Curious how online learning works?

The Louisiana Virtual Charter Academy serves full-time students in grades K–12 who are residents of the state of Louisiana.

Because LAVCA provides the lesson plans and materials needed for grades K–12, many parents find it easy to enroll multiple children in the program. We currently have families with as many as five children enrolled in other public virtual schools being guided by one Learning Coach or mentor in conjunction with the support of state-certified teachers.

LAVCA is a public school, so there is no tuition. We provide Louisiana-certified teachers and instructional materials. Students and families will be responsible for providing some common household materials (such as printer ink and paper). Each family will be required to have a computer that meets the minimum specifications necessary to access the K12 School (OLS). Families must also have internet access in order to participate in the school. In some instances, based on financial need, LAVCA may loan a computer to an enrolling family. This determination will take place during the enrollment process.

The school calendar includes school holidays or vacation time. You will not have access to your assigned teacher(s) during this time, but you can continue to do school work. Whenever possible, family vacations should align with school vacation days. Parents are encouraged to contact their teacher if they plan a vacation that does not coordinate with the school calendar.

In the younger grades, many of the online lessons include offline work. Students in grades K–2 spend about 30–40% of their time on the computer, while students in grades 3–5 spend about 50–60% of their time online. Screen time increases in middle school, and by high school, most of the school day is online.

Time online could be spent working on asynchronous lessons, working in live online sessions with teachers, and collaborating with peers on engaging assignments and projects. Students also do hands-on science experiments, read novels, and complete math problems that are done without the computer.

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 motivate, stimulate, and inform children about the world around them. They do not, however, replace a solid education. Instead, they help facilitate one. That’s why we use a unique multimedia approach that includes traditional books, workbooks, and instructional materials.

Throughout the year, students have the opportunity to participate in school outings, picnics, and other social events. These outings and activities may include trips to museums and parks, student clubs, and more. We expect local clusters of students and parents to get together on a regular basis in their areas. With online discussions and forums, new types of communities can be formed that are based not on geography but on shared interests.