FAQs - General

What grades are offered by the Colorado Virtual Academy?
COVA will offer grades K-12 in the 2009-2010 school year.

What subjects will my child study?
Language arts, math, science, history, music, and art are the core courses. Kindergarten students receive math, language arts, and one other course. A full academic program for grades 9-12 is also offered by COVA.

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. These books and materials are sent to students directly.

Can my child work at his or her own pace?
The K-8 program is self-paced and flexible within the parameters specified by state law. Students are expected to achieve a year’s academic growth in a year’s time.

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 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 well-written and designed textbooks, workbooks, and hands-on instructional materials. 

What does it cost to attend the Colorado Virtual Academy?
Since COVA is a public charter school, there is no tuition. However, students and families will be responsible for providing some consumable materials (such as printer ink and paper).

Do you provide curriculum for special needs children?
Depending on a child’s IEP, we can tailor our curriculum to meet your child’s needs. To discuss your child’s needs with us, e-mail our Special Education Director Stacy Altman at saltman@covcs.org.

Can you accommodate the accelerated learning needs of my gifted/talented child?
We offer a gifted and talented program called the GATE program (Gifted and Talented Education), which is an optional program that focuses on meeting the needs of accelerated students. This unique program was designed to meet the social and emotional needs of gifted students by creating opportunities not only in intense areas of interest, but also to provide opportunities to work with other students in the GATE program. Learn more.

How do students interact socially?
Throughout the year, students are invited to participate in school outings, field trips, picnics, and other social events. These outings and activities may include trips to museums, skate parks, zoos, clubs, student government, dances, and even graduation ceremonies. We expect local clusters of students and parents to get together on a regular basis in their areas. We are also 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 but on shared interests.

Will this program intrude into my home?
There are no home visits as part of the program, and there are no cameras or any other intrusions into your home. 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.



Didn’t find the answer to your question? Try one of our other FAQ pages :
Technical FAQs
Enrollment & Attendance FAQs
Testing & Assessment FAQs