Supporting My Online Student
Online learning is no different than other types of schooling: parent and family support are vital to student academic success. Encouragement, communication, and regular check-ins help students stay focused, motivated, and accountable.
Cobb Virtual Academy invites parents and guardians to take an active role in the online learning experience while helping students build independence and responsibility.
How Families Can Help
Small, consistent actions at home can make a big difference in an online course.
Check Progress Regularly
Monitor grades, missing work, feedback, and course progress throughout the week.
Create a Routine
Help your student set a regular schedule for logging in, completing lessons, and submitting assignments.
Encourage Communication
Remind your student to contact the teacher when they have questions or need support.
Support Independence
Online courses require students to manage time, meet deadlines, and take ownership of their learning.
The Parent and Guardian Role
Parents should assist students by encouraging active participation in the course, helping them complete assignments in a timely manner, and monitoring progress.
Parent(s) should consult with the student’s guidance counselor to determine if an online course is a good alternative to traditional learning. While CVA courses are designed for student independence, family involvement can help students stay organized, ask for help when needed, and remain accountable throughout the course.
Weekly Family Check-In
Use this quick checklist to guide a weekly conversation with your online student.
Have you logged into your course this week?
What assignments are due soon?
Do you have any missing or incomplete work?
Have you checked teacher feedback?
Do you need to message your teacher for help?
Are you on pace to finish the course successfully?
What Families Ask Most
Open a question below to read a full answer and explore additional guidance.
+How often should I check my student’s progress?
How Can Families Monitor Progress?
Parents and guardians are encouraged to check student progress regularly. A quick weekly check-in can help families identify missing work, review grades, and encourage students to stay on pace. Small check-ins can prevent bigger problems later. A few minutes each week can help students stay on pace, build independence, and know when to ask for support.
Online courses give students more flexibility, but that flexibility works best when students have a consistent routine. Families can help by setting aside a few minutes each week to review course progress together. During the check-in, look for missing assignments, upcoming due dates, recent grades, and teacher feedback. This helps students know what needs attention before they fall too far behind. The goal is not to complete the work for the student, but to help the student stay organized, ask questions, and follow through on next steps.
+Who should my student contact for help?
Help Your Student Ask the Right Person
When your student has a question, the fastest way to get help is by contacting the right person. Most questions about the class should go to the teacher, while questions about scheduling, graduation progress, or transcripts should go to the school counselor. Families can help by encouraging students to ask for help early. If your student is confused, stuck, or falling behind, guide them to contact the teacher or use the CVA Learning Center for support.
Questions About the Class
Encourage your student to contact the teacher first for anything related to the course itself.
Contact the teacher for:
- Assignment directions
- Feedback or grades
- Skills or concepts
- Due dates
- Time management
- Getting caught up
Questions About the Bigger Academic Plan
The school counselor helps with scheduling and long-term academic planning.
Contact the counselor for:
- Course scheduling
- Graduation requirements
- Credit checks and transcripts
- College and career planning
When Your Student Needs Extra Support
The CVA Learning Center can help students who need support getting started, navigating the course, completing assignments, or finding a quiet place to work.
Learning Center options:
- CVA Learning Center — In-person support, no reservation required.
- CVA Virtual Learning Center — Remote support via the CVA Student Support Classroom and CTLS Chat.
If your student needs help beyond a regular teacher question, point them to the CVA Learning Centers. Students do not need to wait until they are far behind to ask for support.
