We’ve gathered some commonly asked questions to provide you with the latest information regarding our programs. We hope you find these answers helpful as you prepare for the upcoming school year.
Q: Can VLACS be our school’s remote option?
A: We can serve as a supplement to your school’s remote option, hybrid option, or standard educational model. The limiting factor for VLACS is funding. The legislature and NHDOE have always supported VLACS; however, two years ago, when the state’s biennial budget was approved, no one could have predicted that we would need funding to meet the needs of students during a pandemic. Please know that we have not exhausted our budget and we will continue to expand to meet the needs of students. This topic is being raised now so that we can be of assistance throughout the pandemic and beyond.
Q: Can schools be given access to student progress data?
A: Yes, we can train school administrators on how to use our Student Information System and provide them with accounts. Our next partnership training session is scheduled for August 20 when we will provide training and access to our SIS. We are also developing one-hour SIS training sessions for school officials. Registration information will be available soon.
Q: Can classroom teachers get access to student progress data?
A: Yes, school administrators who have a VLACS SIS account can download their school’s data into a spreadsheet and then extract the names of students assigned to a particular teacher. Our SIS displays data regarding every student from your school, who is also enrolled in a VLACS course. Making all of this data available to classroom teachers could violate FERPA rules if a teacher does not have an educational need to know about every student in performance of their duties.
Q: Does VLACS withdraw students from courses?
A: Yes, we withdraw students who do not remain in communication with their instructor or fail to complete work on a regular basis. Withdrawal does not occur until multiple attempts to communicate with the students and parents have failed.
Q: I’ve heard you are no longer accepting students?
A: We are accepting student enrollments. Some courses have waitlists, and we are hiring and training new instructors to increase our capacity. We are experiencing an unprecedented rate of growth and may reach a limit due to budget constraints, but we are not at that point now.
Q: If there is a wait list for a particular course, can I still enroll?
A: Yes. As seats become available, students will be assigned based on the order in which the enrollment was received.
Q: How long will it take before a waitlisted course is opened?
A: It’s hard to know given the historic number of enrollment requests we are processing. Please know that we are working hard to meet the needs of students.
Q: What if a course enrollment is not available on the opening day at my local school?
A: Please contact your local school for an answer to this question. One option is that students can work at an accelerated rate in courses in which they are enrolled while waiting for seats to open in another course.
Q: Are you hiring new instructors to expand your capacity?
A: Yes, we have hired 60 new instructors since July 1, and we are now advertising for another group of elementary, middle, and high school instructors.
Q: Is there a limit to the number of courses that a student who is full-time at another school or homeschooled can complete at VLACS?
A: Yes, part-time VLACS students (i.e., students not enrolled as VLACS full-time students) may earn up to six credits between July 1 and June 30.
Q: Does VLACS follow a traditional academic year calendar?
A: No, students may enroll in a course at any time, can work throughout the year, and progress at a pace that meets their academic needs.
Q: Can students withdraw from a VLACS course?
A: Yes, at any time