and all schools can improve. While no student report card tells the full story of a child, no school report card tells the full story of a school. Education is far more than a single score or letter grade, but it is important that families and communities can see both strengths and areas that need support and improvement.
