Reimagining K-12 Education

A tuition-free online public school combines the structure of traditional schooling with the flexibility of online learning, allowing students to attend classes and complete coursework from home or on the road.  

Through Stride’s K12-powered online schools, students learn from state-certified teachers using award-winning curriculum backed by more than two decades of research. Students come together through interactive live classes, where they receive both group and one-to-one instruction and participate in hands-on activities that create a personalized and engaging educational experience.  

Flexibility is what sets online schooling apart. While online schools offer the structure of a traditional brick-and-mortar school, with state-certified teachers, award-winning curriculum, and collaborative classes, students have flexibility in how they structure their school day and can work at a personalized pace, spending extra time on challenging concepts before moving on. 

An online classroom can also provide a learning environment designed around a student’s individual needs. For some, it removes overwhelming environmental stimuli often found in traditional classrooms, and for others, it allows them to learn from teachers and alongside peers, whether at home, in a doctor’s office, or on the road.   

At Stride’s K12-powered online schools, students also have access to resources and services that support the whole student, with opportunities to build community, explore hobbies, prepare for a career, and even begin college courses — all online. 

Online public schools, including Stride’s K12-powered online schools, are tuition-free.  The state pays for the cost of the schools. 

State funding varies by state and is generally the same for both online and traditional public schools, with certain exemptions for specific brick-and-mortar funding lines such as transportation, food service, and building costs. Traditional schools also receive funding from property taxes and federal funding based on district of residence. 

The K12 online educational model allows 80% of program expenses to go directly to instructional costs. Program funds are allocated as follows: ~47% teacher expenses, ~17% curriculum and materials, ~15% instructional admin support, ~12% technology / laptops / connectivity, typically ~5% district oversight fee, and ~4% special education and testing. 

The compensation structure is set by the state in which the school operates, and rules vary from state to state. General state funding rules include average daily membership (ADM) and average daily attendance (ADA) — calculations that track enrollment and presence — count day snapshots, and course completion. 

In states where Stride’s K12-powered online schools operate, there are multiple levels of independent oversight to ensure that the online school is compensated only for the services it provides. For example: 

• Just like in traditional schools, K12-powered teachers document required information, such as attendance and grades.  
• This information is reported to the local school district, which reviews and validates it.  
• Often, an independent third party reviews and validates the information to ensure it is accurate before being submitted into the state system.  
• In some districts, the state conducts an additional review for accuracy.  
• As a publicly traded company, Stride is subject to even higher standards and more detailed reviews. Financial statements are audited annually by KPMG LLP, which tests samples of enrollment data and recalculates revenue according to a state’s funding definitions. 

If there are changes over the course of a school year, the amount of compensation received by an online school adjusts accordingly. This is based on the criteria defined by the state, such as the number of students attending a class or the number of students receiving a passing grade. 

• For example, if there are 100 students enrolled at the start of the school year, but 25 have excessive absences (or are truant), does the K12-powered online school still get paid for the 100? The answer is no.   
• What if the average daily attendance (ADA) changes over the course of the year? Assuming that these 100 students are in a state that calculates funding based on this metric, compensation is adjusted throughout the year based on actual attendance. 

By contrast, in certain online funding models, a portion of funding may also be contingent on measures such as course participation, completion, or academic progress. 

Just like traditional schools, online schools, such as Stride’s K12-powered online schools are strictly regulated by federal, state, and school district agencies. 

K12-powered teachers are state-certified, participate in ongoing professional development, and receive specialized training on how to capture the attention of students in an online environment. Many have spent years — even decades — teaching in traditional classrooms, yet they choose to teach online because the digital learning environment offers unique opportunities to create engaging, innovative, and meaningful learning experiences for their students. 

At Stride’s K12-powered online schools, teachers interact with students through live virtual classes, small-group and one-to-one support, and consistent feedback.  

There is also an open line of communication with teachers, which is not always an option in traditional school settings. Parents can use this direct communication for various purposes, such as requesting more specific feedback and collaborating with teachers to ensure their child receives an education that best suits their needs. 

The quality of the education at Stride’s K12-powered online schools is validated through a combination of state accountability ratings, measurable student outcomes, parent satisfaction surveys, and independent accreditation.  

K12-powered online schools are collectively accredited under Stride’s institutional accreditation from Cognia, a globally recognized nonprofit organization that accredits schools and education systems. A Cognia accreditation signifies that a school meets or exceeds rigorous standards of educational quality and effectiveness. This standard is one way K12 can reassure families and state partners that its schools meet high expectations for teaching, learning, and continuous improvement. 

Just like traditional schools, Stride’s K12-powered online schools follow state mandates for student-to-teacher ratios, which differ between grade levels and subjects. 

Chronic absenteeism and truancy are longstanding challenges for all schools — whether traditional or online. 

There are multiple factors contributing to chronic absenteeism and truancy, many of which are outside educators’ control — including health concerns, family emergencies, and other challenging circumstances, such as housing insecurity .  

Traditional schools can heighten the risk of student absenteeism due to geographic or scheduling barriers, in-school bullying, or an unsafe or unwelcoming physical school environment. 

K12 believes online schools can help address chronic absenteeism and truancy through an approach that fights disengagement early and provides students with more flexible and personalized ways to participate, using real-time data to identify students who are falling behind and creating stronger connections between teachers, peers, and school communities.  

Stride’s K12-powered online schools prioritize socialization and create meaningful opportunities for connection and friendship. Virtual campuses like the K12 Zone provide a safe platform for students to chat, play games, read, and attend events like virtual Homecoming. Students may also participate in national competitions, clubs, local meetups, and virtual field trips, helping students make friends and experience school spirit.    

If families relocate to another school district, both traditional and online schools permit the student to transfer within the framework of state open-enrollment laws. 

K12 does not, and cannot, transfer students to another district unless a family requests a transfer into a different school, and it is approved by the district. Under the extenuating circumstance of a school closure, families are offered a seat at a different school, and they choose whether to enroll or not.