Frequently Asked Questions

Our school options cover students from pre-kindergarten through high school graduation. Wisconsin Virtual Academy (WIVA) offers full-time enrollment for grades K–12 and part-time enrollment for 4K and grades 9–12. Destinations Career Academy of Wisconsin (Destinations) offers full-time and part-time enrollment for grades 9–12. Insight School of Wisconsin (ISWI) is available to eligible students in grades 9–12.

Wisconsin Virtual Academies are online public schools, so there is no tuition. We provide Wisconsin-licensed teachers and instructional materials. Students and families will be 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.

English/language arts, math, science, and history are core courses in all three of our schools, and each school hosts a wide range of electives. At Destinations, classes are also available in career-focused pathways. At ISWI, students can also access credit recovery courses.

Yes. We provide textbooks and instructional materials, including those needed to complete career and college prep programming. These books and materials are dependent on the student’s grade level and the courses they’re enrolled in. High school materials are mostly online, so those students receive fewer books and materials than elementary and middle school students.

At WIVA, the elementary program is self-paced and flexible within the parameters specified by state law. Middle school and high school students complete lessons in synchronous (live) and asynchronous sessions and are expected to complete quizzes, tests, and other assignments by certain due dates.

Students at Destinations can adjust the daily pace of independent coursework so long as they are keeping up with the course schedule.

The program at ISWI provides a measure of flexibility. It includes weekly assignments, scheduled lessons and activities, and assignments with set due dates. Optional and required instructional sessions are scheduled throughout the week to support student learning. Students have the flexibility of creating a schedule that enables them to complete academic work and receive teacher support throughout the day.

In the younger grades, many online lessons include offline work. 4K students are expected to spend less time on screens with more emphasis on hands-on learning and offline play-based activities. Students in grades 3–5 spend no more than 15 to 30% of their school time on the computer. Screen time increases in middle school to 50 to 70%. High school students spend 80%+ of their school time on the computer. They also do hands-on science experiments, read novels, and complete math problems that are done without the computer.

Depending on a child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), we can tailor learning to meet your student’s needs. To discuss your child’s needs with us, please contact our office, and we’ll get you in touch with our special education team.

Yes. The program is flexible to meet children where they are in any given subject and take them where they want to go. We use the rigorous K12 curriculum, which is well-suited to the needs of academically advanced students. Our teachers work directly with parents and students to ensure proper placement into the curriculum. High school students can take honors, AP®, and even dual enrollment courses.

For questions regarding special services contact Rianna Kubly, Student Services Coordinator at 608.838.9482 extension 8039 or [email protected].

Students spend time with classmates online and through other activities. Throughout the year, students will be invited to participate in school outings, field trips (e.g., museums, zoos), picnics, and other social events. In addition to school-based clubs, K12 online national clubs help connect students with like interests and passions.

Local clusters of students and parents to get together in their areas. With online discussions and forums, new types of communities can be formed based not on geography but on shared interests.

Yes, we are public schools in Wisconsin, so students can earn a diploma upon successful completion and mastery of course content.

We encourage students to speak with their resident school district regarding the possibility of participating in sports and extracurricular activities.

There are no home visits as part of the program and no other intrusions into your home. If you ever feel it is not right for your family or your child, you can withdraw at any time.

Visit our How to Enroll page for information on enrolling your child in Wisconsin Virtual Academies.

Students must comply with the state-required minimum number of instructional hours as Wisconsin public school students.

To report a student absent, please contact the attendance line at 608.838.9482 extension 0 or email the attendance office at [email protected]. To report a future absence for a student, please complete the Planned Absence Form. For multi-day absences, we also encourage families to email the student’s course teachers.

The school calendar includes school holidays or vacation time. Whenever possible, family vacations should align with school vacation days. Parents are encouraged to contact their student’s teacher if they plan a vacation that does not coordinate with the school calendar.

Yes. As public schools in Wisconsin, we are required to proctor tests each year for our students in grades 3–11.

All Wisconsin Virtual Academies students are required to take the following tests:

• Course lesson, unit, and semester assessments
• Wisconsin Department of Education achievement tests
• Criterion-referenced tests
• School teacher assessments

We’ll send you an email explaining which assessments your child will participate in and outlining testing expectations for all grades. You’ll also be receiving grade-specific assessment information, including locations, dates, and times. Our testing database chooses the closest location to your home; however, you can choose any of the listed testing sites for your child.

Yes. Students attending Wisconsin Virtual Academies require computer, printer, and related technology access. To support the learning process, families/students who do not have such technology may contact us for one loaned tablet for students in 4K or a computer system, including a laptop computer and printer, for students in grades K–12.

Parents or guardians acting as Learning Coaches need at least basic computer skills. In the elementary grades, mostly the Learning Coach interacts with the computer. Middle school and high school students are most successful if they have basic computer skills.

No. Although high-speed internet access definitely makes the experience of learning online much more satisfying, it is not absolutely necessary. Some geographic areas unfortunately do not have high-speed access available. However, for those areas that do, it is the preferred type of access for the program. Students who do not have internet access may contact us to request (upon completion of required necessary forms, updated Point of Contact information, etc.) a wireless internet card or other means of internet access.

Wisconsin Virtual Academies families needing customer support for computers or the online school can call 866.512.2273 (select option 2).

To participate in the program, computers must follow the technical specs listed here .