Enrollment/Attendance FAQs

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Ascend Online School serves students in grades 3–12 who reside in the state of Florida and are off track academically, meaning they have previously failed a course and are in need of credit recovery or academic intervention. Students must be referred by their home school counselor. Direct enrollment by families is not permitted.

Enrollment in AOS is based on individual student eligibility and academic need. Since enrollment must be initiated by the student’s home school counselor, multiple students from the same household may be referred and enrolled, provided each meets the eligibility criteria and there is space available.

AOS is a tuition-free public program. Certified teachers, access to online curriculum, and instructional support are provided at no cost. However, families are responsible for providing basic household supplies such as printer paper, ink, notebooks, and a working computer with high-speed internet. AOS does not provide loaner devices.

Attendance is critical at AOS due to the program’s structured term-based model. Students are required to complete 120 hours of coursework per course, divided into four terms.

• Students may only miss one day per term.
   
• Missing more than one day in any term will result in the student being withdrawn from the course.
  Attendance is tracked through face-to-face sessions, online engagement via Jupiter SIS, and participation in scheduled virtual lessons.
   

AOS follows a structured academic calendar with specific term dates, including some weekend instruction. Families should plan vacations around scheduled breaks whenever possible.
If a student must miss a scheduled instructional day due to travel, the absence will still count toward their attendance limit for that term. Missing more than one day per term may result in course removal, so it is important to consult with your child’s home school and AOS staff before planning time away.