How Does it Work?

Families supply a computer with a high-speed Internet connection and the Daycroft Online Learning Community provides the courses, books and materials, and support for the parent-educator to provide a high-quality, flexible education for their children at home.

Parent-Teacher

A parent (or other qualified adult) is the teacher.

Education Specialist

Families are assigned a Daycroft Online Learning Community education specialist who communicates with them by email and phone. The education specialist answers questions and provides support to the parent and student.

Individualized

The online learning experience is highly individualized. Each parent-teacher sets the pace for their student.

Core Curriculum

The family chooses to enroll in 2 to 6 core courses in grades K-8 from our core curriculum which we purchase from the award-winning education developers at K12, Inc.

Placement Tests

K12, Inc. provides free placement tests in math and language arts to help the parent-teacher determine the child’s starting place in the curriculum. The Daycroft Online Learning Community director or the education specialist assists with the final course selection and placement.

Daycroft Online Learning Community Places Order

The Daycroft Online Learning Community orders the courses and material kits from K12, Inc.

Parent Receives Log-in

The parent-teacher receives their user name and password from K12, Inc. and sets up their K12 log-in.

Student log-in

The parent-teacher sets up the student user name and password as directed.

Parent-teacher tutorials

The parent-teacher learns through the K12 online tutorials how to use the planning and progress tools that are an important ingredient in the child’s long-term success.

Tech Support

K12, Inc. offers technical support for the core courses by email 24/7. Phone support is available during extended business hours. The Daycroft Online Learning Community director is also available to answer questions.

Shipping

The material kits are shipped from K12, Inc. to the family.

Billing

Daycroft Online Learning Community bills the family for the total tuition, material and shipping costs.

Payment Plans

The parent or person responsible for paying the tuition and material costs chooses from three payment options:

• Pay in full.
• Pay cost of material kits and shipping in one month, then divide the tuition costs into 9 monthly payments.
• Pay shipping, and pay the total of tuition and cost of materials kits in 10 monthly installments.

Student starts

The student starts each course. Courses are designed to provide the proper balance of online lessons and books, worksheets, manipulatives, projects and hands-on activities.

Parent alongside

The parent-teacher works side-by-side with the student. The strength of the parent-teacher commitment is a key factor in the student’s success in grades K-8.

Online time

Students in the early elementary grades spend about 20% of their instructional time online (with parent) and 80% working with the extensive materials supplied with each course, completing assignments and doing projects. The science materials include rocks, soil samples and everything needed for the comprehensive science curriculum. By grade 5, students spend about 45-50% of their instructional time learning online.

Character Education

The student joins the other Daycroft Online Learning Community students worldwide in regular Character Education lessons, collaborative projects and communications.

Instructional support

The Daycroft Online Learning Community education specialist is available daily by email to answer questions and to provide support, and holds scheduled telephone conferences with parents and students.

Program Director

The Program Director is also available daily by email and phone.

Course completion

Courses are designed to be completed in the time of a regular school year including normal vacations. However, a student is allowed one calendar year from the course start date to complete a course. If a student finishes a course early, s/he may enroll in the next level of the course at any time by paying the tuition for the new course and materials.

Socialization

Parents plan for their children to participate in outside activities that allow them to get together with others in art, music and dance classes, sports, and community service.

When to join

While most families join the Online Learning Community at the start of the school year, new families may join at any time.