About Online School: Frequently Asked Questions

Pearson Online Academy—The Right Choice For My Family

Why should I choose Pearson Online Academy?

Pearson Online Academy is a fully-accredited private school, providing dedicated teachers, top-notch curriculum, and unprecedented freedom to choose when and where you complete each day’s assignments. Pearson Online Academy’s rigorous yet flexible academic program helps students prepare for college and develop real-world skills for employment in the 21st century.

Is Pearson Online Academy accredited?

Pearson Online Academy is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA). Pearson Online Academy is also accredited by the following accrediting divisions of Cognia, formerly AdvancED: the Southern Association of Colleges & Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI), the Northwest Accreditation Commission (NWAC) and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI). These organizations are regional accrediting organizations for higher education institutions recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education.

What do current parents think about Pearson Online Academy?

Educational Questions

Does Pearson Online Academy have an attendance requirement?

Who teaches students at Pearson Online Academy?

Pearson Online Academy employs trained and licensed teachers, experienced academicians, and innovative thinkers in their fields, all of whom are experienced in teaching in a virtual classroom. All teachers have bachelor's degrees and many have master's degrees. Pearson Online Academy provides ongoing teacher training and professional development opportunities throughout the year as well.

What kind of support does a virtual teacher provide to his/her students?

Pearson Online Academy's teachers are the content experts for their course(s) and support students through the understanding of the material. They evaluate student progress through submitted assignments and engage with students through Curriculum Based Assessments and LiveLessons® to discuss topics learned through the course.

Who is responsible for reading and grading students’ course work done at Pearson Online Academy?

What is the schedule for the school year?

What hours will my student’s teacher be available to my student?

Generally teachers are available daytime hours during the week. However, teachers are willing to accommodate student needs and make appointments if a student is unavailable. Teachers provide detailed contact information to all their classes, including days/time they hold virtual office hours, on or prior to the first day of school.

What hours will my student attend school at Pearson Online Academy?

Because Pearson Online Academy is an online school, students have enormous flexibility about when they attend classes. Students may engage in course work at any time (including evenings and weekends), and from any location(s) that suits their individual needs. However, students should be aware that while they have great flexibility completing their lessons and assessments, they must adhere to the due dates and deadlines assigned by their teacher(s).

Students have access to their schedule, lessons and assessments via Pearson Online Classroom (formerly known as Connexus®), our education management system. Students and Learning Coaches will be able to see up-to-the-minute data on student grades, as well as lesson and assessment completion, through Pearson Online Classroom.

How, and how often, will my student interact with his/her teacher and/or other students?

Will I need to purchase books or materials for my courses?

All books and instructional materials for the course will be provided to the student. For more detailed information, refer to the FAQ below on "How do I purchase a print copy of a text book?” for more details. Our program features curriculum developed by leading educational publishers. Basic school supplies such as pens, paper, etc. are the responsibility of the student.

How do I purchase a print copy of a text book?

Once your student's courses have been selected, we will then provide information regarding the purchase of hard copies for your child’s course materials. Please note that additional textbook purchases are not required since we use iTexts throughout our lessons. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact a family enrollment counselor at 1-877-804-6222 or email POAadmissions@pearson.com, at any time.

What curriculum does Pearson Online Academy provide?

Pearson Online Academy provides comprehensive daily lesson plans online along with exciting elective courses. There are hundreds of available courses. Our proven curriculum incorporates materials developed by leading educational institutions such as McGraw-Hill, Prentice Hall, Houghton Mifflin as well as lessons and other resources developed by our own curriculum specialists. Learn more about our curriculum.

Do I need to return Pearson Online Academy books and instructional materials at the end of the semester?

Are there any state tests/assessments at Pearson Online Academy?

Pearson Online Academy students are assessed using the STAR Reading™ assessment and the STAR Math™ assessment. The assessment tool is administered asynchronously three times during the school year. The first is in September/October to provide a baseline of each students’ ability. The second in January/February, and the final round of testing will be in April/May. It is a real benefit to be able to have three “pictures” of your student’s progress!

Technical Questions

What technology will my student need to participate in Pearson Online Academy?

What computer skills do Pearson Online Academy students need?

Students and Learning Coaches do not need advanced computer skills to attend Pearson Online Academy. We offer varying levels of technology support, at no additional charge, to help students become comfortable with technology including:

Orientation courses to familiarize students and parents with the Pearson Online Academy system
Supplemental technology literacy programs to further develop additional technology skills
Technology tutorials on everything from word processing to webpage design

Upon registration for a course, students will be given log-in information and basic instructions on the use of Pearson Online Classroom. The Help icon within Pearson Online Classroom will also help answer some of the fundamental questions about Pearson Online Classroom.

Can I use my Apple® Macintosh® computer to access Pearson Online Classroom (formerly known as Connexus®), the education management system?

About Online School: Frequently Asked Questions

Pearson Online Academy—The Right Choice For My Family

Educational Questions

Technical Questions

REQUEST MORE INFORMATION

HELPFUL LINKS

GET IN TOUCH

About Us

Leadership + Faculty

Who We Serve

Our Parents

Our Students

Academics

High School

Curriculum Courses

College + Career Prep

Summer School

School Life

Support + Resources

Technology Support

Admissions

Tuition

Technology Support

About Online School: Frequently Asked Questions

Pearson Online Academy—The Right Choice For My Family

Educational Questions

Technical Questions

REQUEST MORE INFORMATION

HELPFUL LINKS

GET IN TOUCH