Frequently Asked Questions

What is WVS?

Wisconsin Virtual School is YOUR Wisconsin Web Academy. The Wisconsin Web Academy (WWA) is a partnership between DPI and CESA 9. Wisconsin Virtual School then partners with school districts throughout the state to offer online courses to middle and high school students. WVS "uncomplicates" the process of adding virtual courses to a district's curriculum, providing the content, platform, Wisconsin certified online teachers, technical support, training, server, online policy development assistance, and much more. With WVS, districts can offer online options to their students with minimal cost and time. Districts retain control of key policy decisions and the enrollment. WVS helps districts define their policies for online learning.

Wisconsin Virtual School offers middle, high school, Credit Recovery and Advanced Placement curriculum, using media-rich, high quality, Internet-based course content. By partnering with local districts, we help districts extend curriculum, create more options for students, and custom fit programs to district needs. WVS courses range from core curriculum such as English, science, mathematics and social studies to success-enhancing courses such as life skills and career planning to electives such as foreign languages, technology, phy. ed., health, wellness, art, music; Credit Recovery, and Advanced Placement. These courses are designed specifically for Internet delivery at the learner’s pace.  A course list is available in PDF format.

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Yes, WVS courses meet both state and national standards. We use Wisconsin content-specific certified teachers, specifically trained to meet our rigorous Internet-based teaching pedagogy and students enjoy quality, one-on-one communication with the teacher.

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Partnering with WVS allows districts to stretch their resources and offer additional high-quality educational options that address specific students' needs with flexibility and ease. Added advantages include:

• Local control over your virtual education policies and procedures
• No contracts to sign or membership fees, single enrollments welcome
• Quick and easy online enrollment
• Enrollment stays in the district
• Low cost, avoiding the usual "start-up" expenses associated with beginning an online program
• Wisconsin certified teachers, trained in online facilitation skills, that can attend to the needs of nontraditional students, with one-on-one instruction
• High quality, media-rich interactive courses, a user-friendly platform, technical support, training, administrative support, and more
• No textbooks to buy (Note: except AP courses)
• Expanded curriculum offerings with consistently high-quality, interactive courses
• Recapture or prevent dropouts
• "Any time, any place, any path, any pace" learning for students
• Help with setting local policies for online learning
• Training and technical support- both orientation and ongoing

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Upon completion, WVS notifies the student's school district of the student’s course completion and percentage earned. The district determines and issues the letter grade, along with local credit if applicable.

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Online courses can be a valuable option for many different types of students, including:

• College-bound students in need of advanced or specialized coursework
• Credit deficient students needing specific courses in order to graduate
• Students wanting to improve their skills in specific subject areas
• Remedial students who require one-on-one support
• Gifted or advanced students who want expanded educational offerings
• Summer school students
• Students with scheduling conflicts
• Home bound students
• Students who may not otherwise have a particular course offering available

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Students may enroll in a WVS course at almost any time during the semester and year, including the summer. In the spring and fall terms, a student has up to five months to complete a 1/2 credit course. The summer term is 8 weeks only. Students set their own pace in the online environment, so they may complete a course in less time.

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Basic technical requirements include:

• PC with a Pentium Processor and Windows XP or Vista, or Macintosh with Macintosh OSX or higher
• 256 MB RAM
• 800 x 600 resolution monitor
• DSL or T-1 (preferred) or 56K modem Internet access
• Sound card and speakers/headphones (microphone required for certain courses)
• Hard drive with at least 1G free space available
• A current browser (Internet Explorer 6.x or higher , Firefox 2.x or higher, Safari 3.x or higher (popup blocking disabled, Javascript enabled)
• Various plug ins which are available free- see System Specs.

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An Internet-based approach to learning uses interactive online technology and requires active participation in each course. There are frequent one-on-one communications with the teacher and regular assignments. Online courses provide a multimedia-rich environment with engaging, high-quality content for individualized discovery through the learning process.

This dynamic content immerses students in imaginative experiences, using a myriad of learning tools that are unique to an Internet–based format. Students engage in dynamic learning activities and student-selected learning paths, which are multimedia-enforced. Students are able to self-monitor their progress and create multimedia portfolios, in a seamless learning environment, not bound by time and space.

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The cost of each 1/2 credit (semester) Middle School, High School and Advanced Placement course is $325.  Credit Recovery courses are $270 per semester course. If the school district is paying for the course, WVS will bill the district after a 14 day trial period.  If the student is paying for the course, payment must be received at the time of enrollment. (See parent information)

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The student and their school district decide which course(s) to take. The district assigns the student a local contact person to help monitor the student’s progress and encourage his/her maintaining a reasonable pace toward course completion (we refer to this person as a LEG –Local Education Guide). The school district enrolls the student online. Once CESA 9 confirms the student’s enrollment is approved  by the district or paid for by the parent, the student will receive an email with their log-in instructions. Students and the LEGs are strongly encouraged to use the built-in Orientation course prior to beginning their online course.

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For more information, call CESA 9 at 715-453-2141 or e-mail us at wvs@wisconsinvirtualschool.org.