Online curriculum developed by science and 20 years of experience
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How does K12 develop its curriculum?
We’re glad you asked! We’re proud of our curriculum and have more than two decades of experience creating it.
An experienced team creates our curriculum based on the science of how students learn, fueled by innovative technology to make learning interactive and engaging.
Curriculum specialists and lesson developers plan each course to make sure the content is tailored to the age and skills of the student and covers the relevant learning standards.
Instructional designers build the activities, working with visual designers, information specialists, and media specialists to choose the best way to present concepts and information.
Writers and editors make sure the content is accurate, engaging, and appropriate.
Assessment specialists ensure that assessment items are free of bias and written to the correct level of difficulty against a standards target.
User experience designers analyze how people will use the online content and ensure that new content follows mobile-first development practices and responsive design.
Software developers design and build the systems that make the curriculum and the online school platform run efficiently and effectively.
Quality assurance specialists make sure everything works properly.
We also incorporate feedback from parents and students through surveys, focus groups, lesson reviews, round-table discussions, and product testing.
How does the curriculum differ between grades?
Elementary and Middle School Curriculum
The K–8 curriculum includes core courses that focus on developing fundamental skills and teaching the key knowledge building blocks or schemas that each student needs to master the major subject areas, meet state standards, and complete more advanced coursework. The curriculum includes informal or formal assessments built into nearly every lesson to ensure mastery and provide for remediation or enrichment where necessary. We also offer enriching learning options for advanced and gifted K–8 students at select schools.
High School Curriculum
As students move through middle school and into high school, their work becomes increasingly independent. High school courses are designed for students targeting a four-year university, a local community college, or an immediate career. Many high school courses are offered at two levels: on-level and honors.
In both on-level and honors high school courses, students:
- Learn grade-level content
- Complete coursework that might require writing or research projects
- Tackle problems that require analytical thinking
In honors courses, students also:
- Evaluate and synthesize information
- Demonstrate more advanced writing skills
- Participate in honors projects
At select K12-powered schools, high school students can participate in advanced learning opportunities such as Advanced Placement® courses, independent study, and more.
A Platform Built for Personalized Learning
The K12 experience is designed to deliver engaging classes, support students, and keep things organized for parents. You can find school—schedules, lessons, grades—all in one spot. Students attend virtual classes, complete skills labs, access help tools, work in small groups with classmates, ask their state-certified teachers questions, and so much more in the online platform.
Grades K–5 Online School Tour
Grades 6–12 Online School Tour
How does the curriculum address different learning styles?
Across all grades, we use a blend of learning elements to accommodate multiple learning styles and maximize both the quality of lessons and how they are delivered. We establish learning objectives and thoroughly develop instructional online experiences with animations, interactive games, video, and text. In K–5, we also carefully integrate the online experience with plenty of hands-on materials activities.*