Getting Started

HOW CLASS SESSIONS WORK

All GCA classes are conducted using a combination of asynchronous and synchronous (“real-time”) components. The combination of asynchronous and synchronous assignments may vary based on the course.

Courses contain asynchronous reading assignments, activities, assessments, and videos, as well as synchronous (live) class sessions conducted by the teacher at predefined times. All live core content class sessions are recorded, so students may access sessions for review, as needed. Both required and encouraged live class sessions are utilized, depending on a student’s academic proficiency level. Small group and one-on-one (1:1) class sessions are not recorded since they are individualized to a particular student’s academic needs.

Central to these synchronous (live) sessions is the online classroom technology our teachers use, which provides a whiteboard for live online instruction, the ability to conduct multi-student discussions and collaborative activities, space for instructional slides, and video sharing. This technology enables teachers and students to engage in live virtual discussion as if they were in a physical classroom. Attendance requirements for ‘live’ class sessions is based on the student’s academic proficiency level, evidence of completing assignments/assessments in a timely manner, and/or their adherence to school procedures and policies. In cases where a scheduling conflict prevents a student from attending a required live class session, students must notify their Attendance Specialist in advance, provide an acceptable excuse if applicable, and they must watch the recording. Students are highly encouraged to  attend live class sessions or watch the recordings of the live class sessions regardless of whether they have earned full flexibility or not. Students who are required to attend live class sessions will be counted absent if not in attendance for the entire class period. Note: Watching recordings does not remove the missed session(s) (i.e. absences) that students may accrue during the school year if the absences are not excused.

Our faculty members also use live class session tools for small group remediation sessions, 1:1 tutoring sessions, and parent-teacher meetings. These particular live class sessions may or may not be recorded at the discretion of the host.

STUDENT ONBOARDING PROGRAM

To facilitate a successful virtual education experience for your student, Georgia Cyber Academy has implemented a student onboarding program (Strong Start) to ease new students and learning coaches into the online learning environment and to prepare them for the start of school. This program will only commence AFTER the student has completed the enrollment process and has been admitted. Typically, the program begins mid-July and must be completed before your student can attend classes; however, onboarding may differ, depending on the student’s grade level and when they start school. Please expect a welcome email and phone call from your Family Engagement Liaison (FEL) before the first day of school.  Students with a start date after the first day of school can expect a welcome email and phone call prior to their start date.

Re-registering students also participate in Strong Start and complete on-boarding components specific to existing students. This program will introduce existing students to new curriculums (if any), platform changes (if any), procedural/policy amendments (if any), and inform them of the school’s expectations for the upcoming school year as well as be a resource for the entire year. This will better prepare them for the start of school and allow many of the typical start of school tasks to be completed prior to the first day of school. Your FEL will contact you before the start of school with instructions of how to access the Strong Start course.

During the first month of school, students and parents should plan to attend a Learning Coach Live Help and Technology Training virtual session, as well as their teachers’ scheduled course orientations. A recording and/or documents of the Learning Coach Live Help and Technology Training virtual session will be posted on the Calendars section of the website.

ROLE OF PARENT/LEARNING COACH

Georgia Cyber Academy students access their learning resources online. While school faculty and staff support student learning, there is still a need for support and guidance from an adult who is physically present with the student who will supervise and monitor progress throughout the school day and year. Georgia Cyber Academy refers to this “at home” role as the Learning Coach. Most frequently the Learning Coach is a parent, but it can also be a tutor or other designated adult responsible for the student’s day-to-day learning supervision. Parents are asked to identify the designated Learning Coach, who faculty and staff will communicate with throughout the school year.

The primary duties of the learning coach are to review their student’s attendance daily into the Nucleus attendance app, read their GCA emails at least once daily, answer all communications within 24 hours, complete all paperwork requests, complete all surveys, keep the student’s information up to date, monitor their student’s assignment completion and grades daily, ensure that their student attends all required live classes, monitor their student when the student is taking assessments and tests to ensure that no ‘additional help’ is provided that might mask whether a student truly understands the concepts or not, and communicate with their student’s teacher(s), counselor, and FEL whenever they feel that a student is struggling or needs additional support. Students who are required to attend live class sessions will be counted absent if not in attendance for the entirety of the session, regardless of parent entered attendance.

LIVE INTERACTION

Live interaction, which can include, but is not limited to student to teacher/administration & parent/guardian/LC to teacher/administration, and conversation through chat, video, microphone, or phone is required for all students. Depending on the proficiency level of the student that can be more or less live interaction. Students who login to class and are consistently not responsive to teachers may be referred to the counseling department, a behavior interventionist, and/or their principal to determine what barriers might exist to preclude participation and how any issues may be addressed. Learning coaches (parent/legal guardian or designated adult) are required to converse with staff regarding their student on a regular basis.

Our faculty teach online live classes just like in a traditional school model. Students that attend live classes interact with the teacher and other students. Classes are recorded, so students can refer to them if needed. Additionally, there are online live small group sessions, instructional support classes, and open offices. There is a combination of online and off-line work and projects to complete and turn in with due dates.

Students that are struggling to master standards/skills or have demonstrated proficiency below their assigned grade level are required to attend live classes on a set schedule. These students will be required to submit excuses for their absences just like in a traditional brick-and-mortar school.

Students that are doing well and have demonstrated a proficiency level which is consistent with or above their assigned grade level, are following school policies, and are completing all assignments/tests on time are afforded more flexibility and may view recorded classes when they miss live classes instead of being required to attend all live sessions on a set schedule.  Determinations will take effect at the start of each semester.

Field trips, face to face social events, online clubs, and district-wide in-person events/outings are optional, but highly encouraged.

A student who is having difficulty demonstrating mastery of content or being compliant with school policies will require additional interaction. Parents/legal guardians/learning coaches should be prepared to attend all conferences and meetings regarding discussions/concerns/issues/academic decisions about their student as may be required. These conferences and/or meetings may be held in person, by telephone, and/or by video conference.

Georgia Milestones Assessments are mandatory and require face-to-face/in-person participation. Opt-outs are not permitted.

Other exams may be mandatory and may require face-to-face/in-person participation or be monitored virtually on camera and mic. For other mandatory exams, opt-outs are not permitted. These exams include but are not limited to Interim Assessments, GAA, ACCESS, WIDA, NWEA MAP Assessments, i-Ready Diagnostics, WriteScore exams, Final Exams, CogAT, etc.

GCA requires all students to be on camera, with their microphone on, and their device monitored for the entirety of most assessments/tests/exams, regardless of proficiency level.  The student’s face must be unobstructed and visible on camera during the entirety of the testing/assessment/exam period. If the student is not monitored on camera, then face-to-face/in-person participation will be required for these tests/assessments/exams as well. Assessments/tests/exams may be invalidated by the teacher or administration if the student is not on camera and microphone the entire time the student is taking the assessments/tests/exams. In most cases the student may be allowed to take a make-up assessment/test/exam when this occurs. If a valid monitored assessment/test/exam is not submitted within the prescribed time period, then the student will receive a zero for the assessment/test/exam.

Student engagement is calculated using information that pertains to student use of camera/mic & student participation in the classroom. Examples of engagement expectations include but are not limited to the student being consistently visible on camera to their teacher, the student actively participating in the chat, etc.

GCA provides academic support tools, equipment, and assistive technology when warranted and at its sole discretion. At present, all the programs/curriculums that GCA currently utilizes are online without a need for physical books and/or equipment. Georgia Cyber Academy provides loaner computers and printers to families upon request (see the Computer Policy section). Daily access to high speed, reliable and consistent internet is a requirement to attend GCA. Students will not be able to attend live Class sessions to receive instruction or complete online assignments in any school platforms without internet connection. School loaner Hotspots for internet service may be provided to families in financial need if their student is compliant to all GCA requirements, rules, procedures, and policies [see Hotspots and Internet Service Provider (ISP) Supplement Program section]. These materials are school property and must be kept in good condition. Damage incurred to school property beyond normal wear and tear is subject to disciplinary action and/or replacement of equipment at the family’s expense.

All school property must be returned when a student fails to show up upon enrollment and/or is withdrawn from the school. It must be returned clean and in good condition. Failure to return school property upon request will be considered theft by conversion under Georgia law and the school reserves the right to pursue criminal and civil charges against anyone who violates this provision in order to reclaim school property or collect restitution for such property after attempts to collect the equipment have been exhausted. PLEASE KEEP THE BOXES AND PACKING MATERIALS THAT SCHOOL PROPERTY WAS SHIPPED IN FOR FUTURE RETURNS.

Facilities that are used for Georgia Cyber Academy outings are considered school property, and the same materials and equipment expectations apply to the facilities where Georgia Cyber Academy outings occur.

Parents are responsible for the cost of repair or replacement of all lost, stolen, or damaged school property. A list of property to return will be provided to parents upon withdrawal or graduation. A list will be provided for a computer, printer, and/or hotspot as those must be returned upon withdrawal or graduation for all students. All property and equipment must be returned in good, working condition upon withdrawal from the program. Please contact 404-334-4790 Ext.8 or suport.georgiacyber.org and request a shipping label to return equipment.

Any printed materials that may be provided are copyrighted, and unauthorized copying of those materials is a copyright infringement.

Materials/equipment provided by GCA cannot be sold or transferred and are to be used solely by the student in his or her studies while enrolled in the school. Parents are to comply with this rule and all the terms and conditions of the School Property section of this handbook.

Basic school supplies such as paper, pencils, pens, erasers, highlighters, notebooks, binders, folders, markers, crayons, colored pencils, glue/glue sticks, scissors, rulers, protractors, compass, calculators, etc. are not supplied by Georgia Cyber Academy and are the responsibility of our families. A suggested school supply list will be provided for each grade level at the beginning of the school year. Please email your FEL or homeroom teacher if one was not received.