Quick answer: A free online school is usually a tuition-free online public school run by your state: it costs nothing to attend, but your child must live in the state and becomes a public school student. Free homeschool programs and curricula are different. They give a parent lesson plans at no cost, and the parent teaches, grades and keeps the records. A tuition-based private online school charges tuition and supplies teachers, grading, transcripts and a diploma.
Parents who search for “free online school” or “free homeschool programs” are often asking about three different things. This guide separates them, compares them in one table, and gives you a short checklist to see which one fits your family. For many families the free public option is the right answer, and the guide says so where it applies.
Table of Contents
What parents mean by “free”
The word covers three options that work in very different ways.
- A tuition-free online public school. A full school, funded by the state, with teachers, a calendar and state tests.
- A free homeschool curriculum. Free lessons and materials. You are the teacher, the grader and the record keeper.
- A tuition-based private online school. A paid school that provides instruction, grading and an accredited diploma, with fewer state-set rules on schedule.
Free online school: tuition-free online public schools
State virtual schools and virtual charter schools are public schools that students attend from home. The National Center for Education Statistics describes public charter schools as public schools run under a charter with the state, a district or another entity. Florida Virtual School describes its full-time program as a state-funded public school available at no cost to Florida residents.
The Digital Learning Collaborative reported that full-time, tuition-free statewide online public schools were open in 35 states and the District of Columbia as of the 2022-23 school year. Availability depends on your state, and often on your district.
What to know before you enroll
- Who can enroll. Eligibility is set by each school and state. Connections Academy notes that eligibility may vary by school and state, and checks can include age, geographic limits, immunization records and prior school records.
- Residency. Because the state pays for the school, students normally live in that state. FLVS Full Time, for example, is open to Florida students in kindergarten through 12th grade.
- Enrollment windows and calendar. Many public online schools enroll before each semester and follow a school-year calendar. FLVS Full Time lists a traditional 180-day calendar from August through May. Some schools also accept transfers during the year: Connections Academy says its schools often accept students transferring during the school year.
- State testing. Public school students take the state’s tests. Federal law asks states to test reading and math annually in grades 3 through 8 and once in high school. FLVS Full Time students take the state assessments and end-of-course exams.
- Your role. Parents act as a learning coach. K12 describes tuition-free online public school with state-certified teachers, and notes that families supply common household items such as printer ink and paper.
- Legal status. A child in an online public school is a public school student, not a homeschooler. The school, not the parent, keeps the records and issues the transcript and diploma.
For a family that lives in a state with a good option, wants teachers who lead the instruction, and is comfortable with a school calendar and state tests, this is a strong choice and it costs no tuition.
Free homeschool curriculum and free homeschool programs
Free curricula give you lessons at no cost. They are not schools. Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool says plainly that it is a homeschool resource, not an online school, and that the parent is the administrator. That is how most free options work, and it is why they do not carry accreditation of their own.
A few well-known examples, described by their own sites:
- Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool is a free online Christian curriculum for preschool through grade 8, with high school courses on a sister site.
- AmblesideOnline is a free curriculum built on Charlotte Mason’s principles, with schedules for Year 0 (kindergarten) through Year 12.
- Khan Academy is a free learning platform with courses across core subjects for K-12. Many families use it to add to another curriculum.
What a free curriculum asks of you
- You teach and grade. The lessons are free. The time to teach, check work and answer questions is yours.
- You follow your state’s homeschool law. Notice, subjects, records and testing differ by state. HSLDA publishes a page for each state, and your state department of education has the current rules.
- You keep the records. Easy Peasy, for instance, keeps no student records. A parent-issued diploma follows the steps in our guide to the homeschool diploma.
- You set the schedule. Families start whenever they are ready, and the pace follows your child.
This route suits parents who want full control over what and when their child learns, and who enjoy teaching. Families who want an accredited transcript from a school can add one later. Our guide to how to start homeschooling covers the first steps.
Tuition-based private online school: what tuition covers
A private online school charges tuition and, in return, provides the parts that a parent handles in a free curriculum: the courses, the teachers who grade, the records, the transcript and, in high school, the diploma. Private schools are not part of the state public system, so they do not tie enrollment to a school district.
Forest Trail Academy is one example. It is a private, accredited online school for kindergarten through grade 12 with certified teachers who grade every assignment, self-paced courses with no live classes, and enrollment at any time of year. It has served more than 10,000 students since 2007, and its graduates have been accepted at more than 1,000 colleges. Accreditors are listed on the page about accredited and non-accredited homeschooling. Current prices are on the tuition rates page.
Some families pay with state education funds. Forest Trail Academy lists the programs it accepts, including Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, the Arkansas Children’s Educational Freedom Account Program and New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account Program, along with ESA funding from Alabama, South Carolina and Tennessee. Each state sets its own rules, so check the funding page for the current list.
Free vs private online school: side-by-side comparison
| Question | Tuition-free online public school | Free homeschool curriculum | Tuition-based private online school |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | No tuition. Families cover supplies such as paper and ink. | Free lessons. Families cover supplies and any extra books. | Tuition, listed by the school. At Forest Trail Academy, see the tuition rates page. |
| Who teaches and grades | State-certified teachers lead and grade. A parent coaches. | The parent teaches and grades. | The school’s teachers grade. At Forest Trail Academy, they are certified teachers. |
| Schedule and start dates | School-year calendar with enrollment windows. Some schools accept transfers during the year. | Family sets the schedule and starts when ready. | Set by the school. Forest Trail Academy is self-paced and enrolls any week of the year. |
| Residency | Must live in the state, sometimes in a district. | None for the curriculum. Your state’s homeschool law applies. | Not tied to a school district. State rules for private school or homeschool students apply where you live. |
| State testing | Yes. Students take the state tests. | Depends on your state’s homeschool law. | Set by the school and your state’s rules. |
| Diploma and transcript | Issued by the public school. | Issued by the parent. | Issued by the school. Forest Trail Academy is accredited. |
| Legal status of the student | Public school student. | Homeschooler under state law. | Private school student. Check how your state treats online private school students. |
Which one fits your family? A checklist
Answer these in order. Your answers usually point to one option.
- Does your state offer a tuition-free online public school your child can join? If yes and you like its calendar and testing, it is worth a serious look. If no, the next two options apply.
- Do you want state tests, a set calendar and a public school record? If yes, choose the public school. If you prefer your own calendar and fewer set requirements, continue.
- Do you want to choose the curriculum and teach it yourself? If yes, a free curriculum fits. Plan for time to teach, grade and keep records.
- Do you want certified teachers to grade and an accredited transcript without teaching every subject yourself? If yes, a private online school fits. Compare tuition, accreditation and start dates.
- Will your family move, travel or need to start mid-year? Check each option’s enrollment rules. Public schools use residency and enrollment windows. Self-paced private schools and home curricula start when you are ready.
- Is a college, athletic or military record part of your plan? Ask each option who issues the transcript, and read our guide to accredited and non-accredited homeschooling.
How to find your state’s tuition-free online school
- Search your state department of education. Look for “virtual school,” “online school” or “virtual charter” on its website. Each state sets its own rules, so the state page is the most reliable source.
- Check the school’s eligibility page. Look for grades served, residency, and whether the school takes students from outside a district.
- Note the enrollment window. Many schools open enrollment before the fall term and again before spring.
- Ask about testing and calendar. Confirm the state test dates and the school year.
- Keep your child enrolled until the transfer is complete. Connections Academy recommends waiting to withdraw your child from their current school until the transfer process is complete.
National providers such as Connections Academy and K12 operate schools in many states and let you search by state.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free online school for K-12?
Yes, in many states. Tuition-free online public schools serve students from kindergarten through grade 12. Eligibility depends on where you live, so start with your state department of education.
Is online public school the same as homeschooling?
No. A student in an online public school is enrolled in a public school, with state-certified teachers and state testing. A homeschooled student follows the homeschool law of the state and the parent directs the education.
Are there free accredited homeschool programs?
Free curricula are resources, so they carry no accreditation of their own. Tuition-free online public schools are free and accredited, but the student is a public school student. Accredited private online schools charge tuition.
Is there a free online high school with a diploma?
Tuition-free online public high schools issue a diploma to students who complete the school’s requirements. Residency and enrollment rules apply, and the diploma comes from the public school.
What is the best free homeschool curriculum?
It depends on your child and your teaching style. Easy Peasy All-in-One, AmblesideOnline and Khan Academy are well-known free choices that take different approaches. Review a sample of each before you commit.
Can I use a free curriculum and still get an accredited transcript?
Yes. Many families teach at home first and enroll in an accredited school later. The school reviews earlier work at enrollment.
Can I enroll in an online public school at any time of year?
It varies by school. Many use enrollment windows, and some accept transfers during the year. Check with the school before you withdraw from your current one.
If you are comparing a private online school with the free options above, an admissions advisor can walk through your child’s grade and records. Book a call with admissions.
