When students enroll in Columbia Virtual Academy (CVA), they become part of a public school Alternative Learning Experience (ALE) program.

Students in an ALE program may attend school part-time or full-time. As public school students, they must follow all applicable rules and regulations. This includes being supervised, instructed, monitored, assessed, and evaluated by a certificated teacher.

Prior to enrollment, parents or guardians are required by law to confirm that they have read and understand the Declaration of Understanding. This document explains the differences between the CVA program and home-based instruction.

CVA is a public school program—not home-based instruction. While learning takes place outside of a traditional classroom, students remain enrolled in public school. This allows access to curriculum, resources, and guidance from certificated teachers to support each student’s Written Student Learning Plan (WSLP).

In contrast, home-based instruction is not part of a public or private school system. In this model, the parent or guardian is fully responsible for the student’s education. Students receiving home-based instruction are not subject to public school requirements, and public schools are not required to provide instruction or resources.

Additional questions about the differences between home-based instruction and public school (ALE) learning can be directed to help@cva.org or 1.855.525.2270.