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Tech Requirements

What you’ll need at home.

A working device, reliable internet, and a quiet corner. That’s the short version. The full list is below — and our tech support is one phone call away.

Simple, Not Fussy

Most families already have what they need.

VCA Virtual is built to run on the kind of computer most American homes already own. We don’t require special software, expensive subscriptions, or a dedicated “learning device.”

The Requirements

Four essentials.

Hardware, connection, browser, software. The bare minimum is enough; better than minimum is better.

A Computer Per Student

  • Required: One device per student — not shared
  • Don’t have one? If your family doesn’t have a working computer, VCA Virtual will supply one. Just tell us during enrollment.
  • Preferred: Laptop or Chromebook (less than 5 years old)
  • Acceptable: Desktop with webcam, microphone, speakers
  • Tablets: not recommended at any grade level — a real laptop or Chromebook is required
  • Webcam and microphone are required for live classes

Reliable Home Internet

  • Minimum: 25 Mbps download / 5 Mbps upload
  • Recommended: 50+ Mbps for households with multiple users
  • Wired ethernet preferred over Wi-Fi for live classes
  • Mobile hotspots work for backup but not as primary
  • Test your speed at fast.com

A Modern Browser

  • Recommended: Google Chrome (latest version)
  • Also supported: Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox
  • Safari works for most things but not all platforms
  • Pop-ups and JavaScript must be enabled for the school portal
  • Internet Explorer is not supported

Free Software, Provided

  • Zoom for live classes (free download)
  • Canvas learning portal (no install required)
  • Google Workspace for documents and email
  • Course-specific tools assigned by pathway
  • Every login is provided in your welcome packet
Receiving a School-Issued Chromebook?

Sign the Technology Loan Agreement.

VCA Virtual provides Chromebooks to families who need one for the program. Appendix F is a short, plainspoken agreement covering care and return. We aim to keep it simple and fair.

Sign the Agreement

Read the full Agreement (PDF) before signing.

A Word on Workspace

A quiet corner. Not a finished classroom.

The single biggest predictor of success in a virtual school is not the device — it’s the workspace. Three things help.

I

A Dedicated Spot

Same chair, same table, same direction every day. The brain learns the rhythm of the place.

II

Out of Bed

Bed is for sleep. Couch is for rest. Even a kitchen table works — the body posture matters.

III

Off-Camera Quiet

The student should be able to hear the teacher and not be heard by the household. Headphones help; a closed door helps more.

Who To Call — In Order

Start with the platform.

Most tech questions are platform-specific. Calling the right line first gets you fixed fastest. Here’s the hierarchy.

Step 1 · Canvas / Great Hearts

Great Hearts Online Tech Support

Canvas login problems, password resets, Error 403, and account access for the Great Hearts (classical) pathway. The first call for any Canvas-related issue.

855-855-6546 Press 3 for the national program, then 1. Leave a detailed voicemail if no one picks up.
Step 1 · Wisconsin Virtual School

WVS Help Desk

Buzz and Genius platform issues, WVS course login problems, and any platform-specific support for scholars on the WVS pathway.

715-453-1953 wvshelpdesk@cesa9.org
Step 2 · VCA Virtual Administrator

Monique — Virtual Administrator

If your platform-specific support didn’t resolve the issue within an hour, contact Monique. Also the right call for Spark / GHO Ignite (non-classical) platform issues, missing courses, pacing concerns, schedule visibility, and general virtual program help.

480-330-6736
Step 3 · Hardware & Devices

Sheena Driver — VCA IT Manager

Chromebook issues, VCA email login problems, device setup, and any hardware or technical access issue not resolved by platform support or Monique.

414-710-4320 VCA campus and Virtual IT — the friendly voice behind the help line.
Great Hearts (Canvas) Help

Quick answers to common Canvas questions.

For VCA Virtual scholars on the classical pathway. Bookmark this page — the most common login and access issues are solved by the steps below.

Quick Tips Before You Call

Pupil Login on Canvas

  1. Use Google Chrome. Other browsers often fail.
  2. Go to the Canvas login page.
  3. Enter your scholar’s name, username, and temporary password.
Watch Login Video Login PDF

Common Login Issues

Most issues resolve with these three steps:

  • Use Google Chrome.
  • Restart the device fully.
  • Carefully re-enter the username and temporary password.
Error 403 Troubleshooting

Resetting Canvas Password

  1. Visit Google Workspace: Forgot Password.
  2. Follow the step-by-step instructions to reset.
  3. If reset doesn’t work, call Great Hearts National Tech Support at 855-855-6546.

Starting with the password reset resolves most login problems and gets your scholar back to coursework quickly.

Parent Observer Access

Parents must monitor scholar progress through a dedicated Observer account — read-only access to assignments, announcements, due dates, and grades.

  • Watch for an invite email from notifications@instructure.com.
  • Observer access is view-only and cannot submit assignments.
Observer Setup Guide Live Zoom Support

Live Zoom support runs Monday mornings — join anytime for help with Observer access and Canvas setup.

Still stuck after the steps above?

Call Great Hearts Online support at 855-855-6546 — press 3 for the national program, then 1. Leave a detailed voicemail if no one picks up.

If no response within 1 hour, contact our Virtual Administrator Monique at 480-330-6736.

Sheena Driver, IT Manager at Victory Christian Academy
Meet Your IT Manager

Sheena Driver. The face behind the help line.

IT Manager · Victory Christian Academy

If something breaks at 7:30 in the morning, Sheena is the person picking up the phone. She runs IT for VCA — campus and Virtual — and her standard answer to “is this going to work?” is “let’s figure it out.”

Most hardware and device issues are resolved in under fifteen minutes. The big ones get a callback within the hour. We don’t outsource the help line and we don’t hide behind a ticket portal — you’ll talk to a real person who knows your scholar’s name.

414-710-4320 admissions@vcaschool.org
✝︎
“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.”
Ecclesiastes 9:10 · KJV
Need to Talk Tech?

Our Virtual Administrator is one call away.

If you’re unsure whether your current setup will work, send us a quick note — we’ll tell you honestly whether you’re ready or what you need to add.

Ask About Tech Setup Apply for 2026–27