Virtual Scholars Academy FAQ

 *Updated March 8, 2023

The Virtual Scholars Academy (VSA) will be available to all students in grades K-12 with full course offerings to include special education services.

Students interested in participating in the Virtual Scholars Academy must apply and be accepted into the program each school year; therefore, current VSA students must reapply. Your application will be evaluated before acceptance into the Virtual Scholars Academy Program occurs.

Students who are accepted into the program remain enrolled at their zoned school and can participate in all school sponsored sports, clubs, and activities.

1. If a child is currently enrolled in VSA, do they have to reapply for next year?
   Yes, current students must reapply for the next school year.
   
   

2. How much time will I spend working on an online class?
   Students should expect to spend the same amount of time completing work for an online class as they would a traditional class. For most students, this means about 60 minutes a day for each course. Some students may work faster while others may need more time. There will be synchronous (Zoom sessions) instruction daily for all scholars in grades K-12. All instruction will be provided by Virtual Virginia (VVA).
   
   

3. Can I take an online course as an extra class?
   High school students can take a maximum of eight classes in a regular school year. This includes VSA courses which must be taken as part of a student’s normal course load. It is suggested to take no more than six classes due to the time commitment required for the classes.
   
   

4. Can I complete VSA courses from home?
   Students can work from home.
   
   

5. Are there any additional costs assessed to parents/guardians?
   All NPS enrolled students will have no costs associated with attending VSA.
   
   

6. What is Virtual Virginia?
   VVA is a program of the Virginia Department of Education, Virtual Virginia (VVA) that offers online core academic, Advanced Placement (AP), duel enrollment, world language, and elective courses to students throughout the Commonwealth and the nation. More information about Virtual Virginia can be found here: https://www.virtualvirginia.org/.
   
   

7. How is the Virtual Scholars Academy different from Virtual Virginia?
   All VSA K - 12 students enrolled in VSA are Norfolk Public Schools students but will be instructed by Virtual Virginia teachers. A listing of available courses can be found on the VVA website under K-12 Instruction, Grades 6-12: https://www.virtualvirginia.org/6-12/#courses
   
   

8. What is the difference between Virtual Scholars Academy (VSA) this year and VSA for next school year?
   There will be no difference in classes or curriculum except VSA 4-5 students next school year will also be instructed by VVA teachers. During the 2022-2023 school year, the students were instructed by NPS teachers.  All students will be instructed by Virtual Virginia teachers and must apply and be accepted into the Virtual Scholars Academy for the 2023-2024 school year.
   
   

9. Will VVA have the same course options as NPS?
   VVA has a broad selection of course offerings but does not have the same classes as NPS. NPS students will meet with their school counselors to select the proper combination of VVA courses needed to move to the next level. Students may need to make other selections in elective areas. Students will be able to take general education courses in English, math, science, history and social studies, world languages, art, music, physical education, and computer science. Students are also able to take a variety of Advanced Placement or Dual Enrollment courses. A listing of available courses can be found on the VVA website under K-12 Instruction: https://www.virtualvirginia.org/
   
   

10. Are electives required?
    Yes, students will take electives through Virtual Virginia.
    
    

11. Who will be monitoring pacing and alignment?
    The administration working with VSA will be monitoring pacing and alignment.  The administration with VVA also maintains this with their teachers.
    
    

12. What will VSA grading look like?
    VSA grades will be reported at the end of each quarter and will be viewable in ParentVUE. To keep an eye on grades during the quarter/semester/year, parents will have access to the ParentPortal through Genius, VVA’s student information system.
    
    

13. How do students complete NPS assessments and Virginia State assessments?
    All district and state assessments will be done at the student’s home school. The school will notify parents and students when testing will occur.
    
    

14. How will VSA teachers determine attendance for VSA?
    For all students in grades k–12 who are enrolled in courses with synchronous meeting times, attendance is reported based on students' presence in daily synchronous instruction sessions, Monday through Friday. A student is reported as present when their camera is on, showing them engaged in the instructional session. (A student with an approved, camera-related exception recorded in their learning plan is not subject to the "camera-on" requirement.) For students in grades 6–12 who are enrolled with the asynchronous option, attendance is reported based on daily activity in students' individual VVA course(s) within the learning management system.
    
    

15. Does virtual mean that my student is provided the work and expected to work at his/her own pace, or will there be student/teacher interaction?
    There will be synchronous (live) lessons (Zoom) and asynchronous lessons (Canvas) daily.  The asynchronous lessons will be at your child’s pace, but there are due dates the student is expected to meet. VVA does expect students to be logged in to Canvas for at least an hour a day for each course. This combines synchronous and asynchronous time on screen.
    
    

16. Are live, synchronous sessions recorded?
    Sessions are recorded and stored in the Video Library.
    
    

17. If a parent needs to cancel the student’s application, what should they do?
    Please email The Virtual Scholars Academy at VSA@nps.k12.va.us and the student’s application can be removed.
    
    

18. Who is this program for and if my child has an IEP can they still enroll?
    This program is for all grades K-12 NPS students.  Applications for students with disabilities served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA) will be reviewed for acceptance and enrollment following the recommendation of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team. Student IEP teams will need to convene prior to acceptance into VSA for any students with disabilities to determine if the student’s special education services and/or accommodations can be provided in VSA in order for the student to receive a free and appropriate public education (FAPE).
    
    

19. Are EL and gifted services available to VSA students?
    EL and gifted services will be provided to VSA students.
    
    

20. If I enroll my kids in VSA does that mean I have to stick with it the entire school year?
    We are asking for a year-long commitment. Circumstances may change which is understood, so written notification should be given to the VSA staff if removal is requested before enrolling back to face-to-face instruction. 
    
    

21. Do VSA students ever have to report to campus?
    Students must be on campus at their zoned school to complete standardized assessments mandated by Norfolk Public Schools and the Virginia Department of Education.
    
    

22. If VSA is chosen and I have multiple kids, do I have to choose VSA for all children or can 1 do VSA and the other not?
    No, VSA can be for any student in the household. This is a parent/guardian decision.
    
    

23. Will I be able to participate in a graduation ceremony if I attend Virtual Scholars Academy?
    NPS students remain connected to their home school and can participate in all school sponsored sports, clubs, and activities. Students will continue to work with their home school counselor and will receive a diploma from their home school upon graduation.
    
    

24. How will information be distributed to families of virtual students about school system happenings?
    VSA families will continue to be in the NPS alert system and will receive all division wide communications.
    
    

25. Where can I get technical support?
    Through the NPS Help Desk at help@nps.k12.va.us