Getting Started Successfully

Want to know what it takes to get started successfully with FLVS? Here is how it works:

Decide whether taking an online course is right for your student:

This is Step One, and it sounds like an obvious one, right? Nonetheless, it is an important first step. Florida Virtual School is an online public school and that means our courses are FREE to Florida students. The courses are entirely online and students communicate with the teacher through phone, text, IM, email, and a variety of digital channels.

Making the decision to take an online course is a big commitment, and it's important to help your student think about why they want to take it. Oftentimes, talking to a school counselor or one of our FLVS counselors can be very helpful. Make sure that your student will have the time to devote to an FLVS course and that it is a credit they really need. There could be many reasons why your family would choose Florida Virtual School, but making sure that students know why they're here and that they're motivated to do the work are the most important steps in getting started.

Choose the program that is right for your student:

At Florida Virtual School, students have options—not just in where and when they learn, but also in what type of online program they choose. Whether it's full-time or part-time, whether you're inside or outside the state of Florida, we can help you choose the FLVS option that is right for your student.

What to do if you live outside of Florida:

Sometimes our name can be deceiving, especially when it comes to students who live outside the state. Can non-residents take online courses with Florida Virtual School, you ask? Absolutely. If your family lives outside Florida, your student can take courses through FLVS Global on a tuition basis. Learn more about tuition rates and options by visiting the FLVS Global website.

Is yours a military family? Click here to learn our eligibility requirements for students in military families.

Choose a course that is right for your student:

You may already know which course your student needs to take, or you may be interested in looking through our many offerings. Whatever the case may be, the process begins in the same place—the FLVS Course Catalog. Here you can see a catalog customized for your student, you can choose a specific course, and your student can create his or her FLVS account.

Sometimes figuring out which course to take can be a bit confusing. We want to make sure your student will graduate on time, so don't hesitate to contact the counselor at your school or the FLVS counselors when you need guidance.

From answering questions about prerequisites to helping determine which course will put your student on track, counselors are there to help. When your student chooses a course, don't forget to ask yourself these important questions:

Help your student create their FLVS account:

Once you and your student have chosen the right program and course, the next step is creating your FLVS student account. This is done through the FLVS Course Catalog and it's a piece of cake. Just remember, when creating an account, that the information needs to be 100% accurate. Be sure that your student's email address and your email address are filled in properly; we need all contact information prior to initiating the course.

As soon as the student account is created, we will send emails to help you finish the sign-up process. Some very important pieces of information will arrive in these emails, so keep your eyes peeled and read everything. Also, keep that phone nearby, because we will call your student to verify his or her sign up.

If your student signed up for their first FLVS course after April 2012, you should have received an email with information on how to access your Parent/Guardian Account. If your student signed up for their first FLVS course before April 2012, click here to learn how to create an account and monitor their progress.

Processing time:

Please understand that it can take time to get you into a course. We ask that you allow us 2 weeks to get you started; sometimes processing is completed faster and at times it can take a bit longer. All depends on the popularity of a particular course and how quickly you work through the steps required in the emails we send you.

At FLVS, we have several steps to complete as well, including contacting your parent/guardian or school counselor so they can approve your FLVS enrollment. Rest assured, we'll be working diligently to get you started as soon as possible.

While we are doing our part behind the scenes, you can do a couple things:

Visit myFLVS. This is the section of our website devoted to students. Learn how to get involved in student activities, check out the academic calendar and see what other FLVS students are doing.
Watch the FLVS Quick Start Video to familiarize yourself with FLVS and what to expect in the course.
If you have a public or private school student, contact your school counselor to remind them to approve your enrollment with FLVS.
If you are a homeschool family, make sure you log in to approve your student's enrollment.
Your student can log into their FLVS account and view their Dashboard within a couple hours of signing up.

On the Dashboard students can monitor their sign-up progress and eventually access coursework, grades, teacher contact information, important announcements, and more.

Getting started in the course:

As soon as your student is in the course, we will let you know. How, you ask? Well through email of course. We will send a message to you and your student the minute the course is open. The teacher will be very excited to talk to you and get the ball rolling, and you can expect a welcome call soon after your student starts working. During that call, you and your student can get to know the teacher, talk about coursework expectations, and even choose your student's pace.*

That's right, you and your student get to choose the pace.

So, if your student has a hectic schedule and needs a little longer to finish modules—or plans to get things done as quickly as possible—the teacher can help make it happen.

From that point on, it's up to each student to finish the course successfully, but they're not alone. Teachers are available 7 days a week from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. to text, talk, IM or email, giving pupils the help they need along the way. As your student works through the modules of the course, he or she will connect with the teacher to take exams online and receive discussion-based assessments over the phone. Students do the work at their own pace and on their own time, but they talk with their teacher via phone at least once per month so progress can be discussed and monitored. Make sure your student stays on pace and the course will be finished before you know it.

How do you make sure your student gets started successfully? Here's a recap:

Make sure you've spoken to all the right people and thought about whether an online course is right for your student.
Discuss your decision with school counselors before starting the sign-up process—you will need their help along the way.
Turn in your homeschool verification form (if you are a homeschooled student).
Check your eligibility, ensure that your student has taken all prerequisites, learn the course limits, and be sure your computer meets the technology requirements.
Watch the FLVS Quick Start Video.

Still have questions? We're here to help—via email, chat or even over the phone—to answer any questions or help you through the sign-up process.

*As a part time student at FLVS, you have a voice in deciding how you will work through your course. We call that "establishing pace." When you begin your FLVS experience, you collaborate with your teacher and make a commitment to your pace. For example, you can zoom through your course, never having to wait on the rest of the class. You can plan around your extracurricular activities, never needing to choose between Band and Calculus. You can plan ahead to slow down and take more time on topics that you find difficult, never again worrying about not 'getting' topics like genetics or the Pythagorean theorem. At the end of the day, "any pace" means your pace, as long as you are achieving, learning, and showing forward momentum weekly.