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Prisma is the world’s most engaging virtual school that combines a fun, real-world curriculum with powerful mentorship from experienced coaches and a supportive peer community
Now part of mainstream education, online school is a vast category that implies only that teachers and students in separate physical locations use technology to connect. That leaves everything else: curriculum, educational philosophy, yearly calendar, daily schedule, social aspects, cost, parent involvement — the list goes on.
Parents might start exploring online school options because of issues in a traditional public or private, brick-and-mortar school: problems with bullying, challenges accommodating learning differences (ADHD, dyslexia, twice-exceptional students), lack of inclusivity in their current community, or a child with an acute case of “I-don’t-care-itis.” Others are interested specifically in having their child learn from home but don’t want all the responsibilities of homeschooling, perhaps because of their work commitments.
We’ll walk you through things to think about as you consider switching to virtual school, starting with the kinds of schools that are out there.
If your child is currently attending a traditional in-person school, and know you want something different, you'll need to decide first whether what you want is to attend an online school or to homeschool.
While occasionally treated as similar, several distinct differences exist between homeschooling and online school. Typically, signing up for an online school mirrors the process of joining a conventional brick-and-mortar institution, while homeschooling necessitates a unique registration procedure, varying by state.
There are many different styles of homeschooling to explore if your family is interested in that option. Homeschooling families often select varied curricula for diverse subjects, crafting a customized educational experience, which, although beneficial for tailored learning, may require significant effort from parents. Conversely, online schools provide a complete (and frequently accredited) curriculum.
As online education has taken off during the pandemic, learners opting out of the traditional classroom have no shortage of high quality options.
Virtual academies are a part of the public school landscape: individual school districts and states offer options for kindergarten through high school students living in their boundaries. These are tuition-free options and are intended for families living in the district who want more scheduling flexibility.
Since public school districts mostly focus their attention on their in-person schools, and don't design their curriculum to be online-first, online public schools have a mixed reputation for quality. Some families report that the in-person curriculum doesn't always translate well to the digital environment, or that teachers aren't able to connect with virtual students.
Private online schools charge tuition. Parents opt for private schools over public ones for their unique offerings, such as innovative curricula, superior academics, enhanced support, or additional extracurricular activities. Those choosing virtual private schools are in pursuit of an exceptional educational experience. For example, while online public school students perform worse than their in-person peers, Prisma learners score 150% better than traditionally schooled peers in reading and math.
Staffing is the priciest aspect of any educational model! Generally, the more expensive the program, the greater the level of teacher support your child is likely to receive. Online public schools typically exhibit a teacher:student ratio significantly higher than that of traditional schools. It's crucial to inquire about the teacher:student ratio at any private institution (ours stands at 1:14) and the frequency of personalized support from teachers (at Prisma, students consistently engage in one-on-one sessions with their learning coach, alongside receiving daily feedback and guidance).
The actual cost of tuition might not always align with the initial price presented. Numerous online private institutions, including Prisma, provide scholarships based on financial need. In the United States, there's a current surge in educational choice legislation, enabling families to allocate government funds towards educational expenses, often through ESAs or vouchers. Further information on your state's options can be found here.
Prisma is the world's most engaging online school. Our program offers a comprehensive, full-time, accredited alternative for families who feel constrained or let down by traditional in-person education. What sets Prisma apart is our personalized, project based curriculum; all-star learning coaches (we receive 500 applicants for any one coach we hire); and uncommonly friendly learner social community.
Consider your child’s learning style and the kind of learning experience they need. (You may start with the things that don’t work and that they don’t like and work backwards.) Then you can take the time to match those must-haves and nice-to-haves with the online options.
If you've decided you definitely want to do online school instead of regular homeschooling, here are the steps you should follow:
Project-Based Online School: How It Works
