IVSA Newsletter

As students head back to school, many hallways echo with a familiar sound, or rather, the absence of one. The click of opening lockers, once a staple of the school day, is now strangely rare. Schools across the country are still filled with rows of lockers... but most remain closed, unused, and forgotten.

They remind us of something important: education doesn’t always stay the same, and maybe it shouldn’t.

At Illinois Virtual Schools & Academy (IVSA), we believe it's time to rethink what school looks like. While the world has changed, many educational models haven’t caught up. But just like those lockers, not every part of the old system fits how students live and learn today.

That’s where we come in. IVSA offers flexible, personalized, and innovative learning pathways for students across Illinois. Whether it's through full-time virtual schooling, credit recovery, enrichment, or live support from licensed teachers, we’re opening new doors where others have stayed closed.

Not every student learns best inside four walls. Not every school needs a hallway full of lockers to deliver a great education.

This year, let’s rethink what’s possible.

Melissa Lundgaard

IVSA Executive Director

✅ Elementary, Middle & High School Courses
✅ Credit Recovery
✅ AP Options
✅ Flexible Scheduling
✅ Licensed Illinois Teachers

✅ Teacher Shortage Solutions for Districts

Do you have a student that is behind in credits? IVSA has a solution to assist them get back on track. Your student can joint the IVSA Next Chapter Credit Recovery program and earn up to 2 credits every six weeks. They do this with the support of our School Counselor and Student Success Coach, meeting twice each week to help your student stay on track.

• Full-Time Academy - We offer a highly supportive full-time virtual learning option for students.
• Next Chapter - Our Brand New Credit Recovery Program
• Single Course Offerings - Choose original credit or credit recovery courses in Core Subjects, Electives, World Languages, Business and CTE courses and more.
• Teacher Shortage Solutions - Are you experiencing a teacher shortage that may eliminate programs and courses. IVSA offers synchronous and asynchronous instruction options for full classes.

We have begun to partner with several schools that have a virtual block that allows students to take Credit Recovery, Core, Honors, AP, CTE, Electives, PE, or Health as needed. You provide the space, a virtual learning facilitator, and we provide the teacher, rigorous content. If you are a public school, all enrollments are eligible for reimbursement through the Illinois Virtual Course Catalog.

As we prepare for the 2025–2026 school year, we invite you to join us for the IVSA School Partner Meeting. This is your opportunity to hear important updates, explore new tools, and strengthen our collaboration for the year ahead.

Each meeting will include a brief overview of SY2526 updates, followed by your choice of breakout learning and planning opportunities.

Location: https://zoom.us/my/melissalundgaard

🗓 Join our LAST Session:

• Wednesday, August 6 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM

💡 Breakout Topics (Choose One During the Session):

• Getting Started with Maestro & Canvas Observer Access for Families & Schools
• Finalizing Your TSS (Teacher Shortage Solutions) Plans
• Introducing Next Chapter: Credit Recovery Reimagined
• Partnering Stronger: Custom Collaboration for SY2526

Whether you're a returning partner or new to IVSA, we hope you'll join us to align and energize for a successful year ahead. We appreciate your partnership and look forward to connecting with you soon! Please feel free to include anyone on you staff that will interact with the IVSA teachers and leadership team.

Our Master Schedule is filling quickly. If you have a need for IVSA to support your school with TSS, please fill out this TSS intake form to let us IVSA know what needs you are anticipating. Filling this out does not bind you to using IVSA, but we can begin to explore this partnership for next school year. The sooner you let us know, the more likely we can cover your shortages!

Be sure to REGISTER for The University of Illinois Pilot Program for SY2526 if you have not already requested Teacher Shortage or a Credit Recovery program.

Registration for SY2526 is OPEN! Do you have a student who would thrive with a flexible learning solution? Enroll your student today.

Every week students get to interact with their School Counselor and Student Success Coach and work through our Social Emotional Learning Curriculum.

We have a new way that you can follow your student's IVSA course(s) by creating an observer account in our learning management system, Canvas. Please use the HELP GUIDE to walk you through this.

August 19: IVSA Fall Semester Begins

August 19-22: iReady Diagnostic for Academy Students

September 1: No School, Labor Day

The mission of IVSA is to partner with local Illinois schools to provide engaging and supportive online educational experiences to meet the needs of all learners.

Any Questions? Reach out to info@ivsaschool.org

Website: https://ivsaschool.org/

IVSA Phone Number: 866-890-IVSA (4872)