Getting Started Successfully

Want to know what it takes to get started successfully with FLVS? You have come to the right place.

Decide whether taking an online course is right for you.

This is Step One, and it sounds like an obvious one, right? Nonetheless, it is an important first step. Florida Virtual School is an online public school and that means our courses are FREE to Florida students. The courses are entirely online and you communicate with your teacher through phone, text, IM, email, and a variety of digital channels.

Making the decision to take an online course is a big commitment. Think about why you want to take it. Oftentimes, talking to your school counselor or your parent/guardian can be very helpful. Make sure that you will have the time to devote to an FLVS course and that it is a credit you want or need. There could be many reasons why you and your family would choose Florida Virtual School, but making sure you know why you're here and that you're motivated to do the work are the most important steps in getting started.

Choose the program that is right for you:

At Florida Virtual School, students have options—not just in where and when you learn, but also what type of online program you choose. Whether its full-time or part-time, whether you're inside or outside the state of Florida, we can help you choose the FLVS option that is right for you.

What to do if you live outside of Florida:

Sometimes our name can be deceiving, especially when it comes to students who live outside the state. Can non-residents take online courses with Florida Virtual School, you ask? Absolutely. If you live outside Florida, you can take courses through FLVS Global on a tuition basis. Learn more about tuition rates and options by visiting the FLVS Global website.

Choose a course that is right for you:

You may already know which course you'd like to take, or you may be interested in looking through our many offerings. Whatever the case may be, the process begins in the same place—the FLVS Course Catalog. Here you can see a catalog customized for you, choose a specific course, and create your FLVS account.

Sometimes figuring out which course to take can be a bit confusing. We all want you to graduate on time, so don't hesitate to contact the counselor at your school or the FLVS counselors when you need a little guidance.

From answering questions about prerequisites to helping determine which course will put you on track, counselors are there to help. When choosing a course you would like to take, don't forget to ask yourself these important questions:

I am or want to be a homeschooled student. Have I done everything my school district requires to take FLVS courses?
Am I eligible to take this course? Check out the eligibility requirements.
I am part of a military family. What must I do to take FLVS courses?
I want to take multiple FLVS courses. What are the course limits?
Does my computer meet the technology requirements?

Create your FLVS account:

Once you have chosen the right program and course for you, the next step is creating your FLVS student account. This is done through the FLVS Course Catalog and it's a piece of cake. Just remember, when creating an account, that the information needs to be 100% accurate. Be sure that your email address and parent/guardian's email address are filled in properly; we need all contact information prior to initiating the course.

As soon as you finish creating your account, we will send you and your parent/guardian emails to help finish the sign-up process. Some very important pieces of information will arrive in these emails, so keep your eyes peeled and read everything. Also, keep that phone nearby, because we will call you to verify your sign up.

Processing time:

Please understand that it can take time to get you into a course. We ask that you allow us 2 weeks to get you started; sometimes processing is completed faster and at times it can take a bit longer. All depends on the popularity of a particular course and how quickly you work through the steps required in the emails we send you.

At FLVS, we have several steps to complete as well, including contacting your parent/guardian or school counselor so they can approve your FLVS enrollment. Rest assured, we'll be working diligently to get you started as soon as possible.

Time will fly, but in the meantime you can do a few things, too:

Visit myFLVS. This is the section of our website devoted to YOU, the student. Get involved in student activities, check out the academic calendar and see what other FLVS students are doing.
Watch the FLVS Quick Start Video to familiarize yourself with FLVS and what to expect in your course.
If you are a public or private school student, contact your school counselor to remind them to approve your enrollment with FLVS.
If you are a homeschooled student, make sure your parent/guardian logs in to approve your enrollment.
Log into your FLVS account and view your Dashboard within a couple hours of signing up.

On the Dashboard students can monitor their sign-up progress and eventually access coursework, grades, teacher contact information, important announcements, and more.

Getting started in your course:

As soon as you are assigned to your course, we will let you know. How, you ask? Well, through email of course. We will send a message to you and your parent/guardian the minute the course is open for you. The teacher will be very excited to talk to you and get the ball rolling, and you can expect a welcome call soon after you start working. During that call, you and your parent/guardian can get to know the teacher, talk about coursework expectations, and even choose your pace.*

That's right, you get to choose your own pace.

So, if you have a hectic schedule and need a little longer to finish modules—or if you plan to get things done as quickly as possible—your teacher can help make it happen.

From that point on, it's up to you to finish the course successfully, but it's not like you're alone. Teachers are available 7 days a week from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. to text, talk, IM or email, giving you any help you may need along the way. As you work through the modules of the course, you'll connect with your teacher to take exams online and receive discussion-based assessments over the phone. You can do the work at your own pace and on your own time, but you'll talk with the teacher via phone at least once per month to discuss your progress. Make sure you stay on pace and you'll be finished before you know it.

How do you make sure you get started successfully? Here's a recap:

Make sure you've spoken to all the right people and thought about whether an online course is right for you.
Discuss your decision with your school counselor and parent/guardian before starting the sign-up process—you will need their help along the way.
Turn in your homeschool verification form (if you are a homeschooled student).
Check your eligibility, ensure that you have taken all prerequisites, learn your course limits, and be sure your computer meets the technology requirements.
Watch the FLVS Quick Start Video.

Still have questions? We're here to help—via email, chat or even over the phone—to answer any questions or help you through the sign-up process.

*As a part time student at FLVS, you have a voice in deciding how you will work through your course. We call that "establishing pace." When you begin your FLVS experience, you collaborate with your teacher and make a commitment to your pace. For example, you can zoom through your course, never having to wait on the rest of the class. You can plan around your extracurricular activities, never needing to choose between Band and Calculus. You can plan ahead to slow down and take more time on topics that you find difficult, never again worrying about not 'getting' topics like genetics or the Pythagorean theorem. At the end of the day, "any pace" means your pace, as long as you are achieving, learning, and showing forward momentum weekly.