Connections Academy^®–supported schools are tuition–free online public schools for grades K–12 offered in certain states. This is a unique program that combines the strong parental involvement of homeschooling, professional expertise and accountability, and a flexible learning environment. Connections Academy provides the tools and support students need to learn in an online setting. Learn how to enroll.

Connections Academy serves students in grades K–12 in most states. Check your school’s home page to find out more.

Families choose Connections Academy® because they trust us to give their children a unique, personalized school experience where they can learn, grow, and make valuable and long-lasting connections.

Supported by Pearson, the world’s learning company, Connections Academy provides a complete, full-time education for children—one that includes all the core courses, electives, and social opportunities K‒12 students need. Our qualified and passionate teachers, who specialize in online learning, work directly with parents and students to set individual goals and ensure that students thrive. Connections Academy prepares children for a bright future—whether that includes college, technical training, or career readiness.

• First-Class Curriculum: Our program features curriculum developed by leading educational publishers. Connections Academy families receive a combination of textbooks*, online textbooks, workbooks, comprehensive lesson plans, and exciting enrichment courses.
• Exceptional Teaching: Connection Academy's licensed teachers provide weekly class live instruction for students to demonstrate their learning and master content standards. In addition, teachers are available for one-on-one support as needed or small group instruction for students who need extra support.
• State-of-the-Art Technology: Families have 24-hour access to our learning management system, where our curriculum and secure communication tools are embedded to protect your student. Depending on the school, families may receive a computer and subsidy for Internet access**.

* Availability of print textbooks varies by state and course.

** Availability of computer equipment and Internet access varies by state.

Although Connections Academy and homeschooling have some similar attributes, Connections Academy is not homeschooling. All Connections Academy schools are public school programs. Connections Academy schools provide a defined set of curriculum materials that have been specifically aligned to local standards and use certified teachers to evaluate student performance, including decisions concerning the child’s grade-level promotion. All Connections Academy students are required to take state standardized tests, and the schools are accountable to regulatory authorities for the students’ performance.

Yes. In many states, you can enroll after the start of the school year. Most schools have enrollment deadlines at some point during the year, however. Check your school’s enrollment page for more information, or call us for a consultation, particularly if you want to start late in the school year.

Our online public school program is tuition-free and includes all necessary books and curriculum. The only costs are the optional field trips, which are organized by your school’s community coordinators and staff, and the replenishment of some school supplies, such as printer cartridges.

No. All required books and instructional materials for courses are provided to students. Some texts are provided online, and other texts are in print form. 

Connections Academy provides core subjects, electives, and college and career readiness learning. The curriculum uses online lessons, instructional materials, teacher-led sessions, and independent assignments. Each public school's curriculum meets applicable state standards. Course choices and grade availability vary by school. Explore the Connections Academy curriculum.

Yes. All online public school students must complete the standardized tests that are required in their state or district. We also provide a test preparation program to develop the skills that students will need in order to perform well on many types of assessments. Your Connections Academy school will arrange testing locations throughout the state and will inform you in advance of where and when your child is scheduled to attend.

A typical day at Connections Academy includes a mix of live teacher-led instruction, independent lessons, assignments, assessments, and teacher communication. Unlike some self-paced online programs that rely mostly on recorded videos, Connections Academy students learn from real teachers who lead interactive LiveLesson® sessions throughout the week, answer questions, guide discussions, provide feedback, monitor progress, and offer additional support when students need it. These sessions may include digital whiteboards, polls, discussions, and breakout rooms for collaborative learning. 

Outside of live instruction, students complete independent work, projects, and assignments. Families can arrange this work and breaks around required school activities, with support from a Learning Coach—a parent, guardian, or trusted adult who supports the student at home. Younger students usually need more direct Learning Coach support, while older students often manage more of their schedules themselves. The exact schedule depends on the student’s grade, courses, required sessions, and school calendar. 

The result is a learning experience that offers both flexibility and connection, giving students opportunities to work independently while still having trusted educators to guide them along the way. 

Connections Academy personalizes learning by combining each student’s academic history, assessment data, course performance, interests, goals, and ongoing input from families to create a learning experience tailored to their individual needs. Teachers continuously review student work, benchmark and classroom assessment results, engagement data, and regular conversations with students and Learning Coaches to identify strengths, address learning gaps, and adjust support as needed.

Through personalized instruction, small-group and one-to-one support, targeted interventions, enrichment opportunities, and individualized goal setting, teachers help students progress at an appropriate pace while working toward grade-level expectations. Course placement, instructional supports, and advanced or specialized learning opportunities are determined based on each student’s academic readiness, grade level, state requirements, and the options available within their school.

Students have flexibility in how they arrange some independent lessons, but they must follow their school's calendar, course sequence, attendance rules, and assignment deadlines. Read about flexible online learning.

Visit the enrollment page to find your school and begin! We’ve made the enrollment process as simple as possible, but it does take some time to complete, so we recommend getting started before the semester begins.

Connections Academy’s Academic Placement Services team uses academic records to place students in courses that are the best fit for them.

Connections Academy is comfortable with a ratio of 4:1 (four children to one Learning Coach). An additional adult serving as Learning Coach is recommended for more than 4 students in a household. In the event that the additional adult is not a parent or legal guardian, a Designated Learning Coach Agreement must be completed by both the parent/legal guardian and Designated Learning Coach.

Find the Connections Academy school in your state, and check the enrollment page to find requirements for:

• Student age, including acceptable proof of age documents 
• Any geographical restrictions and acceptable proof of residency documents 
• Immunization requirements and acceptable documentation 
• Prior public schooling limitations  
• Any other supporting documentation

Students who are 18 or over must meet age eligibility requirements in their state. Students must also submit academic documentation of all courses attempted since entering the 9th grade. Academic documentation will be reviewed by a school counselor to determine the student's eligibility to complete the program requirements before meeting the age cap for enrollment. Students who cannot complete the program requirements before meeting the age cap for enrollment are not eligible to enroll.

Both emancipated minors and students 18 years and older are required to complete the Parent/Legal Guardian (Caretaker) Acknowledgement (PLCA) form and to provide all required enrollment documentation before the student can enroll. Emancipated minors must also submit court documentation for their emancipation. Please contact the Enrollment Team at 1-833-591-0251 for more information.

You will have access to Pearson Online Classroom, our education management system, at any time of the day including weekends and holiday breaks. This level of flexibility helps you to design a learning day that works best for your family.

Communication is the most important element in succeeding with online learning. If you or your student experience any problems along the way, contact us immediately. Many kinds of support are available for students and families, including enrollment help, computer/technical support, academic assistance, and school counselor support. We are ready and willing to assist you—give us a call. Communication is key throughout your entire experience with Connections Academy.

Because we serve students from multiple districts, rather than just one, our enrollment process can seem a bit more complicated. We’ve simplified it as much as possible and are here to support you every step of the way.

Connections Academy schools operate like any other public school. Therefore, our schools must comply with the same state regulations. Specific documents are required for all enrolling students.

During the enrollment process, submission of academic documentation such as a report card, unofficial transcript, schedule, or current progress report, helps to ensure that your student has an accurate and personalized course placement to start with Connections Academy.

As a parent/legal guardian, you may request copies of your student's most recent report card or unofficial transcript, IEP documentation, birth certificate, and immunization record from their file. Important Note: please DO NOT withdraw from your current school prior to completing the enrollment process at Connections Academy. In addition, you do not need to request a complete copy of your student’s cumulative file, since this information will be requested from the student’s previous school after the enrollment process is complete. 

That depends on you. The sooner you complete online enrollment forms and submit the required documents, the sooner your student will be enrolled. It typically takes two weeks or more to complete the entire enrollment process.

TIP: Log in to your caretaker homepage daily to review the student’s enrollment status and the verification of documents you submit.

Our process is streamlined to minimize any inconvenience to you while still meeting state regulations. Refer to the Enrollment Instructions document for some tips to help you keep the process moving.

After submitting your documents, you can navigate to the Submit Documents section located in the Enrollment Details. There you can see if your documents have been verified or are still waiting to be processed. The Enrollment Details will also show if your file was marked invalid and your document will be removed so that you can upload a new document. If you are unable to verify the status of your documents or have any questions, please call 1-833-591-0251 and contact the Enrollment Team using the document submission option in our phone system. We will check the system to see if the document was received. Please be prepared to provide us with the following information: student’s name, number of pages sent, the date sent, and if sent by fax, the fax number.

After you have confirmed your student's enrollment with Connections Academy, you should withdraw your child from your previous/local school immediately—preferably the same day. Delaying withdrawal could result in confusion, extra documentation, or cancellation of enrollment.

Do not withdraw your student before confirming your student’s enrollment, as this may result in additional documentation being required (e.g. report card). Delays in submitting these documents could result in delays starting school.

You can change your information by logging into Pearson Online Classroom. On your caretaker homepage, click on the "Change Contact Information" link. You can also notify the student’s teacher, who can submit the change for you.

To update a parent or student name, Connections Academy will need a copy of the legal name change documentation such as an amended birth certificate, marriage certificate, or court order. Please submit this documentation to the Enrollment Department. For other inquiries, you may reach out to your student's teacher, school counselor, or principal once they are enrolled.  

The school reviews the student's academic records to determine course placement and how prior high school work applies toward local graduation requirements. Credit acceptance depends on the school, state rules, the prior course, and available documentation. Start the Connections Academy enrollment process to learn which records are needed. 

The receiving school decides whether and how it accepts transfer credits. Families planning a transfer should request an official transcript from their Connections Academy school and ask the receiving school to review it. Find your school's contact page to request records. 

Every year, we ask Connections Academy families to rate our program. This year, once again, parents who completed online school reviews gave us high marks for helping students succeed academically and personally. See the results of the latest Parent Satisfaction Survey.

A Learning Coach is the parent, guardian, or another trusted adult who supports the student at home. The Learning Coach helps establish a daily routine, checks that assignments are completed, communicates with teachers, and keeps the student engaged. Teachers remain responsible for instruction, feedback, and academic decisions. The amount of daily Learning Coach support usually decreases as students become more independent. Compare the roles of an online teacher and Learning Coach and review additional information about the Learning Coach role. 

Yes. We understand one of the most important aspects of any education, whether completed in person or virtually, is creating a strong circle of support and connection. We offer plenty of opportunities for our students and families to connect, including regional field trips, special events, and connection events with other families in your area. Our internal email system allows you to communicate with other students or parents from Connections Academy schools.

Connections Academy uses school policies, staff training, regular teacher contact, internet safety education, and secure communication tools to support student safety. Parents and Learning Coaches supervise the student's home learning environment and can review course links.

• Connections Academy-provided computers include security settings and internet filtering software that can be activated by contacting Technical Support at 800-382-6010
• Students, parents, Learning Coaches, and school staff receive internet safety training
• Staff receive training on recognizing and responding to signs of student distress
• All schools have school counseling teams that can support students with academic, social/emotional, and college and career readiness needs—offering many of the same supports available in a traditional school setting
• Teachers maintain required contact with students so they can notice changes in participation or behavior
• School rules prohibit bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, hazing, and conduct that may harm students
• Course materials include summaries of web links so Learning Coaches can review them

Families using their own computer can ask Technical Support for help with security settings and filtering tools. Review Connections Academy technology support and check the local school handbook for safety policies.

Students sign in to Pearson Online Classroom to open their courses, view assignments, join scheduled instruction, and communicate with teachers. The platform is available at any time of day, including weekends and school breaks, although teachers may respond only during working hours and students must still follow the school calendar. Review Connections Academy technology support. 

To use Pearson Online Classroom, students must have a dependable internet connection and a computer that meets the platform’s current technical standards. View the full technology requirements for details on compatible operating systems and browsers, security settings, and any additional equipment. 
 
Technology resources vary by school. Some schools may provide a computer, while families at other schools may need to use their own device, internet service, and printer. Your local school can share more information about the technology and support available. 

Students spend much of the school day attending live instruction and completing schoolwork online. Younger students spend more time in live instruction with their teachers, while upper grades spend more time independently working through the virtual curriculum. 

Students and Learning Coaches do not need advanced computer skills to attend Connections Academy. Through our Learning Coach Success series, parents can attend a variety of sessions on subjects about anything from becoming acquainted with technology, to where to find resources in Pearson Online Classroom, our education management system. We also provide a technology literacy program that helps students gain additional skills.