Frequently Asked Questions

We encourage all students to wake up and go through a similar morning routine as they would when attending in-person school. This means students dress for the day and take care of their personal hygiene needs. Students should be ready at their devices at least 5 minutes before start time to ensure they do not miss any instructional time or encounter technical issues. The schedule has built-in breaks for students to resolve technical problems, use the restroom, or grab a snack. The amount of time a child will participate in learning activities, whether synchronously or asynchronously, is equal to the expectation for a student attending school in person. Students must participate in synchronous meetings and assignments as part of the learning agreement; please refer to the Bell Schedule to learn more. Students can work on asynchronous assignments outside of the "school day" but must adhere to the teachers' due dates/ due times. Students who meet specific criteria must attend extra support sessions with their teacher and the school site.

Students must be available between the school hours of 8:00 am to 2:45 pm to attend class, small groups, events, testing, etc. Please refer to the Bell Schedule.

Unlike Distance Learning, enrollment at the Virtual Academy falls under the Independent Study guidelines. Students and Guardians must sign a learning agreement for enrollment. Students must also make satisfactory progress in each course to remain in Virtual Academy. Students who are not making satisfactory progress will participate in the Tiered ReEngagement Process to determine if this is the best academic place for the student.

Virtual Academy subscribes to a partial hybrid model of learning. While most of the coursework is completed online, it is important to note that our educational model includes  in-person requirements as outlined in our learning agreement. Students are required to participate in various in-person activities such as testing sessions, field trips, and other events as stipulated by the curriculum.

Ensure that your child continues to attend their in-person school and follow the steps below.

Students must have good attendance when enrolled at the Virtual Academy to remain.

Please complete this enrollment form by visiting our Enrollment page starting March 1st. Next, a Virtual Academy staff member will contact you with further information. If the program is a good fit for your scholar, you will be invited to a mandatory in-person orientation to review our program and sign the learning agreement. We will provide the student with a SBCUSD device if they still need to get one. Virtual Academy staff will work with the school of residence to facilitate the transfer to Virtual Academy. Please note that if a student has an IEP, a FAPE meeting is required before the Virtual Academy orientation and will be organized and hosted by the current attending school and a member of Virtual Academy. 

Once the school year begins, transfers will only be allowed at the start of trimesters based on space availability. After the third trimester begins, transfers will no longer be approved for the school year.

Please add your child's information to the Waiting List. You will be emailed when space is available. Please then contact your child's IEP Case Carrier (example: SPED: RSP, Mild/Mod, Mod/Severe) to ensure that an addendum is held to discuss the appropriateness of the Virtual Academy in meeting your child's specific needs. At the IEP, you will also review and agree to the Learning Agreement. Once all is complete, you and your child will meet with the counselor to complete enrollment. 

The Virtual Academy is a free public school, part of the San Bernardino City Unified School District.

Traditional public school is a good fit for many but not all students. Virtual Academy is a different kind of public school. We offer students the freedom to learn from home (with in-person required testing and events) with one of our credentialed teachers in partnership with parents. Our students have more flexible schedules than traditional students but still meet regularly with peers and credentialed teachers who provide activities to enhance their independent learning. 

In today's digital world, virtual schooling can help students develop the technical skills essential for success in many careers. Virtual instruction can also prepare students for higher education, which increasingly involves online learning.

When a child attends virtual school, it is important for parents to be even more involved in their child's education than they might be in a traditional brick-and-mortar school setting. Since parents are often the primary facilitators of their child's learning in a virtual school environment, they play a critical role in helping their child stay on track and succeed academically.

To ensure a successful virtual school day, parents can start by establishing a regular routine, helping their child stay organized and focused, and providing a quiet and distraction-free workspace. Staying in regular communication with your child's teachers is also essential. Attending virtual parent-teacher conferences and checking in regularly to discuss your child's progress are important ways to stay informed and involved.

Furthermore, supporting your child's social and emotional development is key. Encouraging them to stay connected with their peers through virtual and in-person extracurricular activities can help maintain their social skills. As a parent, providing emotional support and encouragement as needed can also help your child feel confident and motivated.

Please note that parents and families are responsible for providing their child with transportation for any in-person activities. We appreciate your partnership in your child's virtual education journey.

Elementary students use the traditional TK-5 San Bernardino USD curriculum customized for the virtual classroom.

Middle school combines course-based Edmentum and the traditional 6th-8th San Bernardino USD curriculum.

High school students use the course-based online curriculum, Edmentum. 

We take seriously our responsibility to teach students how to become successful online learners. Like everything worth doing, a process is involved in becoming a good online learner; it doesn't happen accidentally. We partner with parents and families to come alongside students to train, assist, encourage, and reinforce best practices as they become effective online learners in a supportive environment.

Yes! Students completing San Bernardino City Unified graduation requirements are eligible to receive a traditional high school diploma bearing the mark of the San Bernardino City Unified School District and Virtual Academy. Students completing graduation requirements and in good standing are eligible to participate in our regularly scheduled graduation commencement ceremony. Our graduation ceremony is a full-scale celebration in an intimate and meaningful setting.

Yes, we are WASC accredited.

If a student is experiencing challenges with an online course, the student should first contact the content teacher and/or advisory teacher. If problems persist, please contact our front office to be routed to the correct support.

Yes, while we are a virtual school and have mandatory in-person events. Students must attend all District and State Assessments in person. Please refer to the school's calendar and your child's teacher for dates and times. Students who do not attend will be marked absent.

More information coming.

All students and parents are required to sign the Virtual Academy Learning Agreement.  This document outlines the roles and responsibilities for Virtual Academy students, parents, teachers, and staff.

This is the current 23/24 Learning Agreement. Please note that this agreement will be completed during the enrollment process.

STUDENTS CAN TRANSFER IN QUARTERLY. If there are available openings, new students may be considered for acceptance for the next term (quarter). Quarters begin in August, October, January, and March. 

STUDENTS MAY TRANSFER OUT AT ANY TIME. Best practices suggest transferring at the end of a quarter, which is the simplest because you will have a transcript with earned grades to take with you. Please notify your school counselor and call the front desk if you have decided to transfer out.

NEW SCHOOL MUST REQUEST RECORDS. If you transfer from Virtual Academy, the new school should request student records. Virtual Academy will work with you and your new school to ensure a smooth transition.

Many students believe that an online class must be easy, however, this is not the case. The rigor is often higher than students anticipate, and it is very important to stay on task. If a student falls behind it can get very difficult to get back on track.

Also, please note that we have an Online Code of Conduct which is very strongly enforced since students do have access to online content. Our staff is very good at discovering when plagiarism has taken place and they will move swiftly and expeditiously to correct the problem. You can find out more by viewing our Online Code of Conduct within the Learning Agreement

Virtual Academy is an Independent Study program and different from 'in person schools'. A strong partnership with families helps ensure a student's academic success. When a student is missing assignments and/or not attending virtual classes, the Tiered Reengagement process is activated. This means that the school provides every opportunity for your child to get back on track. These include: technology support, device exchange, hotspot, afternoon academic extra support, extra time to complete assignments and district and community resources. If a student continues to struggle or is unreachable, he/she will be placed back into the 'in person' school. Virtual Academy Reengagement Continuum

1. Inform Virtual Academy staff of your request to return to in-person school. 
2. They will communicate with Enrollment and Placement Services.
3. Enrollment and Placement Services will communicate with the in-person learning school.

Please contact your child's teacher(s) directly to make arrangements to make up missed assignments. Remember that part of the Independent Study Model is that student attendance is directly tied to the work submitted. Students who fail to complete assignments cannot remain at the Virtual Academy.

Please visit our Parent Engagement page to learn about volunteer opportunities.

Tips on Working through Technology Issues:

1. Troubleshoot the problem: The first step is to identify and try to resolve the issue. Check if the internet connection is stable, the computer is running smoothly, and all necessary software and applications are updated. Restarting the device or router might also help resolve the issue. Extra, non-school-promoted extensions can slow the speed of the device. 
2. Contact support: The district's IT department may have the resources and expertise to address technical issues during virtual learning. Provide specific details of the problem to the tech support team, such as error messages or the steps leading up to the problem. If the issue persists, reach out to the district tech team at:
3. 1-866-223-8685
4. Sunday-Saturday 
5. 8:00 am-10:00 pm
6. Have a backup plan: We encourage your child to have a backup device or internet connection for technical issues. Having a backup plan for completing assignments is also helpful, such as printing out materials or having a physical textbook on hand.
7. Encourage open communication: Make sure your child feels comfortable communicating with their teacher and tech support team about any issues they may encounter during virtual learning. Please encourage them to ask questions and seek help when needed.

We are also growing our Family Support Page and our Family Youtube Playlist. Please visit them to see if any of your questions are answered.