Frequently Asked Questions

Semester 1, semester 2, and yearlong courses during the academic year are open to students in grades 9-12 from GOA Student Program member schools. Summer courses are open to students from both member and non-member schools. Certain courses are also offered for students in grades 6-8. All GOA students must be at least 13 years old at the time of enrollment.

Yes, we are accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Most of our courses are NCAA-approved. The label "NCAA-approved" is included in the descriptions of eligible courses in our course catalog. 

We are a University of California-approved online course publisher and appear in their directory. 

Costs vary by school and many GOA member schools cover some or all of the cost. GOA member school students should check with their site director about fee policies. Click here for information about costs during our summer term.

All member schools award school credit for GOA courses in the academic year. Individual member schools determine what kind of credit to award, typically awarding elective or core credits that contribute to graduation requirements. GOA teachers assess students in our online learning platform and gradebook, so students, schools, and teachers can get real-time updates on performance. In addition, GOA sends a narrative grade report to students, families, and schools at the end of each semester. Schools may choose to report the numeric grade provided by GOA, or they may convert the GOA grade into their system. Click here for information about crediting during our summer term.

Colleges and universities do not grant college credit for GOA courses.

No, we do not grant diplomas. We partner with member schools to provide expanded course options for their enrolled students.

GOA courses are designed to balance flexibility with meaningful connection. Teachers publish coursework and calendars in Canvas, allowing students to work through paced, teacher-facilitated modules on their own schedules. Students are expected to log in regularly to complete assignments, participate in discussions, and manage their GOA coursework alongside other commitments.

Connection is central to the GOA experience. With an average class size of 20, students engage in small group video calls, 1:1 meetings, and regular office hours with teachers. During orientation, teachers work with students to establish expectations for live interactions, and students are encouraged to advocate for themselves regarding scheduling and time zones. Peer-to-peer collaboration happens through group projects, partner work, and discussion forums, creating a vibrant, supportive online learning community.

GOA courses are designed to be as rigorous and engaging as in-person classes, with more than 90% of students reporting that the intellectual challenge matches or exceeds that of their home school courses. In a typical week, you can expect to commit 5-7 hours to each GOA course (8-10 hours per week to each GOA AP® course), logging in regularly to complete assignments, participate in discussions, and engage in group projects. Teachers and students collaboratively schedule live, synchronous connections on a weekly or biweekly basis, including small group sessions and 1:1 meetings, providing personalized support and meaningful feedback. We do not recommend students take a GOA course on top of a full schedule, but rather be included as one of the courses a student will take to complete their schedule. Click here for information about time commitments during our summer term.

GOA courses are taught by expert educators, many of whom come from our Student Program Member Schools. These teachers are proven leaders in their school communities, known for their ability to connect with students and designing engaging, hands-on learning experiences that foster real-world skills like creative thinking, research, and collaboration.

Before teaching their first course, all GOA teachers complete 60 hours of training and professional development, and they continue to receive support through ongoing coaching from experienced instructional coaches. GOA staff regularly observe and evaluate courses to ensure they meet the high standards of our member schools, supporting continuous improvement and a consistently high-quality learning experience.

Students receive a numeric grade for their course that is reported to the school for their transcript. You can learn more about our competency-based approach to grading and assessment in How We Grade and Why.

The final grade combines the Competency Grade (70%, based on the quality of learning demonstrated) with their Engagement Score (30%, based on punctuality and the amount of work completed). This ensures that grades reflect not only what students know, but also includes a measure of how well they’ve engaged in the learning experience. 

GOA's support processes are student-centered, helping learners take responsibility for their education and develop independence. Students receive direct support from their teachers, while GOA's team also collaborates with support staff at member schools to ensure students have the resources they need to succeed. Our communication plan ensures that all support team members have a clear understanding of how students are doing in their GOA course, and what next steps need to be taken.

Students who receive learning accommodations at their home school may also receive them in their GOA course. Students may contact us to share their accommodation documents through the Account tab in the GOA student portal. We will work to adapt these for the online learning environment and are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified students.

Before you enroll, keep in mind that GOA students are expected to complete all assignments on time and join regular discussions and meetings with their teacher and classmates that are scheduled by the student. How you show up, participate, and complete your work will be factored into your final grade. Generally, success in GOA courses requires an average 5-7 hours of attention each week. If you aren't sure that you can make this commitment at this time, talk to your Site Director and/or parent/guardian to help you decide whether now is the right time to take the course or if it would be better to wait until you can fully join in. If something unexpected comes up during a course, be sure to communicate with your GOA teacher right away so they can help you make a plan to stay engaged. Click here for information about missing days during our summer term.

Colleges and universities view GOA courses as an excellent way for students to demonstrate their interest and add depth to their understanding. Colleges view students who take GOA courses as intellectually curious, driven, and engaged learners. Students learning with GOA are excited to share their voice on a global stage, and pursue topics that will fuel their passion and help prepare them for success in higher education. Read what Stanford University’s Dean of Admissions has to say about GOA.

Yes, GOA courses appear on transcripts and students are encouraged to include their experience with GOA in essays and supplemental materials. Learning Pathway and Global Learning certificates can be shared with universities as an additional artifact.

While many educators take professional learning courses as an individual, relationships and collaboration are hallmarks of our online learning experience. Small and large faculty groups often register for GOA courses at the same time and work on material together in on-campus cohorts. Our in-person, online, and hybrid workshop and partnership opportunities are intended for school teams, ranging from half- and full-day workshops to year-long collaborations. 

We do offer participation certificates, including the number of hours, after you complete the course. Some educators are able to turn this certificate into their schools as proof of completion and/or clock hours/CEUs through OSPI in Washington state, depending on their school. Please email hello@globalonlineacademy.org with questions or a certificate request that includes your email address, class name, and the date of the course. We do not offer college credit for Professional Learning courses.

You will quickly receive an email with your Single Sign-On login information, which provides you access to your course in Canvas without any additional logins, and an invitation to join the course. It sometimes takes an hour or so for Canvas to sync after you’ve registered, so you may not see your course immediately. If you do not receive this email, have trouble logging in, or don’t see your course in Canvas after allowing time for it to sync, please email hello@globalonlineacademy.org. 

If you are registered for a Professional Learning course or program and cannot participate, you may cancel, or drop, the course or program at least two weeks prior to the start date in order to receive reimbursement. We are sometimes able to accommodate a switch to another course offering with at least two weeks notice. Please contact hello@globalonlineacademy.org for any drop requests.