How To Enroll In

Great River Connections Academy

Enrollment Information

First semester enrollment is open for grades K-2 and 4-11 with limited capacity.
Second semester enrollment is open for grades K-11 with limited capacity.
View upcoming deadlines and the latest enrollment updates

Start Your Family’s Learning Journey

Get ready to enroll in online school at Great River Connections Academy, serving grades K–12. Typically, the enrollment process takes just a few weeks to complete. But spots fill up quickly, so make sure you start as soon as you can. Here's how to get started:

1Check Eligibility

2Understand Commitment

3Prepare Documents

4Get Started

Step 1

Check Eligibility

You must meet specific state and program requirements to attend Alabama Connections Academy. Student eligibility requirements are determined by Alabama state laws. Before enrolling, review the following eligibility requirements carefully to determine whether your student(s) is eligible to participate in Alabama Connections Academy for grades K–12. Once your enrollment is confirmed, please immediately withdraw your student from their previous publicly-funded school. Students cannot be simultaneously enrolled in two public schools.

Note: Students who were previously expelled from their local school or district may not be eligible to enroll.

Age Limitations

Kindergarten: Any student enrolling in kindergarten must be five (5) years old on or before August 1 in the school year in which they are enrolling.

First Grade: Any student enrolling in first grade must be six (6) years old on or before August 1 in the school year in which they are enrolling.

Maximum Age: Any student who turns twenty-two (22) years old on or before the first day of school will not be eligible to enroll in Great River Connections Academy.

Geographical Limitations

Immunizations

All Great River Connections Academy students must provide evidence of their immunizations on either a state of Ohio official immunization form, the Connections Academy Immunization form, an official school record, a healthcare provider or Health Department printout, or an immunization booklet with all doses stamped or signed. These forms must be stamped or signed by a healthcare provider. Ohio allows for medical, personal, or religious exemptions; however medical exemptions must be signed by a healthcare provider. Please use the Connections Academy Immunization/Exemption form if requesting an exemption.

Prior Schooling Requirements

Step 2

Understand Your Commitment

Family Time Commitment

Your Role as a Parent/Caregiver

Day to Day Activities

28 HOURS

Per Week

Learning and growing with their Learning Coach

5 Hours

Per Day

Learning Coaches spend overseeing schoolwork

30%

of school day doing schoolwork on a computer

70%

of school day working offline

28 HOURS

Per Week

Learning and growing with their Learning Coach

2-3 HOURS

Per Day

Learning Coaches spend overseeing schoolwork

75%

of school day doing schoolwork on a computer

25%

of school day working independently offline

28 HOURS

Per Week

Learning and growing with their Learning Coach

1-2 HOURS

Per Day

Learning Coaches spend overseeing schoolwork

90%

of school day doing schoolwork on a computer

10%

of school day working independently offline

Step 3

Prepare Documents

Please have the following documents available when you are ready to begin the enrollment process.

Child's Proof of Age

A copy of one of the following documents must be provided for every student to verify age eligibility. To avoid unnecessary delays, provide a copy of this document along with your enrollment documents.

Official birth certificate
Passport

Not Sure Where to Get That?

If you need a copy of your child's birth certificate, you can order it online through the Ohio Department of Health. Please visit the Ohio Department of Health for more information.
If your child was born in another state, please visit the CDC’s Where to Write for Vital Records webpage for more information. When using this tool, please remember to follow the CDC's Application Guidelines.
Have questions about your U.S. passport? Visit the U.S. Department of State FAQs page.

As a reminder, the age eligibility is as follows:

Kindergarten: Any student enrolling in kindergarten must be five (5) years old on or before August 1 in the school year in which they are enrolling.
First grade: Any student enrolling in first grade must be six (6) years old on or before August 1 in the school year in which they are enrolling.
Maximum Age: Any student who turns twenty-two (22) years old on or before the first day of school will not be eligible to enroll in Great River Connections Academy.

Proof of Residence

According to the Great River Connections Academy Proof of Residency Policy, you must reside in the State of Ohio and provide acceptable proof of residency to be eligible for enrollment in Great River Connections Academy.

Not Sure What is Accepted as Proof?

Gas, electric, water, sewage, garbage/trash, Internet, landline telephone bill or receipt of utility installation from the last 90 days that includes your name and service address
Mortgage statement from the last 90 days or signed annual lease agreement
Property tax statement
Deed
Home owner’s or renter’s insurance policy declaration page
USPS Return Receipt from a certified letter sent to parent(s) by the district of residence

Any of the following are also acceptable if dated within the past 90 days:

Rent receipt
Bank statement
Payroll stub
Letter from a government agency

If you do not have any of these documents, please contact the enrollment team at 1-833-591-0251 to discuss acceptable alternatives.

Proof of Residency Document Tips and Tricks
2 min video

Trouble uploading your proof of residency documentation for Great River Connections Academy? We're here to help. Monique explains common challenges and how to fix them.

Child's Proof of Immunizations

Child’s Proof of Immunization

All Great River Connections Academy students must provide evidence of their immunizations on either a state of Ohio official immunization form, the Connections Academy Immunization form, an official school record, a healthcare provider or Health Department printout, or an immunization booklet with all doses stamped or signed. These forms must be stamped or signed by a healthcare provider.

Not Sure What Immunizations Are Required?

According to the Ohio Department of Health, the Immunization Program seeks to prevent 17 vaccine-preventable diseases with currently available vaccines.

For a complete list of required vaccines please visit the Immunization Summary for School Attendance in Ohio page of the Ohio Department of Health website.

Where Can I Get Immunizations For My Student?

Immunizations can be obtained from doctor’s offices, clinics, or hospitals. Pediatricians and family doctors or their nurses or medical assistants can give your student the shots they need to meet the requirements for school enrollment. In addition, some large chain pharmacies offer immunizations for older children and adults.

What If I Need Assistance Paying For Vaccines?

If you need assistance paying for shots/vaccinations, you may be able to get free or reduced immunizations through this program:

Vaccines for Children (VFC) program is a federally funded program that provides vaccines at no cost to children who might not otherwise be vaccinated because of inability to pay. Children who are eligible for VFC vaccines are entitled to receive pediatric vaccines that are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

Immunization Exemptions

A student may be exempt from immunizations for medical reasons, religious beliefs, or personal reasons. All exemptions require a signature and date. Letters must be submitted each year.

Religious Exemption: According to the state of Ohio, "A pupil who presents a written statement of his parent or guardian in which the parent or guardian objects to the immunization for good cause, including religious convictions, is not required to be immunized."
Personal Exemption: According to the state of Ohio, "A pupil who presents a written statement of his parent or guardian in which the parent or guardian objects to the immunization for good cause, including personal reasons, is not required to be immunized".
Medical Exemption: According to the state of Ohio, "A child whose physician certifies in writing that immunization against any disease is medically contraindicated is not required to be immunized against that disease."

Prior Academic Records

Students across Ohio in grades K-12 are eligible to enroll in Great River Connections Academy. Those who have previously attended public school, private school, or homeschool will be asked to submit academic records for placement.

Report Card

For students applying for grades K–9: Please submit a copy of the report card from the most recent school year.

The following items should be included on the report card:
Student Name
Grade Level
School Year (example: 2024–25)
School Name
Grading Scale (example: 90–100%=A)
Unofficial Transcript

For students applying for grades 10–12: Submit an unofficial transcript that includes the complete end-of-year grades from the prior school year and any academic documentation (such as a progress report/interim report, class schedule, or marking period/semester report card) issued for the current school year. Additional documentation may be requested for placement.

The following items should be included on the unofficial transcript:
Student Name
Grade Level
School Year (example: 2024–25)
School Name
Grading Scale (example: 90–100%=A)
Credits Earned

Not Sure How to Get Your Child’s Report Card or Transcript?

Contact your student's previous school and request the document, providing them with the information outlined above, OR contact your school's district office with the request.

If after attempting these steps you still cannot obtain your student's report card or transcript, please contact the academic placement services team at 1-833-591-0251 to discuss acceptable alternatives.

Have Your Child(ren) Been Formerly Homeschooled?

Prior Academic History Form

For homeschooled students in grades K–12: Complete the Prior Academic History Form indicating what courses were completed through a homeschool curriculum. This form will be available to you in the Enrollment Portal.

Other Documents for Special Circumstances

View All FAQs

How should I verify that the documents I sent arrived?

After submitting your documents, you can navigate to the Submit Documents section located in the Enrollment Details. There you can see if your documents have been verified or are still waiting to be processed. The Enrollment Details will also show if your file was marked invalid and your document will be removed so that you can upload a new document. If you are unable to verify the status of your documents or have any questions, please call 1-833-591-0251 and contact the Enrollment Team using the document submission option in our phone system. We will check the system to see if the document was received. Please be prepared to provide us with the following information: student’s name, number of pages sent, the date sent, and if sent by fax, the fax number.

Why is the virtual enrollment process different from a physical school?

How does self-enrollment work if I am 18 years old, or older, or am an emancipated minor?

Students who are 18 or over must meet age eligibility requirements in their state. Students must also submit academic documentation of all courses attempted since entering the 9th grade. Academic documentation will be reviewed by a school counselor to determine the student's eligibility to complete the program requirements before meeting the age cap for enrollment. Students who cannot complete the program requirements before meeting the age cap for enrollment are not eligible to enroll.

Both emancipated minors and students 18 years and older are required to complete the Parent/Legal Guardian (Caretaker) Acknowledgement (PLCA) form and to provide all required enrollment documentation before the student can enroll. Emancipated minors must also submit court documentation for their emancipation. Please contact the Enrollment Team at 1-833-591-0251 for more information.

Give Us a Call

If you have any concerns or questions about how to enroll, our enrollment team is here to help.
Please call us at 1-833-591-0251.

Great River Connections Academy admits students and conducts all educational programs, activities, and employment practices without discrimination on the basis of sex, race, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, creed, sexual orientation, disability, or any other legally protected classification.

Enrollment Support Hours:
Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. ET

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How To Enroll In

Great River Connections Academy

Enrollment Information

Start Your Family’s Learning Journey

Step 1

Check Eligibility

Step 2

Understand Your Commitment

28 HOURS

5 Hours

30%

70%

Step 3

Prepare Documents

Step 4

Get Started and Create Account

We're Here To Help

Frequently Asked Questions

Give Us a Call

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