Frequently Asked Questions

Please visit the Cedar Springs Virtual Academy Enrollment page for additional information.

Enrollment is open to students prior to the start of an academic school year or at semester break. The second semester begins in mid-January. Interested families are encouraged to complete enrollment requests in early December.

While we encourage families to submit enrollment requests within the enrollment periods, we recognize that there are circumstances that may warrant enrollment outside of these windows. If this is the case, please contact us so that we can discuss how best to serve your student’s education needs.

CSVA is open for students in K-12th grades. Full-time and part-time students are able to apply for this program. CSVA welcomes students that wish to have select classes in their schedule due to being homeschooled.

The Pupil Accounting Laws allow a virtual school to deny enrollment of a student for the following reasons:
(page 137 of Pupil Accounting Manual)

“A district may not establish additional requirements that would prohibit a pupil from taking a virtual course. If a pupil is denied enrollment in a virtual course, the district shall provide written notification to the pupil of the denial, the reason or reasons for the denial, and a description of the appeal process.

Enrollment in a virtual course may be denied for any of the following reasons: 

1. The district determined that the enrollment is inappropriate for a pupil who is enrolled in any of grades K-5. 
2. The pupil has previously gained the credits that would be provided from the completion of the virtual course. 
3. The virtual course is not capable of generating academic credit. 
4. The virtual course is inconsistent with the remaining graduation requirements or career interests of the pupil. 
5. The pupil has not completed the prerequisite coursework for the requested virtual course or has not demonstrated proficiency in the prerequisite course content. 
6. The pupil has failed a previous virtual course in the same subject during the two most recent academic years. 
7. The virtual course is of insufficient quality or rigor. A district that denies a pupil’s enrollment request for this reason shall enroll the pupil in a virtual course in the same or a similar subject that the district determines is of acceptable rigor and quality.
8. For a course selected from the statewide course catalog, the cost of the virtual course exceeds the amount allocated to a course under Section 21f (6.67% of the minimum foundation allowance for the current fiscal year as calculated under Section 20 of the State School Aid Act (MCL 388.1620)), unless the pupil or the pupil’s parent or legal guardian agrees to pay the cost that exceeds that amount. Michigan Department of Education 2020-21 Pupil Accounting Manual Virtual Learning Options 5-O-D-5 
9. The virtual course enrollment request did not occur within the same timelines established for enrollment and schedule changes for regular courses.
10. The request for a virtual course enrollment was not made in the academic term, semester, trimester, or summer preceding the enrollment. This does not apply to a request made by a pupil who is newly enrolled in the district.
11. The course has reached capacity and the district has restricted enrollment to resident applicants.
12. The district does not support the enrollment in more than two (2) virtual courses in an academic term, semester, or trimester.”
     

A student will be provided a computer from the district to support their virtual learning at home. A connection to the internet will be required for a student to enroll in this school. In addition, a student should also have access to traditional learning materials at home such as pencils, paper, markers, and binders to support their learning needs for the courses. If a parent needs a hotspot card, one will be provided upon request.

The Profile of a Successful Online Learner document outlines the skills required for a student to be successful in an online learning environment.

Students will be using Lincoln Learning (K-5) and Edmentum (6-12) .  These programs are aligned with Michigan State Standards and Common Core Curriculum. 

Strong communication between school and home supports student success and positive relationships. Cedar Springs Virtual Academy (CSVA) uses several tools to keep families informed and connected.

• Edmentum (Grades 6-12) & Lincoln Learning (Grades K-5) LMS: Parents can view grades, assignments, assessments, and communicate with teachers.
• PowerSchool Parent Account - Parents and guardians can create a PowerSchool Parent Account through the district website to view grades each semester, grades 6-12, and school bulletins.
• District Website (csredhawks.org) - The district website provides important information about Cedar Springs Public Schools, including program details, staff directories, calendars, news and upcoming events.
• Red Hawk Monthly District Newsletter -Families receive a monthly email newsletter highlighting district updates, student achievements and important information happening across the district.
• District Facebook Page - Follow Cedar Springs Public Schools on Facebook (facebook.com/csredhawks) for announcements, events, student highlights and school updates. 
   

Student coursework and grades can be found in the learning management system in both Lincoln Learning and Edmentum. This will show you any missing assignments for your student. This will allow you to view your student’s coursework and progress.

Student’s final grades are posted in Powerschool at the end of each semester. Use this link to access the PowerSchool Parent Sign in page.
 

For all students, having a place to do school work is important. We recommend your child has access to the following for their learning:

• A quiet place free from distraction.
• A desk or workspace: Even if you have a laptop, you will need a place to work. 
• With most students, having a consistent space and place to work forces us to study when we are in that place. 
• Notebook, pens or pencils (for note taking!): Even though much of your work is done online, taking notes is important to help you make gains in your learning.
• Reliable internet access where they will be conducting their daily studies.
   

CSVA provides students with academics designed to help students become college, career and life ready. Frequent absences hinder a student from learning the skills required to achieve this goal. Therefore, a good attendance record is essential. Students are required to log in and complete tasks according to their pacing guide for each course, and attend all of their required synchronous meetings outlined in their weekly schedule. Due dates and pacing guides are set by the teacher of the course. 

Attendance is based on the following: 

• Successful completion of assignments – staying on pace with the pacing guide for each course
• Communication between student and teacher – the student should be responding to emails and feedback from their instructor on a consistent basis.
• Attendance at the synchronous sessions – synchronous sessions are mandatory and a student should attend each live session.
• If they are unable to attend a synchronous session they should notify the teacher and an absence will be recorded. 

A student is considered in violation of the Attendance Policy if they do one or more of the following:

• He/she is not passing an online course 
• Not attending synchronous sessions
• Failure to respond to two way communication attempts

Should attendance become an issue for the student, a contract may be initiated in an attempt to create a successful learning plan for that student. Failure to meet the terms of the contract may result in the student being dropped from CSVA. 

Students/parents are expected to call in to excuse their student if they are absent for a synchronous learning session or are unable to complete their coursework for that day.

Long-term absences (three or more consecutive days) that are medically-related or due to a death in the family may receive more flexible considerations if documentation is provided to the CSVA administration. Coursework must be completed by the due dates and ending periods for each unit/module.
 

• Monitor student’s daily attendance and progress 
• Attend all mandatory in-person meetings 
• Provide an effective learning environment in the home 
• Ensure student attends all required on-campus events: 
• This may include: conferences, state testing, critical assessments, and others as requested, device drop-off and pick-up

If your child is identified for academic intervention, ensure that program requirements are being met at home.
 

Each grade level may look a little bit different, especially from elementary grade levels to high school grade levels. For elementary students, there may be requirements for students to attend synchronous learning sessions with their teacher during school hours, and there will also be expectations for a student to complete work asynchronously daily (Monday through Friday). Listed below is an example of a secondary and elementary student’s schedule. This schedule is only an example and will look slightly different in the fall depending on the student’s courses.

Example of Secondary Student Schedule (Middle School)
Example of Secondary Student Schedule (High School)

Yes, a student is able to take a band or music course at CSPS as their chosen elective. Currently this option is only available for a face-to-face format. If a student chooses to take band or choir as their elective, they will need to provide their own transportation to and from that building during the scheduled elective class.
 

Yes, students enrolled in CSVA are able to participate in all extracurricular activities for the district. They will need to provide their own transportation for practice times.

Students' curriculum will be managed in the Lincoln Learning and Edmentum Learning Management Systems (LMS). Students can view their current grades through the LMS. Final grades will be posted each semester in PowerSchool.

CSVA is committed to helping all of our students be successful in our online programs. If a student is falling behind or struggling, staff will create a plan to support your child. This plan may require tutoring support and meeting with their teacher during specific hours of the day (virtually or in person).
 

It is mandatory for a student attending CSVA as their primary school to also complete any state-required tests. Testing could include (but is not limited to) SAT, M-STEP, WIN, or other standardized tests mandated by the State of Michigan and Michigan Department of Education. Students who are enrolled with a private school or home school taking non-essential elective courses do not fall under this requirement.
 

Secondary students will have a district employed guidance counselor that is assigned to them. The guidance counselor will support the student with their scheduling needs and academic planning, and post secondary plans.

Cedar Springs Public Schools allows past graduates to request their transcripts using a web-based system called Parchment. 

Once requested, Parchment will deliver your transcripts to the requested location in the format you prefer. 

Transcripts may take time to process. If you have an urgent request, please contact the high school at (616) 696-1200.

Students must adhere to the “Technology Code of Ethics & Acceptable Use Policy”on page 15 of our CSVA Student Handbook. You can review this document on the district’s website. 

• Login and attend online classes each school day
• Communicate with online teachers and CSVA staff 
• Attend all mandatory in-person meetings
• Conferences, final exams, state testing, critical assessments, and others as requested
• Follow the “Technology Code of Ethics & Acceptable Use Policy”
   

Students are expected to meet their weekly requirements outlined in their schedule for the virtual course. In addition, each student is expected to attend synchronous sessions from their teacher wearing appropriate clothing and in a setting that is conducive to learning.

Expectations for all students include:

1. Behave and speak in a way that meets generally accepted standards for a school setting. 
2. Dress and groom according to school standards and the professional requirements of the occupation for which the student is preparing. 
3. Avoid disruptive or distracting behavior. 
4. Respect others and their property. 
5. Be prepared and report to meetings on time, especially for synchronous sessions. 
6. Maintain ethical standards of truthfulness, integrity, and accountability. 
7. At the end of the class session, wait for the instructor to dismiss the class. 
8. Stay on pace with the pacing guide for each of your courses.

If Cedar Springs Public Schools is closed for the day, the decision to close will be announced over the local radio and television media. It will also be on social media outlets as well. If the district is closed, then CSVA will be closed as well and students will not be expected to complete their online course assignments.

It is highly recommended that students continue to work if possible, especially if they are behind on their coursework, but it is not mandated. On days when school is not in session, teachers may not be available for grading, feedback, and communication.

All school calendars for the district can be found on our Calendar Webpage.