Connections Academy is a tuition-free, fully accredited public education program for students in grades K-12.  As of this writing, it is available tuition-free in more than 30 states.   Students who enroll must meet their state’s public school requirements, such as proof of age, residency, immunizations, previous academic records, state test results, etc.   (Requirements vary by state.)

This online school is a flexible alternative to the brick and mortar classroom.  It provides a state-approved curriculum with state-certified teachers. The school sends you textbooks, a desktop computer configured for student use, and other materials, such as science and art kits. You will need web access for the online coursework. The curriculum includes AP courses for high school students, foreign languages, and technology courses. For all students, there are school clubs and ways to connect with other students in your area.

A designated parent/guardian serves as the “learning coach” and works with the student’s teacher to provide encouragement and ensure students complete assignments and meet schedules. The Academy’s family support program helps you connect with other Academy families for field trips and events

Great School provides elementary, middle and high school information for public, private and charter schools nationwide. This information includes a profile of each school’s:

• academic record on standardized test scores
• population by race/ethnicity
• proportion of low-income students
• proportion of students with disabilities
• teacher/student ratios and teacher experience
• location and contact information

Equally valuable are the comments from parents about their experience with the school.

Information for some schools is dated or unavailable.

From site:

At K12, our mission has remained steadfast: To provide any child access to exceptional curriculum and tools that enable him or her to maximize his or her success in life, regardless of geographic, financial, or demographic circumstance.

We have become a leader in providing individualized, one-to-one learning solutions to students from kindergarten through high school across the country. These solutions have literally changed lives and opened up possibility for many children. Our biggest fans continue to be parents who are seeking to tap into their children’s unique potential and who have seen what can happen when children can work at the right pace and with the tools, approaches, and content that make learning come alive…

It’s all about removing the barriers that keep children from reaching their true, individual potential – it’s what gets us jumping out of bed in the morning to come to work. Each year, we help tens of thousands of students reach out toward their true personal possibility. We reach these students through a number of channels including:

• full-time online public schools in many states across the country
• individual course and product sales directly to families
• in a growing number of public schools across the country which are engaged in bringing individualized learning approaches into the traditional classroom.

We are focused on being available to any child, anywhere, who can benefit from an individualized approach, whether it’s full-time schooling outside of the traditional brick-and-mortar school, or through part-time or supplemental options available both inside and outside of the traditional classroom.

Note: Florida VirtualSchool seeks to assist students in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands impacted by the 2017 hurricanes so they can continue their education. FLVS will accept 20,000 students from these areas for the 2017-18 school year.

Florida VirtualSchool offers online learning to students in core middle and high school curricula, using individual interaction with certified teachers.  This makes it a viable option for homeschooled students.  Teachers communicate via phone, email, podcasts, wikis and texting.  Parents and students have access to course material and grades 24/7.

Students can participate in online clubs, communicate and collaborate with other students on projects, and go on virtual field trips.  Edutopia has a webcast highlighting the virtual school’s features, with comments by teachers, parents and students.