Resources and Frequently Asked Questions

Resources

The links below are intended to provide you with pre-recorded informational and instructional resources that will benefit you as a Bay Virtual School student.

Helpful Links:

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I enroll in BVS?

Enrollment takes place before the fall and spring semesters of the school year. Students must complete the prospective full-time student application online and submit it electronically during the application window. A BVS staff member will email all applicants with follow-up information.

Can I attend BVS on a full or part-time basis?

Students may enroll either part-time or full-time. We offer a full curriculum for grades 6-12.

What is the cost to attend BVS?

BVS courses are free to eligible Bay County residents.

How do I know if online learning is right for me?

A successful online learner is a motivated self-starter who is committed to success. While BVS offers high quality course content, students must be willing to put forth a significant amount of effort to succeed. Take this online quiz to see if online is for you.

Is the program accredited by a recognized regional accrediting agency?

Yes. Bay District Schools is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS-CASI).

What curriculum is used for the courses?

The rigorous and high-quality courses used are developed and leased to the District by the Florida Virtual School. A student taking a Bay Virtual School course is receiving the same content and quality of instruction as a student taking an FLVS course. The difference is local teachers teach the courses and local student will be your child's classmates.

What is the calendar and pacing for BVS courses?

BVS follows the calendar of Bay District Schools. Students should plan to begin courses at the beginning of the school year and must be done with classes by the last day of the regular school calendar. Courses take 16-18 weeks per half credit to complete, at a rate of approximately 3- 5 study hours per week. Motivated students who spend more time per day working on assignments will finish faster. Late enrollments will be considered on an individual basis.

What happens if students decide that BVS is not for them after they start?

Students may withdraw from the program within the first 28 days of activation with no penalty. Students must submit a minimum number of assignments weekly to remain in the program. Students who do not meet the weekly requirement may be withdrawn from the program. Any withdrawal after the first 28 days will result in a grade of WF on the student's transcript.

Are students allowed to accelerate through the courses?

Courses are usually 16-18 weeks in duration for each half credit. During the initial instructor welcome call; parents and students will have the opportunity to determine the academic pacing most appropriate to that student. Students can work through the content at their own pace, allowing them to accelerate when possible.

How will the students "meet" with their teachers?

Our program requires and encourages frequent communication between the students and their teachers. Students will be able to call and email their teachers as often as needed. There is a welcome call, a monthly call and other communication for each course. A parent is provided with a parental account for each student, to monitor progress and to communicate with teachers.

How is assessment handled in the course? Is it all on-line?

Coursework submissions are done online, as are exams. Before each exam, the instructor will conduct an oral assessment of the student's readiness for the exam. At times, we may request that an exam be proctored and taken at a designated school building site. The students must pass the final exam in order to receive credit.

How does grading work?

BVS uses the same grading scale as the other schools in Florida per Florida Statute. Students taking BVS courses, however, must pass the final exam in order to receive credit for the course.

Will my student receive a report card?

Yes, an eSchool report card will be generated and progress reports are sent monthly, although with a parent/guardian account, you will be able to monitor student progress anytime.

What happens if students fail the final exam?

BVS students must demonstrate mastery on all assessments. If not, their teacher will work with them to clear up any misconceptions and administer a new assessment.

How is academic integrity maintained in on-line learning?

FLVS and BVS take the subject of academic integrity seriously. Teachers use a variety of monitoring tools:

Turnitin.com: This Internet tool compares student work against a variety of databases. The FLVS Learning Management System is now integrated with Turnitin.com, and most work is automatically uploaded to the system. This database compares student work against work found on the Internet.
Academic Integrity Database: FLVS maintains its own database of student integrity incidences. This database is used to monitor the number of student integrity issues.
Discussion-Based Assessments: Each teacher regularly conducts discussion- based assessments with his or her students. These conversations occur at specific intervals as well as randomly in a course and are included in the assessment component of each course. The teacher discusses individual student work and extends the conversation to allow the student to demonstrate mastery of the content and to verify the authenticity of the student's work.
Proctored Exams: All final exams will be proctored by the teacher. In additional, teachers can request a scheduled proctored assessment at any time for a student.

Do students automatically get an official transcript sent to them?

Official final grade reports are sent out electronically. What makes a transcript official is when it's sent directly to the school requesting it. The receiving institution usually requests, only they can open such documents. Students can print Unofficial Transcripts via their FLVS account.

Can students receive a high school diploma through BVS?

Yes, students who complete all graduation requirements, including required FCAT testing, are eligible for a diploma from Bay District Schools. Students interested in earning a diploma should contact the counselor to discuss graduation requirements.

Do I need to purchase textbooks?

All course materials are provided online. Should a particular course need any special text or material, we will provide it. Materials are sent to the students, but the parent/guardian is responsible for returning it back to the school once the course has been completed.

Will IEPs be followed?

Some accommodations such as extended time and multiple chances to master material are naturally built into the program. Modifications to the curriculum, however, cannot be made. Students must be working toward a standard diploma.

Is BVS approved by NCAA?

Yes. As a public school, all of our credits are accepted.

Can BVS students participate in public school sports, band, etc.?

Yes, students who are registered home education students in Bay District Schools may participate in sports and other activities at their zoned public school.

Bay Virtual School Login