Frequently Asked Questions
Who is responsible for paying the fees?
Who is teaching the MVS courses?
How do students register for the course?
Do the local schools still need staff for the students enrolled in MVS?
How are the students supervised?
How do we know whether students are doing their work and how they are progressing?
What textbook is being used for a particular class?
What technology is needed for the course?
Do students need a home computer and access to the internet?
What kind of student is best suited to take a MVS course?
Missouri Virtual School instructional fees are based on the tenth-day student enrollment numbers for each class taught. A 10-Day Enrollment for will be sent to the school for verification before invoices are sent out. Fees are due at the end of the semester the classes are taught. Then instructional fees only cover the high school credit classes.
Dual Credit fees are separate fees determined by the College of Continuing Education. The current fee, $90.00 per credit hour, is 50% of the current Missouri State University undergraduate tuition. Students typically pay the dual credit tuition as well as the cost of the college textbooks. The College of Continuing Education rebates approximately 20% of the dual credit fee to the local school district to cover material expenses.
Who is responsible for paying the fees?
The local school district is responsible for paying tuition for the Missouri Virtual School courses. School districts will receive a billing statement prior to the conclusion of each semester requesting payment in full of all tuition and fees.
Who is teaching the MVS courses?
All teachers employed by the Missouri Virtual School hold current Missouri Teaching Certificates with appropriate subject and grade level emphasis.
How do students register for the course?
Students will register at their local schools in the usual manner. It is necessary that each Missouri Virtual School course in which a student is enrolled be included in the student's master schedule and the student report to that class on a regular basis during a regularly scheduled time.
Do the local schools still need staff for the students enrolled in MVS?
Each school district participating in the Missouri Virtual School is required to provide a site facilitator to serve as a liaison between the students, their district, and the Missouri Virtual School faculty and staff. This individual must meet all necessary requirements to satisfy the State Department of Education for daily student supervision.
How are the students supervised?
Supervision of the students during class must be determined and provided by the local schools. Please see the previous question for additional information.
How do we know whether students are doing their work and how they are progressing?
Parents and school officials my email the teacher directly, receive regular email grade reports by providing an email address, and/or have on-line access to the individual student's grade book (provided the student is under 18). Our teachers are also available by telephone or fax and on-line conferences can be arranged. In addition, Missouri Virtual School teachers provide regular grade reports to the affiliated school districts in accordance with the individual school district's requirements.
What textbook is being used for a particular class?
Textbooks are assigned according to the courses. You can access this list on the Missouri Virtual School Course Catalog page.
What technology is needed for the course?
System Requirements:
A Polycom (or equivalent) unit, big screen TV or video projector, and microphones are required for I-TV based classes.
Each school district participating will need to provide the following for Breeze based and/or Blackboard classes:
- Windows 98, 2000 (SP1), XP or Macintosh 10.2 (or newer)
- Internet Explorer 5.0, Netscape 7.1, Firefox 1.0.3, or Safari 1.1 (or newer)
- Network: 28.8 kbps (or faster) internet connection
- Monitor: 16 bit colors (high color)
- Audio: Sound card, headset with microphone
- Firewall Ports 80, 443, and 1935 must be set to allow Breeze to connect to its server
Do students need a home computer and access to the internet?
Students are not required to have a home computer or home access to the internet in order to participate in these courses. Access to a computer and/or the internet at home or a location away from school is advantageous, but all coursework can be accomplished through the technology available at the student's school.
What kind of student is best suited to take a MVS course?
To be successful in these courses, it is necessary for a student to assume more responsibility than is usually expected in a traditional classroom. A student who is self-directed, motivated, disciplined, and with good time management skills is an excellent candidate for Missouri Virtual School courses. Try the Missouri State University On-Line Self Assessment to see if you are ready to be an online student.