Joining GCA: What to Expect After Successfully Completing Registration |
Welcome to Georgia Cyber Academy!
Joining GCA: What to expect after successfully completing registration
After registering with GCA, you will receive communications from various departments to help you begin the onboarding process. Please pay close attention to the following.
Email titled "GCA Student Login and Important Information"
- This email is sent only shortly before the student's start date at GCA.
- Please be sure to read and save this email for future reference. It contains critical log in information for your student's GCA school account, as well as the name and contact details for your Family Engagement Liaison and Compliance Specialist.
- This email will contain your student's first name and GCA student ID in the subject line. If you have enrolled multiple students, you will receive this email for each individual student.
- This email is automatically sent to the listed Legal Guardian and Learning Coach by the GCA Student Tech Support Team. You do not need to request it.
- If your student is required to take Pre-Admission Testing, this email provides an overview on how to access that testing, including a link to more detailed information, and a unique email address to ask questions specific to the testing.
Required Pre-Admission Testing
Who takes Pre-Admission Testing?
- Kindergarten students take a Pre-Admission screener with a student support person online.
- 1st-8th Grade have different tests depending on the grade for Pre-Admission Testing.
When do students take Pre-Admission Testing?
- Testing is offered to students Monday through Friday, from 10am to 12pm. You will be invited to start testing the week before your student's start date with GCA. You may choose which days are best to take the test when doing so prior to the start date.
What is Pre-Admission Testing?
- It is an adaptive test. This means the questions may cover material that your student has not yet been taught and they should simply choose their best response. Some portions of the test will be read to the student. The test is not intended to be stressful. Please encourage your student to simply do their best. It is ok if they do not know the answer to a question.
- Adults may assist the student with logging in but may not help the student in any way with reading aloud to them, answering questions, or explaining questions to them. Doing so may result in the test becoming progressively harder and the student being placed at a level too difficult for them to complete independently during the school year. If a testing proctor observes a student getting extra help, they may stop the test and an administrator may contact you to discuss re-testing options.
Family Engagement Liaison
Who is my Family Engagement Liaison?
- You can find your Family Engagement Liaison's name and contact information in the email you received titled "GCA Student Login and Important Information". In most cases, all the students in one family will be supported by the same Family Engagement Liaison.
What can I expect from my Family Engagement Liaison?
- As a new family, you will receive a welcome phone call from your Family Engagement Liaison along with email communication about important first steps.
- Your Family Engagement Liaison is committed to helping you and your student successfully navigate the virtual learning environment. They collaborate with all GCA departments to ensure that your student and family receive the support needed to thrive during the school year.
- Your Family Engagement Liaison is your first point of contact when questions or issues arise during the onboarding process and throughout the school year.
Compliance Specialist
Who is my Compliance Specialist?
- You can find your Compliance Specialist's name and contact information in the email you received titled "GCA Student Login and Important Information". In most cases, all the students in one family will be supported by the same Compliance Specialist.
What can I expect from my Compliance Specialist?
- Your Compliance Specialist is your dedicated point of contact for compliance and attendance related concerns. They focus on monitoring your student's compliance, attendance, tracking absences, and reviewing excuse documentation that you have submitted.
- Your Compliance Specialist can help you navigate the Nucleus program, GCA's official compliance platform. They will answer your questions about submitting excuse documentation in Nucleus, review attendance records with you, and help you understand compliance expectations.
Technology and Equipment
GCA Loaner Equipment
- If you requested a GCA loaner Chromebook when completing your application, you will not receive email communication about shipping it until shortly before your student's GCA start date. The communication will be sent to the email address you provided on the application. The email communication will detail the steps you must take to schedule the shipment of the Chromebook.
- GCA Equipment will ship the Chromebook to the address provided in the enrollment application. GCA equipment cannot be picked up in person.
- Equipment can only be delivered Monday through Friday. There are no weekend deliveries available.
- If your address has changed since the submission of your application, please click here to submit an address change request to GCA. Please include your application number. You must provide a new proof of residence attached to the address change. Click here for a list of approved documentation for the proof of residence.
- Submitting an address change request with the proper proof of residence helps GCA make sure your student's equipment arrives at the right place without delay.
- If your student does not yet have their GCA loaner equipment, we recommend they use a personal computer, borrow from a relative or friend, or use a local library until the Chromebook arrives.