FAQs/Learn More
Frequently Asked Questions
What grades are offered by the Indiana Virtual Charter School?
INVCS will offer grades K-10 in the 2007-2008 school year.
What subjects will my child study?
Language Arts, Math, Science, History, Music, and Art are the core courses. There will also be other courses in the appropriate grade levels, such as Physical Education. High school students also take a foreign language course, and have access to AP courses as well.
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 in grades K-10. These books and materials are sent to students directly. High school students receive fewer books and materials than elementary and middle-school students.
Can my child work at his or her own pace?
The K-10 program is self-paced and flexible within the parameters specified by state law. The high school program is a combination of self-paced work and scheduled lessons and activities.
How many of my children can I enroll in the Indiana Virtual Charter School?
Because Indiana Virtual Charter School provides all the lesson plans and materials needed for kindergarten through grade ten, many parents find it easy to enroll multiple children in the program. There are currently families in Virtual Academies across the country with as many as five children in the program being guided by one teaching adult in conjunction with the support of state-certified teachers.
Do I need to own a computer to attend?
No. Each family will be loaned a computer system (including computer, printer, software, and Internet connection) to support the learning process. These computer systems are instructional property and must be returned when the student leaves INVCS. INVCS will arrange for technical support and troubleshooting for these systems. High school students receive their own computer to use while attending INVCS.
What computer skills are required?
The teaching adult needs to have at least basic computer skills. Use of the computer is an important part of the program, but in the early grades it is mostly the parent (or other responsible adult) who interacts with the computer. The program is user-friendly. High school students are most successful if they have basic computer skills.
How much time do students spend on the computer?
We expect that students will spend no more than 20–25 percent of their time on the computer in the early grades. 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 a great deal of old-fashioned books, workbooks, and instructional materials. At the high school level, students will spend nearly their entire school day online.
What does it cost to attend the Indiana Virtual Charter School?
As a public charter school program, there is no tuition. INVCS 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 tests are required as part of the program?
For the 2007–2008 school year, in addition to K12 lesson, unit and semester assessments, INVCS students in grades 3–10 will take the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress (ISTEP) assessments. Students in grades 2–10 will also participate in the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) tests published by the Northwest Education Association (NWEA). Students in grades K–3 will also be required to participate in the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) for pre-reading and early reading skills.
Do you provide curriculum for special needs children?
Depending on a child's IEP, we can tailor our curriculum to meet your 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 gifted/talented child?
The beauty of our K-10 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. 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 your curriculum and lesson plans to meet their abilities. High school students have the opportunity to take more advanced courses, including Advanced Placement courses for college credit.
Since students do not go to a physical school building every day, how do they interact socially?
Throughout the year, students are invited to participate in school outings, field trips (e.g., to historical sites, museums, zoos), picnics, and other social events. We expect local clusters of students and parents to get together on a regular basis in their areas. We also are 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.
Will this program intrude into my home?
There are no home visits as part of the program, unless you ask your teacher to come to your home (completely optional), and there are no cameras or any other intrusions into your home. INVCS does require that teachers conference with parents and students twice every month during the school year. Students will also attend academic workshops, school outings, and state assessments This school was created to help your child obtain a first-class education and serve your family's needs. If you ever feel that it is not right for your family or your child, you can disenroll your child at any time.
Who can enroll in the Indiana Virtual Charter School?
Students living anywhere in the State of Indiana are eligible to enroll in the Indiana Virtual Charter School. For more information about whether your child qualifies or about openings at the school, please call 866-912-3346.
I would like to enroll my child in the Indiana Virtual Charter School and another public school. Does the Indiana Virtual Charter School program allow for this kind of dual enrollment?
No. Students cannot attend the Indiana Virtual Charter School and another public school at the same time.
How do I enroll my student?
Upon receipt of enrollment application instructions, parents may submit enrollment applications via the online enrollment application or may print and fax enrollment applications to the school.
Enrollment requires submission of the enrollment application form, required supporting documentation (e.g., proof of age, proof of residence, etc.), and the completion of K12 placement tests to determine the correct courses to assign to the student. In some cases, a combination of placement test results, report cards, achievement test results, and parent/student interviews, will be used to complete the placement.
How will I know when my student's enrollment has been approved?
The Indiana Virtual Charter School Enrollment Processing Center will send you a postcard indicating that your enrollment is approved or noting documents that are still needed to completely process your application. An Indiana Virtual Charter School teacher or administrator will call you to discuss enrollment in the program and course placement.
What about four-year-old kindergarten?
The Indiana Virtual Charter School doesn't offer a four-year-old kindergarten program. Children must be age five on or before August 1 to participate.
Does the Indiana Virtual Charter School offer full- or half-time kindergarten?
Kindergarten is half-time. Students will study Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies.
Are there any attendance requirements?
Yes. According to state law, the Indiana Virtual Charter School is required to offer 180 days of instruction in the 2007-2008 school year. Students will be expected to attend five hours per day, five days per week.
Can students do extracurricular activities at area schools?
This decision is made on a school-by-school basis. The staff of the Indiana Virtual Charter School will be proactive in identifying extracurricular activities for students.
