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If you are considering enrolling your student in Liberty University Online Academy, you likely have many questions about how it all works. Maybe you are new to the world of online schooling, or perhaps you simply want to know more about LUOA. Either way, check out our FAQ section below to find answers to common questions about enrollment, technology, payment plans, and more!
How long does the enrollment process take?
The admissions process can take a few days or up to a few weeks. The time frame will greatly depend on your enrollment goals, how accessible your child’s records are, and how available your student is to take possible assessment testing. Special approval or unique situations can arise that may add time to the admissions process.
When can my student start?
You can enroll your student(s) to begin on any Monday throughout the year, excluding holidays. Our flexible program accommodates students at any time of the year – so you can enroll when it’s most convenient for you!
Can I enroll my student for just one course?
Yes! You will just need to fill out an application and speak with an admissions counselor to request the course you wish for your student to take. If your student plans to earn a high school diploma through the Academy, he or she should register as a full-time student with the usual entrance assessment exam and program planning.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes, payment plans are available! We offer payment plans that are customizable between 2 and 10 months. The total tuition is divided into equal monthly payments for a full year or full semester registration. This option is selected during online Financial Check-In after registration is completed. Please know that a one-time $50 payment plan participation fee will incur on any student account in a payment plan.
How does the Academy work with a student who has a learning disability, such as ADD or ADHD?
In many cases, a child with a learning disability can be placed in the curriculum level that is recommended by our admissions counselors according to the results of the entrance assessment exam for mathematics as well as student records. We are able to review 504 documentation and are willing to work with families to make reasonable accommodations/modifications. However, LUOA is not legally obligated to adhere to IEP recommendations.
What is the parent’s role?
The parent is seen as the primary* teacher, partnered with the Academy support staff. This is a powerful combination. Parental involvement as the primary teacher is necessary to ensure your student’s success. However, we understand how overwhelming balancing life and homeschooling can be, so LUOA parents have expert support at their disposal, from our team of advisors to our certified K-12 teachers.
*By “primary,” we mean “first-in-line.” Parents also serve as the primary source in holding students accountable for progress in their courses. As the primary teacher, you are your child’s “first responder” with help for academic questions. Next in line is your Academy teacher, who will help through the built-in messaging for student/teacher correspondence. Liberty University Online Academy teachers are available to students and parents for (real-time/live-voice) additional assistance via telephone when needed.
Do the parents set up the lesson plans and academic calendar?
No, the Academy sets up the student’s school calendar at the beginning of the school year based upon the student’s courses. Based on this calendar, the computer will divide the entire course into a lesson plan.
What should I do if my student misses a scheduled day of work? Do we need to notify the Academy?
One of the benefits of schooling online is the flexibility of the schedule. With the Online Academy, you have the flexibility to change your schedule when it becomes necessary. You do not need to notify the Online Academy of a school day that has been missed.
How does the student communicate with an Academy teacher?
The student can communicate with their Academy teachers in two ways. The first is through the messaging system in the curriculum, and the second is through submission comment boxes built into the curriculum. Please note that if you are contacting a teacher about grading, teachers have 48 hours to grade an assignment. If you are contacting a teacher about a lesson question, teachers have 24 hours to respond. Students may also contact a subject specialist by phone at (866) 418-8741 Monday-Friday, 8:30-5:00 EST.
What does a typical school day look like?
We want you to have the flexibility to work schooling around your schedule, not the other way around. For that reason, your student’s school day may look a little different from another LUOA student’s. You may have your student do all their work in one sitting or have them space it out over the course of the day.
Time spent on the computer will vary depending on your school calendar, the number of subjects that have been assigned, and the student’s understanding of the course material. Generally, a student taking a full course load spread over a 180-day (not counting weekends and holidays) school year will spend 3 to 5 hours a day on the computer.
How much time does the student have to finish the school year?
Each student is given up to 10 months to complete one school year’s coursework (semester courses are 5 months and year-long courses are 10 months).
How often should I check my student’s progress?
We encourage parents to take an active role in their student’s education. Parents are essential in actively teaching and working with the student throughout the lessons, and we encourage daily review of student progress. Your involvement is critical to your student’s success. Twice a month, you will receive a progress report from our academic advising team reviewing their progress and grades. If you need help interpreting scores, answering questions, or providing additional instruction to your student, please call our academic advising team for assistance.
How quickly will my student’s work be graded?
Our teachers have up to 48 hours (with the exception of weekends and holidays) to review and grade each student’s daily assignments. Since projects are much larger than daily assignments, teachers are given up to 4 days to grade projects.
Does LUOA periodically send report cards or progress reports?
Yes, twice a month a progress report is sent via email to each student’s parents by our team of academic advisors. However, it is suggested that parents continuously monitor their student’s work through their parent observer account. If an official grade report is needed, we will send one upon request.
Does my student have to be connected to the internet to do schoolwork?
Yes. Our curriculum is internet-based and accessed via our website by a username and password assigned to each student through the process of claiming his or her account.
What computer skills does my child need?
You can review our digital literacy requirements here.
Does my student need advanced typing skills to be successful?
Though typing skills are an advantage, many students develop these skills throughout the course of their study with us.
Is there any work that is not completed on the computer?
Students in grades K-8 have worksheets that will be printed out, completed, and then scanned back into the curriculum. Projects that are accomplished away from the computer include science experiments as well as research papers for language arts, history, and Bible. Also, in grades 7 through 12, our language arts courses include reading and evaluating printed novels, plays, and biographies.
Is it better to have two computers if there are two academy students in the same family?
If you have two (or more) students working in our computer-based courses, it makes it easier for your students to have two (or more) computers, but it is not required. If there will be two students working on one computer, we recommend having one student complete his or her work in the morning, and the other in the afternoon. If there are more than two students in the same family enrolled in the Academy, an additional computer is required.
What can I do to improve my student’s penmanship if all the work is done on the computer?
In the elementary and middle school curriculum, students will have quite a few worksheets that will be handwritten and then scanned into the curriculum. If you would like your student to do more penmanship work, have the student do the assignments and projects on paper for the handwriting practice and then type the work into the curriculum page.
Will my internet filter cause any problems?
If you have an internet service provider that allows you to set a filter, you will need to set the filter to the lowest level to access the school curriculum. Visit our digital literacy requirements page for more information.
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