Academic and Curriculum FAQs
What are K12's education standards?
The K12 team has developed a comprehensive program that is designed to deliver an outstanding education in an engaging, interactive way. Our goal is to provide children with a personalized learning experience based on quality curriculum taught by passionate, state-certified teachers, allowing students to reach their full potential—at their own pace, and in their own place.
What subjects will my child study?
Language arts, math, science, and history are the core courses. Music and art are offered in appropriate grade levels, and high school students have access to a robust portfolio of elective courses. We also offer world languages for grades 3–12, early learning programs for preschoolers, credit recovery, AP® courses, STEM courses, and more. Visit our K–8 online courses and high school online courses sections for full lists of all K12 courses. Course offerings differ by school and grade level. Check with your school to see which courses and programs are available.
Is the K12 program accredited?
K12 is a Cognia-accredited corporation, meeting the highest standards of educational management. Cognia is a global nonprofit dedicated to advancing excellence in education worldwide through accreditation, research, and professional services. Cognia-accredited organizations share a unified, clear, and powerful accreditation process designed to help schools continuously improve.
Additionally, many K12 schools are accredited by a wide variety of respected accreditation bodies, including:
Will K12-powered schools work for children with special needs? What about advanced learners?
Yes. K12 offers personalized learning opportunities for students of all abilities, providing tools that allow them to work at their own pace. K12-powered learning works for children who need extra time to master a subject as well as those who learn quickly. Advanced Learning Programs (ALPs) are available for eligible K–8 graders at many K12-powered schools, while high schoolers can take advantage of honors and Advance Placement® (AP®) courses where available. Depending on a child's IEP, their school can tailor our curriculum to meet their needs. To discuss your child's particular needs and goals, please contact your school.
How does the K12 program teach reading?
K12 has developed a proprietary PhonicsWorks reading program designed to help young students take those important first steps toward becoming a skilled reader. PhonicsWorks provides easy-to-follow online lessons, and supplemental materials, including a training video, a magnetized letter-tile kit, and illustrated books. PhonicsWorks is designed to help your child recognize the relationship between letters and sounds; blend sounds represented by letters into words; read and spell longer, unfamiliar words by breaking them into syllables; and read sight words
Will I receive records of course completion or a transcript?
Students and Learning Coaches have 24/7 access to student progress reports, which can be easily downloaded as Excel files. Semester reports are also available for download. In addition, Learning Coaches have access to a read-only version of the teacher's grade book; the final grade is not visible until course completion and final grades are posted. Transcripts can be requested through your teacher or school administration.
Does my child have to participate in state standardized testing?
In addition to K12 lesson assessments and unit tests, students in K12-powered online public schools must participate in state standardized testing, just as students in brick-and-mortar public schools in the state must do. Testing and dates vary by state and school.
Do K12 online high school students receive a diploma?
All students graduating from a K12-powered online public or private high school receive a state-issued diploma that is recognized by colleges and universities worldwide.
Can my child go on to college after graduating from a K12-powered online school?
Yes, absolutely, if that's what he or she wishes to do. K12-powered students have gone on to attend such postsecondary institutions as Princeton, Stanford, Duke, Northwestern, Juilliard, the U.S. Air Force Academy, and many more. We also offer courses and workshops for students who are interested in getting started on a career straight out of high school.
