Mid-Year Enrollment: How to Enroll in Online School in the Middle of the School Year
Find a K12-powered online public school near you.
Let's get back to learning!
Considering a change in schools? It's not too late to get back to learning! If you’re considering enrolling your child in a K12-powered school, but wondering how to manage a change mid-year, we're here to help. Let the resources below guide you through the transition.
Discover Your Options
Families have chosen K12-powered schools as their trusted education provider for lots of different reasons over the past two decades. Here are some of the benefits families can expect, and reasons why online school can be a powerful choice:
Quality Curriculum
Created with the needs of children in mind, K12's curriculum was designed to be online.
State-Certified Teachers
K12-powered teachers are trained in virtual instruction and choose to teach that way.
Online Education
During COVID-19 concerns, public school at home provides comfort and safety.
Tuition-Free* Public School
Options for K12-powered public schools are available in most states.
Personalized Learning
Students can work through their daily lessons at their own pace.
20+ Years of Experience
We put over two decades of online learning experience behind every K12-powered school.
Ready to learn more?
Watch to discover more about the transition to a K12-powered school and what your family can expect.
What You Need to Know—FAQs
Making the decision to change schools is a big step. So we want to provide you with as much information as we can to help you feel certain about your choice and excited for a new opportunity. Here you'll find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.
Before You Enroll
Why should I choose a Stride K12-powered school?
For over 20 years, Stride K12 has been providing the tools and resources that empower students to embrace personalized learning and discover their potential. Our curriculum was designed to be online and is taught by teachers trained in virtual instruction. We offer choices to fit your family's needs, including tuition-free* public schools, private schools, and homeschool curriculum for purchase so that you can find what works for your family. To hear what other families have to say about their decision to enroll in a Stride K12-powered school, check out these success stories.
How much time should we expect to spend on schoolwork during the day?
Students are able to work through material at their own pace, so the amount of time required to get through each day's lessons can vary. In the elementary grades, students generally spend 4–7 hours a day on school five days per week. In middle school, students are expected to spend 5–7 hours on schoolwork each school day. High school students average about six hours per course per week, so that a typical course load of six courses per semester would require about 36 hours of work per week. Students that transfer to a Stride K12-powered school mid-semester may need to spend some additional time at first to assess their progress or catch up on any material they may not yet have covered. Watch to learn more details about the time commitment of online schooling.
How often will my child have required synchronous online classes?
The frequency of online classes, and whether or not attendance is required in real-time, will depend on your school's policies, requirements of particular courses, and can even depend on the needs of your student. Check with your school for specifics on what to expect post-approval.
How much time should I expect to spend supporting my student?
As a parent, you (or another responsible adult) serve as your child's Learning Coach. You'll work with your child's teacher to help record student attendance, monitor mastery of online lessons and assessments, and in some grades, review student work. Younger students need more support, and you can expect to spend 4–6 hours a day assisting your elementary student. For middle and high school, you can expect to spend 1–3 hours overseeing your student each day.
Can I really do this while working full-time?
As working parents already know, life with kids can get hectic. Adding the role of Learning Coach to your day can be challenging—but it can be done. What's more, you have a large community of support ready to help you succeed. From specially designed programming to lesson guides, encouragement from other Learning Coaches, and social media groups, you'll have lots of help along the way. Take a look at some of the support you'll find here.
Will my student's current credits and classes transfer?
Your school counselor will work with you and your teachers to assess your student's current progress, determine which credits can be accepted, and where your student may need extra support to earn credit for any courses in progress. For specific concerns, contact your school.
Will my student be behind by switching schools mid-year?
While there's usually some overlap or gaps in the topics a student has covered when transferring schools mid-semester, it doesn't necessarily mean your student will be behind in their courses. Your school and teachers will determine the best course of action for bringing your student into alignment with the rest of their class. Plan for some extra time as a learning curve or for make-up work. Also, know that your teachers will help ensure your student gets the most out of each course while trying to keep any extra work manageable.
Ready to Enroll
Is it too late to enroll now?
You'll want to check the enrollment status for your preferred school. Some schools may close their enrollment due to student capacity limits, or they may only be able to accommodate mid-year enrollments during natural breaks in the school year—such as the start of a semester—or have specific available start dates determined in advance. Find out which schools are available in your area by using our school finder. Then, for more details relating to mid-year enrollment, check your school's website or call them directly.
When should I disenroll my student from their current school?
Most state laws have clear policies about education obligations and ensuring school-age children are actively receiving instruction. To avoid any issues concerning educational neglect, students should remain enrolled and active in their current school, or be registered as homeschooling, up until they've completed at least their first day with their K12-powered school.
How can I find out which school options are available in my state?
Check for schools available to you by entering your state or zip code into our school finder. This will show you public and private school options for your student.
What's the difference between tuition-free public school options, private school options, and homeschool curriculum?
Stride K12 supplies curriculum and support for several types of online and hybrid learning models. Tuition-free public school options, available in most states, operate like other public schools in their state and students must meet all requirements for attendance, eligibility and testing. Stride K12-powered private schools are available to students from all over the country and beyond. These tuition-based schools offer additional flexibility and different levels of support. Stride K12 is also a leading provider of homeschool curriculum for families who prefer to purchase courses and deliver instruction for their students through traditional homeschooling without the support of a school program, or for those who want to supplement their child's education with additional courses and resources.
How do I start the enrollment process?
In most cases you can complete enrollment in five simple steps. But the process may vary by state, so it's also a good idea to check with the school you're interested in for any additional steps and to find out when their enrollment is open. To get started, download the K12 app or visit our How to Enroll page.
What to Expect once You Enroll
When will I hear from my teacher?
You can expect to begin working with your teacher(s) on your student's first day of school. Some teachers are able to reach out via email prior to your student's first day, but often course placement and teacher assignments are in flux right up to the start date as more enrollments are finalized, so don't be concerned if you don't hear from a teacher before beginning your courses. Keep an eye on your email and check your junk mail or spam folder to make sure you don't miss a teacher's initial communication. When your first day of school arrives, log in and read any emails and announcements.
When will my student have access to classes?
All courses should appear in your student's account on their first day of school unless you've received information stating otherwise. Sometimes a counselor must review your student's transcript to help determine correct course placement for your student, so contact your school directly if you have any questions.
When will our materials arrive, and can my student start without them?
In addition to the online curriculum, Stride K12 provides materials that students need to complete their courses. You'll be notified when your materials ship through your K12 app or in your parent account. If we experience materials delays or supply chain issues due to events outside of our control, the teachers and school will work with you to determine what your student can work on or delay your student's start if necessary. The Online School can be accessed through any computer, so if shipping of a school-owned computer is delayed, please arrange for temporary computer access, if possible.
Can we attend an orientation session?
Most schools offer online orientation sessions or recordings for new students, which you should plan to attend on or prior to your first day of school. Also, your student will need to complete the Welcome to Online Learning introduction course in the Online School in order to unlock the rest of their curriculum.
Who should I contact when I have questions or need support?
If you have questions getting started, don't hesitate to call our enrollment consultants at 866.968.7512.
How do I set up our accounts?
Once your student is approved, you'll receive instructions on how to set up a Learning Coach account in the "OLS" and then how to create a separate, linked account for your student. You can also watch this quick tutorial to see exactly how it's done.
Are there ways to connect with other families?
Yes! We encourage you to draw support from our community. To start, visit our "What's Your Story" site where you can read real stories from Stride K12 students and families about how a Stride K12-powered education has made a difference in their lives. We also recommend the Behind the Scenes and Learning Coach Café Facebook groups. Some schools have a Learning Coach community built right in to the K12 app—check to see if your school is one of them! Also, many of our online public schools have Facebook pages set up to connect local families. Feel free to post any questions you may have. In addition, you may want to attend one of the many online or in person (when available) activities hosted by Stride K12 and our local schools every month. At these events you can meet current families and talk to teachers and representatives to get a feel for what the program is like day to day. See our events calendar to find out what's coming up in your area.
FAQ Webinars
Additional Resources
We're committed to providing you with all the tools you need to successfully transition to a Stride K12-powered school. See below for support resources, as well as suggestions for how to connect with the Stride K12 and local school communities.
