Initial Assessment
Parents are free to choose where their child begins learning with K12, but the company offers an Internet-based initial assessment of the child’s competency in math and language arts. The assessment program will be available this July at www.K12.com. Based on that assessment, K12 makes a recommendation on where to begin in the curriculum. Ongoing assessment is available once a student starts with a specific course.
Instructional Materials
K12 provides a comprehensive set of textbooks and instructional materials needed to complete a child’s particular course of study. The instructional materials depend on grade level. For example, kindergarten materials include books, magnets, a magnifying glass, seeds, maps, an art kit, learning videos, and music CDs. Readily available books and materials, such as construction paper and chalk, are supplied by parents.
Computer Use
Computers are just one part of a multimedia curriculum that also includes books, workbooks, music videos and CDs, art supplies, and science instruments. Less than a quarter of the work for kindergarten through second grade involves computer usage, with the rest of the learning time spent in activities like reading books, working on math problems by hand, drawing, and conducting science experiments. Although computer use will increase with the age of the student, work away from the computer will remain an essential part of the K12 curriculum.
Courses Offered
K12 currently offers courses in language arts, math, science, history, music, and art. It will soon add health, physical education, and a virtues curriculum.
K12’s four-year rollout schedule of offerings by grade is: K-2 in September 2001; grades 3-5 in September 2002; grades 6-8 in September 2003; and grades 9-12 in September 2004.
