Frequently Asked Questions

GRAVA started in fall 2025. It is an online school for students and families in the Grand Rapids area. GRAVA offers flexible, high-quality online learning. It gives every student a fair chance to learn in the way that works best for them.

GRAVA is open to many kinds of students in grades K-12. This includes students who want to learn online full-time. It also includes students who need a flexible part-time schedule. Some students need extra help catching up on course credits. Some students must stay home because of a health need. GRAVA may not be the best choice for a student who needs an adult close by all day.

Students may use their own device, or GRAVA will provide a district iPad (K–12) and power cord at no cost to any student who needs one. Neither option costs your family anything, and you can switch at any time.

Device pickup is coordinated through the GRAVA office. After the school year begins, devices are available at the District Educational Service Center; Bigfork-area students may pick one up at the Bigfork School office.

Support depends on whose device it is. On a district iPad, the ISD 318 Technology Department handles setup, repair, and replacement. On a personal device, we help where we can, but hardware and operating-system problems are the family's responsibility — we do not service equipment we do not manage. Accounts, passwords, courseware, and grades are supported the same way on either device.

Course platform support (Edgenuity for 6–12, Buzz for K–5) comes from Imagine Learning: 877-202-0338 or support@imaginelearning.com, seven days a week. Families can also search the help centers at help.imagineedgenuity.com and help.imaginelearning.com.

District device and account support comes from the ISD 318 Technology Department Help Desk: grhelpdesk@isd318.org, Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

An online orientation is provided to all new students to help them become familiar with the platform.

Enrollment for current Grand Rapids Area Schools students is open at the beginning of the school year as well as during quarter and semester breaks. Open-enrolled students (students from districts other than Grand Rapids Area Schools) can enroll year-round, similar to in-person enrollment.

• To learn more, visit the GRAVA website or contact Principal Sean Martinson ~ smartinson@isd318.org ~ 218-259-3129.

Current Grand Rapids Area Schools students who are interested in enrolling should talk to their school counselor.

The online schedule will be created collaboratively between the student and the GRAVA principal.

• Elementary students are enrolled full-time online.
• Secondary students (grades 6-12) can attend fully online or in a hybrid model that combines online academics with an in-person elective. 
• Changing models between in-person and online learning should happen at semester breaks.
• Secondary students take six online courses. They also take a study hall, or one in-person class. Hybrid families must arrange rides to school for that class.

Yes. GRAVA courses are aligned with and fulfill all district graduation requirements. The credits and courses are equivalent to in-person classes and appear the same on a student’s official transcript. A full list of secondary course options can be found on the GRAVA website.

Licensed teachers help students learn through Imagine Edgenuity. Grand Rapids teachers will do more as GRAVA grows.

• School counselors help plan classes. They help with mental health, too. They also track progress toward graduation.
• District teams give extra help. This includes special education and English help.
• GRAVA principals check on students often. If a student struggles, the principal calls home.
• Students with an IEP get help from a Grand Rapids teacher. Online teachers help with special needs, too.
• Tutoring help is available every day of the week.

Because GRAVA is an online school, attendance isn't based on a bell schedule — it's based on documented engagement in your courses. A student is counted present for a school day when all three of the following happen:

1. Log in to the learning platform that day (Imagine Edgenuity for grades 6-12; Imagine Learning BUZZ for grades K-5).
2. Attend any required live (synchronous) session scheduled for that day — live classes, small groups, or teacher check-ins. Synchronous sessions are required, not optional.
3. Make meaningful progress on coursework and stay on pace with each course's weekly targets. Idle time — logged in but not actively working — does not count.

Beyond daily attendance, students are expected to stay on pace in every course each week, measured against each course's start and end dates.

Reporting an absence: Parents or guardians should contact GRAVA within 24 hours. Absences not cleared within 24 hours are marked unexcused. Excused reasons include student illness, serious family illness or a funeral, family emergencies, medical/dental/counseling appointments, religious observance, court appearances, and pre-arranged absences.

If attendance becomes a concern: GRAVA's first response is support, not consequence. Teachers, counselors, and the principal work with families to remove barriers — technology, scheduling, health, or learning needs. GRAVA follows Minnesota's compulsory-attendance and truancy laws (Minn. Stat. §§ 120A.22, 260A.02) and ISD 318 School Board Policy 503. A student who submits no assignments for 15 consecutive school days will be withdrawn in accordance with state law.

For complete details, see the GRAVA Student Handbook.

Submit your question HERE.