FAQs About Our Online School

California Virtual Academies (CAVA) are tuition-free, online public schools serving California students in grades TK–12.¹ We offer learning options that provide the structure, accountability, and California-credentialed teachers and counselors families expect from a public school — along with the freedom to learn in a safe, judgment-free space.

Absolutely! California Virtual Academies (CAVA) are fully accredited by WASC, a national accrediting body. This rigorous accreditation is a valuable mark of distinction that ensures the quality of our policies and validates diploma eligibility and credit transfer nationwide.

‘Powered by K12’ means California Virtual Academies use the K12 online learning platform, tailoring its high-quality curriculum and extensive resources to meet our students’ unique needs here in California.

K12 has been delivering online education since 2001 and is used in over 100 online schools across the USA. We’re proud to be one of them!

The nine California Virtual Academies (CAVA) offer full-time enrollment for students in grades TK–12. Some of our youngest students enroll in transitional kindergarten at age 4 and spend their whole school career with us, while others may opt to enroll in high school to participate in our Career and College Prep program (grades 9–12). Our enrollment consultants can help you find the right school for your student based on their grade level and your home location.

Core courses include English/language arts, math, science, history, music, and art. Other courses will also be offered at the appropriate grade levels, such as physical education. High school students take a world language and have access to honors and AP^® courses as well as a variety of career-focused electives through CAVA’s career and college prep program.

For more grade-specific details, visit our online elementary, middle, and high school academic pages.

There is no tuition for California residents in grades TK–12 to enroll at or attend CAVA because we are an online public school. Students receive full access to K12’s high-quality curriculum at no cost. Like traditional public schools, some common household items — such as printer ink, pens, and paper — aren’t provided by our school.

To ensure each student has the equipment needed for school, we provide a loaner laptop for students in grades 1–12 or a tablet to students in transitional kindergarten and kindergarten. These devices are the property of California Virtual Academies and must be returned when the student leaves the school.

Yes, California Virtual Academies provide students with textbooks and instructional materials. These books and materials vary by grade level and the courses the student is enrolled in.

California-credentialed teachers at CAVA deliver standards-based instruction through a mix of online lessons and live class sessions. Your student’s live sessions with their peers follow a set schedule. Online lessons and coursework are accessible 24/7, allowing students to work anytime and anywhere (in CA) they need to! At CAVA, teachers provide the tailored instruction your student needs to succeed, supporting diverse learning needs with focused help or advanced challenges.

As a parent or guardian, you are an essential part of your child’s learning experience — whether you take on the role of Learning Coach yourself or designate a trusted adult to support your child day-to-day. The Learning Coach helps keep students on track, encourages engagement in lessons, and partners with teachers to support academic progress. Even if you’re not the one logging in every day, your involvement and support are key to your child’s success.

Depending on a child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), we can tailor learning to meet their needs. To discuss your child’s IEP learning needs with us, call toll-free: 866.339.6790.

California Virtual Academies meet accelerated learners’ needs in a variety of ways. Our elementary and middle school programs are mastery-based, allowing us to place your student at the appropriate curriculum level ineach subject area. For example, if your 6th grader is doing math at an 8th grade level and reading at a 6th grade level, we can tailor their lesson plans to meet their unique abilities. In high school, students can take Advanced Placement®, honors courses, and career-focused electives. Qualified students are also eligible to participate in CAVA2College, a dual enrollment program.

Yes! We know how important it is for our student-athletes to balance a tough training schedule with their schoolwork, which is why we’re so proud to be NCAA-certified. View our list of approved core courses by visiting the NCAA’s high school selection site and inputting the high school code.

Yes, the NCAA and A-G approve all core courses required for 4-year college enrollment after high school.

No, credit recovery courses are not NCAA-approved as they are not A-G compliant.

California Virtual Academies are safe, inclusive, local communities that know how to have fun! Students at CAVA can:

• Participate in live class sessions and group discussions that help build relationships and communication skills

Chat and hang out with their classmates in the CAVA K12 Zone, a bully-free, fun, virtual community

• Experience optional in-person school outings, like field trips, picnics, and other social events throughout the year
• Get together with other groups of parents and students on their own (based on region via the Learning Coach app)

 
Learn more about how our students connect and socialize on the CAVA student life page.

Yes, students who attend CAVA are public school students, and they earn a high school diploma identical to those awarded by other public schools in California. Our graduates enjoy the same rights and privileges as any other California graduates when applying to colleges and universities across the state and nation.

No home visits are required to attend CAVA, and there are no other intrusions into your home.

In addition to the Parent Student Handbook, you can access the Notification of FERPA Rights [PDF].

In addition to the Parent Student Handbook, you can access the Notice for Directory Information [PDF].

California Virtual Academy is committed to supporting school success for all students, including those experiencing homelessness. Unhoused students are defined as lacking a fixed, regular nighttime residence, and are inclusive of migrant children who lack a fixed, regular nighttime residence. Unhoused students receive enrollment assistance, supplementary academic support, school-related transportation assistance, case management, and referrals to community agencies. Teachers, school staff, and parents/guardians can make referrals for support by contacting the homeless liaison. Address disputes using the board-adopted Uniform Complaint Procedures, available in the Public Notices section of the CAVA Website. If you feel you may be eligible for assistance through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, please contact Latisha Jackson, CAVA Homeless Liaison at [email protected] or 805.864.1330

According to section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2)), the term “homeless children and youths”—
(A) means individuals who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence…; and
(B) includes—
(i) children and youths who are sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations; are living in emergency or transitional shelters; are abandoned in hospitals; or are awaiting foster care placement;
(ii) children and youths who have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
(iii) children and youths who are living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
(iv) migratory children who qualify as homeless for this subtitle because the children are living in circumstances described in clauses (i) through (iii).
Children and youth are considered homeless if they fit both part A and any one of the subparts of part B of the definition above.

CAVA’s Homeless Liaison
Latisha Jackson
805.864.1330
[email protected]

Resources for Homeless Children and Youths [PDF]
Resources for Homeless Children and Youths (Spanish) [PDF]

Enrollment in one of the nine independent California Virtual Academies is limited to residents in the 45 counties in California that CAVA serves. CAVA offers enrollment for California residents in grades TK–12. While attending CAVA, students must maintain a full-time California residency.

Our nine CAVA schools serve the counties listed below. Our enrollment consultants can help you identify the right school for your student.

• Alameda
• Amador
• Butte
• Calaveras
• Colusa
• Contra Costa
• Fresno
• Imperial
• Inyo
• Kern
• Kings
• Lake
• Los Angeles
• Madera
• Marin
• Mendocino
• Merced
• Mono
• Monterey
• Napa
• Orange
• Placer
• Riverside
• Sacramento
• San Benito
• San Bernardino
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• San Joaquin
• San Luis Obispo
• San Mateo
• Santa Barbara
• Santa Clara
• Santa Cruz
• Solano
• Sonoma
• Stanislaus
• Sutter
• Tulare
• Ventura
• Yolo
• Yuba

Because CAVA provides the lesson plans and materials needed for grades TK–12, many parents find it easy to enroll multiple children in the program.

Start by creating an account in the K12 enrollment portal or logging in to your existing account, then complete the CAVA online enrollment form. Please be prepared to provide copies of documents within 30 days, such as:

– Proof of Residence (e.g., a driver’s license or state ID, tax record, utility bill, etc.)

• Transcript Requirement: Students enrolling in 9th grade must demonstrate completion of 8th grade through an official transcript or homeschool portfolios.
• Prior School Withdrawal Form
• Immunization Records

You can also contact our enrollment consultants at 866.339.6787 or view the “Four Simple Steps to Enroll” for a step-by-step tutorial.

Our enrollment team will contact you to let you know whether your enrollment has been approved, or if we need more information to process your application. Once approved, a California Virtual Academies representative will call you to discuss enrollment in CAVA’s program and course placement.

Yes, we do accept transfer students throughout the year. Simply follow the steps on our How to Enroll page to transfer your student to our online public school mid-year. CAVA is here to help families make a smooth transition when it works best for them. 

No, California does not allow enrollment in more than one full-time public or private school. California Virtual Academies is a full-time, online public school choice with a comprehensive academic program.

Attendance at California Virtual Academy is recorded in the Online School by completing lessons, submitting assignments as required to your teacher, and attending live classes. All lessons and live classes for each day are expected to be completed before 11:59 PM. If a student completes work only offline for a given day, they must complete an attendance survey to receive attendance credit.

Attendance Survey form.

The school calendar includes school holidays or vacation time. Whenever possible, family vacations should align with school vacation days. If students skip a day during the week, they will be marked absent. Vacation is not an approved reason for absence in the state of California.