Learning Liftoff

What did you dream of being when you were a child? An astronaut zooming through the galaxy, or maybe a baseball player smashing a grand slam? These are the kinds of futures I often hear my seven-year-old son dream up. However, as children grow up, these early career aspirations start to evolve. Children become more self-aware, learning about their strengths and interests in school and beyond. That’s why it’s important to have conversations about potential career paths with our children, even

When you are part of a military family, change is guaranteed. You’ll move to a new city, a new state, and sometimes, a new country. You’ll eat at unfamiliar restaurants and wander the aisles of grocery stores trying to find your usual essentials. Big changes can disrupt your family’s everyday routine, but they don’t have to disrupt your child’s learning. Thousands of military families opt for online learning through schools—like those powered by K12—for the consistency it provides their child

Donesha and Willie wanted the best education for their four children—but as a military family that relocates often, finding consistency was a challenge. Once they discovered online learning, they never looked back. Their story highlights the benefits of a school that’s adaptable to every child’s learning needs, no matter where they’re located. Support for Families on the Move Online learning means Donesha and Willie don’t need to research new school districts every time they move.

Across the country, growing numbers of families are exploring educational options – including online school – that better fit their lifestyles, values, and goals. This shift isn’t about leaving public education behind—it’s about finding what works best for your child. These days, safety, flexibility, and personalization are top of mind for parents. In fact, a recent survey from National School Choice Week found that more than 40% of parents considered switching their child’s schoo

More and more families are finding that school can look different—and still be meaningful. For 6th grader Connor and his parents, Heather and Matt, online school was a much better fit. Connor needed more movement, more encouragement, and more time to learn in ways that worked for him. Their story offers a glimpse into what learning can look like when families have the flexibility to build school around their child’s needs—not the other way around. Morning: A Calm Start to the Day C

School makes up a huge part of your child’s life, so it’s important to ask yourself: Is my child happy, thriving, and feeling safe at school? If you’re unsure of your answer—know that you’re not alone. Many parents across the nation are recognizing that their child’s school just isn’t cutting it. And as midyear enrollment approaches, now is the perfect time to find the school that works best for them. How can I find the right school for my child? Learning is not one-size-fits-all, and s

Since the pandemic, many students have faced learning disruptions, and studies show that learning loss remains a genuine concern. If your child has struggled with academic progress, you’re not alone. As educators and families seek solutions, one approach that’s gaining momentum is high-dosage tutoring. What Is High-Dosage Tutoring High-dosage tutoring provides frequent, personalized instruction, typically three or more times per week, in small groups or one-to-one settings. Your child has

Every family has its own rhythm. Some kids love to move, others need quiet time to focus. Some families travel frequently, while others are building new routines at home. That’s why learning should be flexible, supportive and built around real life. K12-powered schools partner with families to create a learning experience that fits your child’s needs, your routines, and your goals as a family. Here are a few real stories from parents and students who’ve found their stride with a K12-powere

As a parent, you know your child best. You see how they learn, what lights them up, and what they need to succeed—not just in school, but in life. And sometimes, the traditional school day just doesn’t match the rhythm of your family’s world. Long bus rides, crowded classrooms, and rigid schedules can leave kids (and parents) feeling stressed and stretched thin. Online learning offers a different path. It’s learning that’s flexible, personalized, and designed to support your student’s academi

Summer is the perfect opportunity to help your child develop a love for reading. With fewer academic demands and more free time, you can create fun and meaningful ways to explore books together. Encouraging summer reading helps prevent learning loss, inspires creativity, and strengthens essential literacy skills that will support your child throughout the year.  Here are 11 easy, enriching activities you can try at home to make reading something your child looks forward to this summer.

Think back to your days in school—what are some of your fondest memories? Chances are, many of them involve the friends you made and the experiences you shared together. Not only did you have fun and create lasting memories with your peers, but you also grew as an individual all while boosting your mental health and building your confidence, emotional intelligence, and problem-solving skills. In other words, socialization and shared experiences in school were important for your personal growth a

For decades, robotics has captured the curiosity of young minds. Watching a robot come to life that you’ve helped build and controlling each movement is fascinating, and in an ever-advancing field like robotics, your child’s imagination can unlock endless possibilities! This subject, which falls within the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), is one of the many STEM disciplines that has had a surge in career opportunities, and we should expect the job m

Every day, we take in an endless array of images, and each photo tells a story—some more complex than others. So, when you look at a photo, you may feel a certain emotion, interpret a message, or fill in the backstory of a scene—all of which represent creative communication between the photographer and the viewer. Starting a hobby like photography will foster your creativity and help you build artistic, technical, and communicative skills that you may not get from traditional courses such as

When you apply for college, admissions officers look at your accomplishments as a student—your grades, GPA, standardized test scores, and class rank. But did you know they also look at what you do outside of academics? Extracurricular activities, or your pursuits in addition to your schoolwork, are also weighed during the admissions process. How you spend your time outside of the classroom can demonstrate your leadership abilities, teamwork skills, dedication, responsibility, and initiative, giv

Gifted and talented or advanced students are an exceptional group of students who possess extraordinary abilities or potential in one or more areas. These students require educational programs that are tailored to their unique needs and abilities. This article will explore some common characteristics of gifted and talented education (GATE) or advanced students. High Intellectual Ability One of the most common characteristics of GATE or advanced students is high intellectual ability. These studen

Your child has their own set of skills, needs, and aspirations, and thanks to the availability of tuition-free alternatives, such as K12-powered online schools, more families are finding learning environments that truly cater to these unique qualities. Online school is becoming an increasingly popular option—an exciting trend that highlights the growing demand for personalized, accessible school options. In fact, for the 2024-25 school year, K12 has experienced their highest level of enrollment,

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a buzzword; its impact on education is growing rapidly. From intelligent tutoring systems to real-time feedback tools, AI is helping to transform the way students learn and how educators teach. But what does AI really mean for today’s schools? What is AI in schools? A Winter 2024 survey by Rand Corp. found that 59% of U.S. schools have trained some or all of their teachers on using AI. K12-powered schools have also recognized the potential of

Plan for Success! We’ve redesigned our daily and monthly planners to help you and your student create a plan for success. Planning helps children feel more confident and secure because their activities are predictable and familiar. It also helps them build time management skills and gives them a sense of control over their future. Structured schedules and consistent routines also help parents feel more organized and less stressed. Our daily and monthly planners can help you keep track of a

When my son was in preschool, I’d often overhear parents discussing their plans for the next school year while waiting in the pickup line. Some considered local public and private schools, but many were exploring online school or homeschool—choices that have been around for ages and are steadily gaining popularity. Teaching children at home was the norm for centuries, and public schooling, which began around the 19th century, is a more recent development. Today, while most children attend tra

As a parent, you hope your child comes home from school with a beaming smile, eagerly recounting their day. But this can be far from reality when your child struggles in school. Identifying your child’s struggles early on enables you to take proactive measures that support their academic achievement and help build resilience, confidence, and a sense of accomplishment. Understanding the Causes of a Child Struggling in School The first step is to identify what is going on with your child—ta