Approved Providers
Federal Way Internet Academy
We want to know what you think about this provider. Please submit comments using our Issues/Feedback Form.
Website: www.iacademy.org
Email: registrar@iacademy.org
Phone: 253.945.2230 (Pacific time)
Fax: 253.945.2233
School District: Federal Way
Grades Served: K-12
OSPI Approval
Approved as an Online School Program and Online Course Provider through the 2015-16 school year.
Access
Student Enrollment Instructions:
Students can learn about applying for enrollment in Federal Way Internet Academy at www.iacademy.org.
Individual Online Course Purchasing Instructions:
Individual courses from Federal Way Internet Academy are available for schools to purchase in the DLD course catalog.
Overview
Serving students online since 1996, Internet Academy (IA) is one of the leading pioneers in online education. IA is a program located in the Federal Way School District, which utilizes Federal Way teachers who are Washington State certified to provide online instruction to students in grades K-12. IA provides traditional core and elective classes in a nontraditional manner through an online learning platform. IA’s courses are designed to meet Washington State goals through standards-based learning.
Online learning through the Internet Academy appeals to a wide variety of students. Students take courses in order to complete requirements for graduation, to access courses that may not be available at their resident school, to pursue special interests and talents while remaining on schedule for graduation, and to continue to participate in a home school setting. IA’s mission is to provide innovative and challenging academic experiences to students anywhere, anytime through the use of leading technology.
Course Offerings
The DLD currently features IA’s core classes in English, history, mathematics, and science and several elective courses. CTE courses which help students meet occupational skills requirements in Washington State include: Business Law 1 & 2, Web Design 1 & 2, Digital Communication Tools, Careers in Motion, Visual Communication Marketing, accounting and Technical Writing, all taught by a CTE credentialed teacher. Foreign languages (Spanish and Chinese) are also offered.
Students
IA offers course opportunities for all students either on a part-time or full-time basis. Core courses are written at grade level, with other courses meeting academic level, such as math and foreign language. Students who need a course out of semester offerings can take a semester 1 course during semester 2 or visa versa. Students who need to make up a credit should check IA’s credit retrieval offerings. Moving ahead at a faster pace is also available with IA’s continual enrollment schedule. Some courses may not be offered at a student’s resident school, but available at IA, such as Digital Photography or Chinese. IA has experience with all types of students and welcome enrollment to any student.
Curriculum Alignments
Internet Academy (IA) courses, created by Federal Way School District teachers within their area of expertise, align with Washington State curriculum standards or national standards as outlined by the academic organization for the discipline. For example our Personal Finance courses were developed using the National Standard by the JumpStart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy. IA also offers a series of OSPI approved Career and Technical Education courses taught by CTE certificated teachers. These CTE classes are built to meet both the current OSPI approved CTE curriculum frameworks and the Occupational Skills graduation requirements in Washington. Internet Academy uses Apex curriculum for its health, math, and world history courses. Apex curriculum is aligned with Washington State standards as well as national standards.
Accreditation
The Northwest Association of Accredited Schools accredits Federal Way Internet Academy. Core courses are also approved and accredited by NCAA. All core classes are approved through the NCAA Clearing House.
Instructor Certification
Internet Academy teachers are all Federal Way Education Association members and hold valid Washington State teaching certificates. All IA teachers are assigned courses within the teacher’s endorsed areas. In addition, Internet Academy teachers all meet the definition of “high qualified” as required by the NCLB Act.
Courseware Platform
All Internet Academy courses are delivered over the Internet; course assignments and correspondence are delivered using Angel Learning Platform. This platform provides instruction, assessment and feedback tools, an internal closed email system, and detailed information for parents and mentors about their student’s progress.
Student Performance and Demographics
Teacher-to-student ratio: 1:30
Course completion rate: 73.7%
Course pass rate: 73.7%
OSPI School Reportcard (includes test scores, demographics, and more).
Student Satisfaction Survey
Average Student Satisfaction:
4.2 (205 responses)
Sample Comments
(Very Satisfied)
5th grade student enrolled a single class. (May 25, 2011)
Internet Academy is AMAZING. It's the PERFECT for anyone who excels in grade-level academics, or anyone who's homeschooled. The site is very easy to use, and the instructions are clear, descriptive, highly detailed, and elaborate. I highly recommend it!
(Very Satisfied)
Parent of a 4th grade student enrolled full-time. (May 25, 2011)
I have two girls in the Internet Academy. I found that it was much more difficult for my fourth grader in that there were more WRA requirements that were time consuming. While my eldest daughter concentrated on communication with her teacher, summarizing what she learned and turning in assignments, my youngest daughter had more "fun" requirements that actually often made it more difficult for her and I to complete the WRA's. As a parent this is a difficult situation because I can appreciate what the teacher is trying to do by bringing in other resources. However, I feel that my children are receiving a very comprehensive education on the Internet Academy and that this should be considered most important. Overall, my husband and I are very pleased with the Internet Academy and the Staff. It has been a fantastic experience. Now that we have all gotten our feet wet I believe there will be less of a learning curve for next year.
11th grade student enrolled a single class. (May 26, 2011)