Common Questions from Parents
As a Cognia-accredited corporation, K12 meets the highest standards of educational management. Additionally, many individual K12-powered schools are accredited by a variety of respected accreditation bodies.
While online school provides greater flexibility for students and families to structure their daily schedule, online students still have expected school days that follow a traditional academic calendar to meet attendance requirements. Live Class Connect sessions with teachers help to provide a consistent school routine so students stay on track. Outside of their live class sessions, students can set up their lesson schedule to fit the ways they learn best. Learn more about how online school works.
Parents, or other responsible adults designated by a child's parent, fill a role we call the Learning Coach. This is an important role in facilitating the learning process and varies in time commitment based on each student's needs and grade level.
In grades K–5, the Learning Coach works with the teacher to help their child through the daily lessons, modifying the pace and schedule as needed. The Learning Coach manages the student's schedule and ensures that work is being completed at a reasonable pace, while teachers monitor progress, ensure mastery, and develop specific intervention plans when a child is struggling. As students progress to middle school, they develop more independence and are able to take on more responsibility in communicating with their teachers and following their daily lesson plans.
In high school, the Learning Coach role changes to one of oversight—still an important supportive role to help the student stay on task and ensure the student is following through on their assignments. During high school, though, students are expected to start managing their own time and academic schedule more directly.
Teachers at K12-powered schools are trained in virtual instruction and have access to best practices and updates to support their professional development. What's more, many K12-powered teachers have experience teaching in both online and brick-and-mortar classroom sessions but choose to teach online because of the opportunities it brings.
Although specific requirements for the number and frequency of Class Connect sessions varies by school, K12-powered teachers interact with students and their Learning Coaches, often on a daily or weekly basis. Teachers are available for student support through email, phone, and virtual instruction. Check with your school about Class Connect schedules and teachers' office hours.
K12's curriculum was developed by an experienced team of educators using proven instructional approaches to create an engaging, interactive learning environment. We deliver this curriculum through our online learning platform to all K12-powered schools.
The K12 curriculum does not include critical race theory. At the public schools and programs we support, the K12 curriculum aligns in content, scope, and sequence with state standards and other requirements set by state departments of education. Course offerings differ by school and grade level, but you can visit our K–8 online courses and high school online courses sections for full lists of all K12 courses.
K12-powered schools follow the same state-specific rules and guidelines pertaining to vaccinations as other public schools in their states. To inquire about your state's vaccination requirements, check with your State Health Department.
K12 provides options for home-based education, but not all of those options are the same as traditional homeschooling where parents choose curriculum and hold primary responsibility for instructing their children. K12 offers a wide array of homeschooling curriculum for purchase, but we also offer full-time, teacher supported education options, such as K12-powered, tuition-free public schools, which share the same requirements and benefits of brick-and-mortar public schools.
Costs vary depending on which option you choose. Our online public schools, available in many states, are tuition-free. We have a variety of private school options, each of which has its own fee structure. And you can also purchase courses directly for supplemental or independent homeschool use.
To enroll in a K12-powered public or private school, you'll need to have some basic computer equipment and a reliable internet connection. Some public school options are able to provide a school-owned computer for student use. Check with your school directly to learn if a loaner computer can be provided. For more specific information on computer requirements, take a look at our Technical FAQs section.
For K12-powered public school enrollment, you'll also need to meet the residency and enrollment requirements for your particular state. Required enrollment documentation varies by state, so check with your area school for specific details.
Documents submitted during the enrollment process are similar to those provided when enrolling in any public school. Enrollment documents are used to:
- Confirm the legal guardian is enrolling the student(s)
- Verify proper grade placement for the student(s)
- Ensure course and material orders are accurate to avoid any delays
- Comply with district, state, and federal requirements for public schools
The specific documents needed for enrollment varies between schools. Examples of required documents include:
- Proof of Legal Guardianship (if not established by proof of age/birth certificate)
- Proof of Age
- Homeschool Documentation (if student was homeschooled last year)
- Immunization
- Health/Vision Form
- Special Education Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and Evaluation Report
- Report Card
- Transcript
For a complete list of required documents, contact your school's enrollment office or begin the enrollment process in the parent portal.
Once the initial enrollment process is complete, approval can happen as quickly as 48 hours or up to two weeks from when the required document(s) are received and verified to be sufficient. You will then receive an email confirming your student(s) approval, the start date of school, and the next steps to prepare for the first day. There are some additional things to be aware of:
- Some schools may require a review of transcripts or report cards before approving high school students.
- We may need to determine if space is available for your student(s).
- If there are any issues due to legibility or a document does not meet the requirements we’ve outlined, an enrollment consultant will contact you.
- If additional documents are required to maintain an approved status, an enrollment consultant will contact you.
Enrollment deadlines vary by school. Generally, deadlines fall between late August through October for fall semester and late January through March for spring. Many schools also offer continuous or mid-year enrollment. Contact your school's enrollment office for specific dates.
When you enroll in a K12-powered public school program, the materials your student needs to complete each course are shipped directly to your home. Some of these materials, such as textbooks, need to be returned at the end of the year. K12 supplies pre-paid shipping labels as needed for families to return school supplies. Common household supplies, like computer ink and paper, are not provided.
Families enrolled in K12 private school options may receive materials as part of their tuition. Check with the school directly to enquire about course materials. When purchasing individual courses, all materials sent to you are yours to keep.
To purchase courses, visit the K12 Online Store. To see what enrollment options are available in your state, go to our SchoolFinder.
On average, virtual public schools receive 30 percent less funding than traditional public schools. The majority of costs in a high-quality public virtual school go directly to student instruction, with teacher salaries often being the highest expense category.
It’s also important to remember that not all virtual public schools are alike. There are differences between high-quality, full time, statewide virtual public schools, like K12-powered schools, and other programs that offer simple correspondence or supplemental courses. Scaled-down programs usually cost significantly less to run.
K12 Is Cognia Accredited
Enrolling in an accredited online school assures a consistent level of quality. As a Cognia-accredited corporation, K12 meets the highest standards of educational management. Additionally, many individual K12-powered schools are accredited by a variety of respected accreditation bodies.
State-Certified Teachers
K12-powered teachers are state-certified. They're specially trained in online instruction methods, meaning you can trust your child’s education to be delivered effectively and personalized to their needs.
