PLATO Virtual Academy
Frequently Asked Questions
Partner with PLATO Virtual Academy for effective online courses
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What is PLATO Virtual Academy?
PLATO Virtual Academy is the premier virtual school
solution for grades 7 - 12. We partner with schools
and districts to provide a comprehensive, flexible
online learning environment for today’s student. We
offer rigorous, proven curriculum and certified online
teachers to schools and students who need flexible
learning options.
How does PLATO Virtual Academy partner
with districts?
PLATO Virtual Academy partners with school districts
to provide their students supplemental online learning
options. With limited budgets and resources, many
schools and districts find PLATO Virtual Academy to be
a cost-effective solution for students who need online
learning options for academic advancement for original
credit or credit recovery.
Who teaches PLATO Virtual Academy courses?
The PLATO Virtual Academy provides highly qualified
teachers who are certified specifically in the subject areas
in which they teach. When a district enrolls a student
in a PLATO Virtual Academy course, they are assigned a
teacher of record, who is responsible for all instruction
for that course, helping the student understand class
material and supporting them to stay on track to achieve
their academic goals.
What are the credentials of PLATO Virtual
Academy teachers?
The PLATO Virtual Academy provides teachers with the
appropriate level of certification required by each state.
All PLATO Virtual Academy teachers are carefully selected
and trained in virtual instruction, specifically on our
student information system (SIS) and the PLATO Learning
Environment, and have experience teaching online.
Is PLATO Virtual Academy accredited?
Yes, The PLATO Virtual Academy is accredited through
the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) as
a distance education school. This accreditation meets
rigorous and comprehensive standards for student
learning with continuous improvement focused on
higher student achievement.
How is credit issued?
Upon successfully completing a course, a student
will earn credit, granted by PLATO Virtual Academy.
That credit will be transferred back into their school
district and placed into the student’s transcript.
Additionally, the affiliate school district also has
the option, as an accredited institution, to grant
the credit themselves, streamlining the process and
eliminating the need to transfer credit.
When does PLATO Virtual Academy start?
PLATO Virtual Academy operates year round, allowing
students to register anytime.
How long does it take for a student to finish
an online course?
Students are given a typical semester, 18 weeks, to
complete their coursework. This requires students
to submit an average of two or three assignments
per week. The PLATO Virtual Academy summer
school offering is a condensed eight week session.
During a summer session the daily time expectation
per course is increased which enables students to
complete in eight weeks. Summer courses are not
condensed in terms of content. Due to the high level
of engagement and ability to self-pace, students often
find they complete their course ahead of schedule.
How do I begin enrolling students?
Enrollment is easy as 1, 2, 3. The PLATO Virtual
Academy SIS is very intuitive, complete with an online
application to easily enroll your students in courses. We
provide all our district partners with an engaging and
effective quick start training session and the support to
successful manage the program.
How can PLATO Virtual Academy teachers be
contacted?
PLATO Virtual Academy teachers communicate regularly
with students using online communication tools within
the PLATO Learning Environment. Teachers also use
the secure web-based system to manage student grades,
assignments and assessments.
How often can my students interact with their
PLATO Virtual Academy teachers?
PLATO Virtual Academy students generally receive more
one-on-one attention from their teachers than they
would experience in a traditional classroom. Students
can contact teachers through e-mail or by phone when
they have questions or need extra tutoring.
How soon will the teachers respond to
student questions?
Aren’t virtual schools all about technology?
PLATO Virtual Academy is about providing the highest
quality curriculum and certified teacher instruction
for the widest range of learners. The PLATO Learning
Environment is easy for all learners to use, regardless of
how tech savvy they may be.
Are students allowed to access their courses at
any time or from anywhere?
Yes. Our PLATO Virtual Academy is online, allowing
for students to work on their assignments at times and
locations most convenient for them. This type of flexible
online learning environment keeps students engaged and
accountable for their learning progress and achievement.
How can parents monitor their child’s progress
in courses?
PLATO Virtual Academy students, district administration
and parents/supervisors have twenty-four hour access to
student grades and progress through the robust SIS.
What do PLATO Virtual Academy courses look like?
PLATO incorporates an engaging, age-appropriate
learning experience that emphasizes real-world
applications. Learners are actively engaged, and need
to frequently interact with the content as opposed to
passively watching a screen and repeating answers.
Our active learning approach enables students to apply
what they’ve learned and practice and check their
understanding of concepts.
What is the quality of PLATO Virtual
Academy’s curriculum?
PLATO Virtual Academy delivers rigorous, researchbased, and pedagogically sound curriculum trusted by
over 1,500 partner school districts across the country,
providing extensive and effective learning solutions to
all types of learners for both credit recovery and original
credit. This comprehensive, engaging curriculum is
standards-aligned and has been proven to be effective.
Teachers are required to grade student work and
respond to student inquiries within 24 hours. PLATO
Virtual Academy teachers often work directly with each
student on a daily basis.
800.44.PLATO www.plato.com
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