Virtual and Alternative School

Joplin Virtual Academy FAQs

If a student is virtual through Joplin Virtual Academy, are they still considered a Joplin Schools student?
Yes, they are still considered a Joplin Schools student and can attend the events at their home school that they would attend if they attended the traditional setting.

Do virtual students follow the same Joplin Schools calendar as traditional students?
Yes, virtual students will follow the same Joplin Schools calendar.

Is attendance counted for virtual students?
Virtual courses do not calculate daily attendance, instead relying on course completion to inform attendance rates. Teacher monitors will verify time spent in coursework and actual working time of students. If students are not meeting time requirements or not making progress parents/guardians will be contacted by the teacher monitor.

What is the time frame for each grade level?
Full virtual students will be enrolled in 7 courses. Hybrid virtual students can be enrolled in 1 to 6 courses.

Elementary students will use the Acellus platform to complete steps for each course. A student has completed their lessons in each course once the star turns yellow.

Middle School students will be enrolled in core subjects through Edgenuity. A full-time virtual student should be working 4 to 5 hours per day. Teacher monitors will use daily time logs to assess how long a student is working. The family will set the education schedule that meets their students’ needs.

High School students will take two semester courses at a time on Edgenuity, as advised by a JHS counselor. Students will have 27 school days to complete these two courses. Once a course is complete and they have taken the End of Course exam, students will be assigned a new course. A full-time virtual student should be working 5 to 6 hours per day. Teacher monitors will use daily time logs to assess how long a student is working. The family will set the education schedule that meets their students’ needs.

*Education Schedules are created by the family. Teacher monitors will be looking for the following:

Elementary Students finish the day’s lessons that are assigned to them.
Middle School and High School Students must spend between 5 to 6 hours a day on the courses that are assigned to them. Courses should be in the color code of blue or green. If a course turns red, the parent will be contacted.
All students at all grade levels can work longer to finish the courses earlier.

Are virtual students provided the same content as traditional students?
Yes, the Acellus and Edgenuity platforms used by virtual students are built using the Missouri State Standards and are aligned by grade level and subject.

Do virtual students have access to tutoring?
There is 24/7 tutoring embedded in the Edgenuity platform for middle and high school students. Acellus tutoring will be offered by the Joplin Virtual Academy teacher monitor.

Is closed captioning offered on Acellus and Edgenuity?
Both programs offer closed captioning options in many cases. Some of the older Edgenuity courses may not offer closed captioning.

What if my student has an IEP or 504 plan?
Please reach out to your student’s case manager at their home school, by email, and set up a meeting time to discuss virtual education options.

Is the virtual learning that took place during a Fall semester the same coursework we will see during a Spring semester?
No, the Joplin Schools Virtual Academy courses are offered through either Acellus or Edgenuity, which are MOCAP approved vendors of content that is appropriate for your student’s learning path all year long. All courses will have a teacher monitor and access to tutoring. Students will take End of Course exams in a lock-down browser situation. Parents/Guardians will also have access to student progress by logging in through a username and password. Parents/Guardians will also receive emails updating them on their student’s progress.

Will Joplin Schools provide a device for my student to use?
All virtual students will have access to a device to be checked out from the district.

Can parents log in to Edgenuity and Acellus to view the platform?
Joplin Schools cannot offer logins to parents/guardians without being required to purchase a seat from the companies. Parents will be offered a Parent Portal to view student progress, but cannot log in to the learning platform itslef. However, the following videos are good demonstrations of the platforms.

Acellus   Edgenuity

Will parents/guardians have access to view students progress and grades?
Parents can set up a parent portal in Edgenuity and Acellus. Reach out to your student’s virtual teacher monitor to begin.

If a student starts traditionally or virtually and then decides in the middle of the semester to transfer to virtual or traditional could that be done?
Changes in the way a student is learning, traditional to virtual or virtual to traditional, can only be made at semester.

Where do students go to take their End of Course exams?
Students will schedule a time with their teacher monitor to take cumulative course assessments on site at the Roi S. Wood campus. Times and dates will be discussed when scheduled. Joplin Schools does not provide transportation to Virtual Academy End of Course exams.

Is there a Facebook page we can follow for updates about Joplin Virtual Academy?
Yes, please check out the Joplin Schools Online and Alternative School Facebook Page.

What does a two-semester course mean at the high school level?
Virtual courses at the high school level are either one or two semesters long.

What about elective classes? Are they included?
Yes, elective classes are included.

What if a student wants to graduate early?
If a student wants to graduate early, they should speak to their counselor who can advise them on whether or not that is an option for them, and how to reach that goal.

Are students able to complete more than one day’s worth of curriculum in a school day?
The students can work as much as they would like beyond what the daily requirements are. Doing so could help them finish the courses earlier.

If you have additional questions, please call 417-680-5123 or email shellytarter@joplinschools.org