IVSA Newsletter

Step into Success

This school year, we’re lacing up together to Step into Success! Just like many athletes at the starting line for their first cross-country meet this weekend, each step you take - logging in for your first lesson, connecting with your teacher, or submitting that first assignment - moves you closer to your goals.

The IVSA theme is more than an idea, but hopefully motivation for all of our students to find what they need to STEP into SUCCESS. Whether you’re a Full-Time Academy student, taking Supplemental or Next Chapter courses, or part of our Teacher Shortage Solutions program, we’re here to cheer you on every step of the way.

Check the rest of this newsletter for updates, resources, and exciting opportunities to help you make this year your best yet.

Pull on your IVSA socks (FTA students), line up at the start, and let’s Step into Success - together.

Melissa Lundgaard

IVSA Executive Director

Meet Alexis: Alexis is an 8th grade FTA student who also spends her time away from school training horses and entering them into competitions. Here she is with her horse H.E. Dakota at the recent Sorenson dressage show, where she qualified for every event she participated in! Alexis is super excited to “have a fun and enjoyable year” with IVSA and shared the following quote, “Make the most fun memories with your family while you can.” Alexis has been working hard to get acclimated to the IVSA format and has gotten off to a great start!

✅ 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 prepared for the 2025–2026 school year, we invited our Partner Schools to join us for training and IVSA updates. If you are a new School Partner or even a new additional to the school and need additional assistance in navigating our SIS, please send in a request to support@ivsaschool.org and our Operations Team will set up a time to train you on the IVSA SIS.

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.

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.

October 13:No School, Indigenous Peoples' 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)