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Ana: We wanted something to challenge Micah and Sarai more. I worked at a school-based health center—which gave me an inside look at how schools operate. It was easy to see how children could get lost in the system, and we wanted each of our children to get enough attention academically.
Meet Micah and Sarai
Micah is energetic; his sister, Sarai, is a natural leader. Together, they strike the right balance between school time, study time, and time for their favorite outdoor activities, while parents, Ana and Steven, arrange each school day in a way that works best for them.
Why This Family Chose K12
Life doesn’t always fit neatly into a mold. As entrepreneurs and parents of two gifted and talented children, Ana and Steven understand this all too well. They came to K12 for a school option that flexes with their family and lets them lead the journey.
Regain family flexibility
When a family emergency required out-of-state travel, Ana and Steven were able to take care of their family while ensuring the kids didn’t miss any classwork.
Achieve work–life balance
Outside of live classes, the family is free to choose their schedule based on each child’s energy levels and what busy entrepreneurial parents have going on.
Discover academics that raise the bar
Ana and Steven like having insight into what their children learn and how it’s taught. The personalized approach works for them.
Flexible Schedule With Live Class Anchors
Schoolwork for Micah and Sarai is a mix of scheduled, live online classes and self-guided offline assignments they can complete at their own pace. Their parents also plan educational activities, such as nature hikes, where they can discuss what they’re learning in class.
A benefit of schools powered by K12 is that the required educational materials are provided, such as a computer, textbooks, supplies for offline activities, and more!
Curriculum
The number of classes students take varies per grade level and individual. For example, elementary students like Micah and Sarai typically take 4–6 subjects each semester, with maybe 2–4 of those requiring scheduled, live classes.
In addition to core academic subjects, there’s a great selection of electives, including art and music, as well as skills labs for extra math and reading practice
The Parent Experience as a Learning Coach
At K12-powered schools, parents (or other responsible adults) act as Learning Coaches for their students. Learning Coaches typically spend 4 to 6 hours a day with elementary students like Micah and Sarai. Ana and Steven take turns depending on the day. They can each help a child for the day, both help at once, or switch between children for certain lessons or topics.
Students Get to Be Themselves
Sarai is the oldest and boldest—a natural entertainer who incorporates joy, laughter, and dance into everything she does. Blessed with a big personality, Sarai can focus and work independently with online school, without dimming her light.
She gets to explore her curiosity and take leadership roles that build upon her natural strengths. Ana can help redirect her focus if needed to support her and keep her schoolwork on track.
Break Time
Have you ever met a first grader who likes sitting in a seat all day? Like his peers, Micah has lots of energy—and with online school, he can move around as needed and still finish his work. If he needs a break, he takes it. When he has a question, he asks it.
When Micah is super active, it reminds his parents how lucky they are. Micah suffered a birth injury, and doctors said he wouldn’t be able to play sports or do half the things he does now. They’re so proud of all he accomplishes—physically and academically. Online school helps Micah show everyone what a brilliant child he is.
Time away from the computer looks like …
Learn as a Family
Ana plans outdoor activities like family hikes and trips to the trampoline park, where the kids jump, hop, flip, and expend extra energy—all part of a balanced life. A lot of learning occurs beyond the classroom, like on family hikes where Micah and Sarai get to exercise, explore, and ask questions about what they learned in science class.
Family Q&A
Ana: Every day is different, and we can schedule in a way that works best for us. Our anchors are live classes with scheduled times, and we work the rest of the day around them. For example, both kids have classes in the morning, so we don’t schedule anything outside of the house for that time.
Ana: We get regular check-ins from the support team at the school, asking how things are going and whether we need anything. Technical support checks in, too, which we don’t usually need help with, but it’s nice they ask. It seems like somebody is always on top of things and ready to keep us updated.
Ana: The best advice I could give is don’t underestimate the power you have to teach your children. Just because you may not be a certified teacher doesn’t mean you can’t help them in this kind of role. You know your child better than anybody, plus schools powered by K12 have great people and resources to help you along the way.
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Learning With K12
From kindergarten to high school, K12 provides tuition-free online education that empowers students to learn in ways that work for them. Browse options in your state to find the perfect fit for your family.
These are the stories of real students attending K12-powered schools and their families. Content is a combination of direct quotes and summaries from interviews. Their stories each reflect their experiences at their respective schools. Actual experiences can vary by student and school. These pages are designed to reflect a typical day in the life of a student attending an online K12-powered school. Individual class schedules and requirements will vary by state, school, and the individual needs of each student. Course materials vary, and certain schools may not provide computers or may have specific requirements for providing equipment.