What is the K12 platform?

The Online School (sometimes known as the OLS) is designed for students and their families. The features and resources available through the K12 platform help keep learning on track and the items you need accessible at a glance.

In the K12 platform, your student can:

• Access their live classes
• Review their weekly schedule
• Submit assignments
• Work with classmates

And you as a parent can:

• Check your student’s progress
• Contact teachers with questions
• See calendars and deadlines
• Get important school announcements  

The K12 platform has features that support each student’s learning journey, whether they’re working through assignments independently, collaborating with classmates on a project, or getting more one-to-one assistance from their Learning Coach (that’s what we at K12 call your role as a parent).

Read on for a more detailed K12 platform guide for families.

Your K12 Platform Account Setup

When you enroll at a K12-powered school, you’ll get an email from registration@k12.com about setting up your Online School accounts. You’ll set up one for yourself (as the parent) first, and that will help you complete your student registration. After that, you’ll set up a separate Online School account for your student.

Creating your accounts only requires some basic information and shouldn’t take long. Once you’re in, you can take your time exploring all the different features and resources. If you have more questions about setting up your accounts, you can reach out to help.k12.com for in-depth assistance or visit our FAQ page.

Account Types and Access Levels

One of the largest benefits of online school is being able to take classes and assignments on the go. With the K12 online platform, school is organized all in one place for students, plus parents have extra visibility into what their kids are learning and how they’re doing in classes.

Student accounts let children view and access their classes and assignments, communicate with teachers and classmates in monitored virtual environments, and even collect award badges for completing skills activities.

Parent accounts let you into your child’s learning. You can track their progress in each class, view their grades, reach out to teachers for extra support, and more. The Online School is also where you can see shipping and tracking information for your child’s educational materials that get sent out at the beginning of the school year.

There are slightly different versions of the K12 online learning platform for students in grades K–5 and then students in grades 6–12. The platform for younger students is designed for more direct engagement of parents since we know children require more attention to work through their classes and assignments at this age. The platform for older students is designed with more independent learners in mind, even though parents still have the same visibility.

Play Video

Grades K–5 tour

Discover what K12-powered online school is like for elementary school students and their Learning Coaches.

Take the Tour

Play Video

Grades 6–12 tour

See how middle and high school students at K12-powered schools learn in the ways that are best for them.

Take the Tour

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Navigating Key Features of the K12 Platform

K12’s Online Learning School platform has a bunch of features for all you need at your fingertips.

Some of the features include:

• Daily or weekly view class schedules
• Easy to find messages for quick communication
• Announcements from the school and teachers
• Built in literacy tools to support all reading levels

Each class also has its own page with course details, required reading, age-appropriate resources, progress, grades, and discussion groups.

You can also learn more about how online learning works in general with K12.

K12 Platform Dashboard Overview

The K12 platform dashboard organizes everything you need in the Online School — making what you use most, easy to find and access. Here’s a quick guide to the K12 platform dashboard and how to use it.

On the top left of your dashboard, you’ll find quick notifications for new messages, your account information, and a full set of easy-to-find learning resources, including the:

• K12 online library with more than 15,000 titles and growing every day
• K12 Zone online community where students can virtually hang out
• Quick link to live classes
• Tallo platform for older students ready to start exploring careers

The navigation menu on the left of your dashboard links to your student’s schedules, classes, and school announcements. Going into the schedule section lays out everything you need to know about your child’s classes in a daily or weekly view option. The classes section has the details and materials for each individual course.

Virtual Classrooms

Students enrolled at K12-powered schools attend live online classes led by certified teachers. The teachers receive specialized training for instruction in virtual classrooms. Many of the teachers have experience in both traditional brick-and-mortar and online schools.

Online classes with K12 are sometimes called “Class Connects” and they are often scheduled for a set time of day. Many online school families use these scheduled live classes as anchors to plan out the rest of their weekly activities. If classes are missed for medical appointments or other commitments, they are recorded so students can still view and catch up on the information.

The Online School provides a platform to view live classes, ask the teacher questions, work in small breakout groups, see assignment schedules to work ahead if desired, and view progress and grades. Students log in to their Online School to see their daily or weekly schedule and can enter each live Class Connect session by simply clicking on the class block in that schedule.

All your student’s classes are organized in one place with the K12 Online School platform. Each class has its own section that teachers fill with:

• Assignment details and deadlines
• Extra resources for understanding
• Links to peer discussion groups
• Progress tracking tools
• A grade book
• Special announcements

Parent Resources and Tools

With K12, students and families aren’t experiencing online learning alone. Teachers and school counselors are available for class or content-specific questions and general support to help students succeed.

For more technical or specific questions about how to use the K12 platform, our Help Center is ready to assist. Visit help.k12.com for customer support related to the K12 online learning platform.

Parents also have access to a Learning Coach Community where they can connect with other families, at their child’s school and nationally, who are also navigating online school.

Tips for Success on the K12 Platform

Stay organized with the Online School platform. Going over schedules and making plans is a great way to help your child start practicing time management skills.

• Check your child’s schedule of classes and assignments daily during the week
• Review the future week’s activities with your child to get prepared for what’s coming next
• Regularly view your child’s progress and grades so there’s time to make any needed adjustments

Not sure where to start or have your hands full with other family schedule components? We’ve got you covered. The K12 platform also includes suggested guides, planners, and task lists to help busy families.

FAQs for the K12 Platform

Some of the most common questions about the K12 learning platform are:

• How do I create the K12 platform account?
• How do I make changes to my account?
• My student has been accepted. Now what?

For answers to these and more, you can visit the K12 FAQ page. You can also contact customer support for technical issues such as password resets and troubleshooting at help.k12.com. We’re here to help!

But here’s the important part: To develop strong study skills, students (and parents) must understand their benefits and know which strategies work best.

We’ve created a complete guide to study skills for high schoolers so you can support your child in developing a sense of discipline and learning to focus deeply. You can even share this article with your teen to get them thinking about how they can study more effectively and work toward their educational goals!

The Importance of Developing Strong Study Skills in High School

Teaching teens how to study in high school has lasting benefits—that’s not just a belief; it’s a fact. Many studies show that, with practice and support, teens can boost their study skills and apply them to other areas of their lives.

Proven benefits include:

1. Improved Self-Confidence
   Did you know high school students with low self-esteem are 75% more likely to drop out? This shows a direct correlation between confidence and academic performance. Fortunately, building strong high school study skills can significantly improve a teen’s belief in themselves. Positive habits like goal setting, group studying, and active recall make students feel prepared for tests and other assignments—reducing anxiety and fostering a sense of competence.
2. Postsecondary Preparedness
   Roughly 49% of students reported feeling unprepared for the academic pressure they encountered after transitioning to college or university. This is one of the key reasons why 23% of undergraduate students abandon their studies each year. Setting a solid learning foundation in high school prevents overwhelm during this transitional period, allowing students to revisit their positive study habits and apply familiar strategies to enhance their performance significantly.
3. Increased Knowledge Retention
   Study skills like repetition and spaced practice have been shown to increase knowledge retention by as much as 80%—an increase that can significantly impact grades, not only in high school but in college as well. And it doesn’t stop there! Knowledge retention benefits nearly every professional setting. Memorizing, understanding, and applying new information is always valuable.

5 Core Study Habits for High School Success

Now that we’ve covered the benefits of good study habits for high school students, let’s explore the most effective methods of studying.

Here are 5 powerful techniques to boost your learning:

1. Set a Study Schedule: Time management is essential for balancing multiple subjects. Students can start by creating a daily schedule that breaks down tasks into manageable chunks, then prioritizing assignments and setting specific goals for each study session. Using a timer is also a great idea for better focus, with short, regular breaks in between.
2. Practice Active Learning: Students retain information more easily when actively engaging in the learning process. For example, instead of simply reading or highlighting notes, they can rewrite information in their own words, discuss key concepts with a friend, or create flashcards for quick reviews.
3. Use the Chunking Method: The chunking method helps students study more effectively by breaking down large amounts of information into smaller, manageable parts. Your teen can begin by identifying key concepts or themes in the material. Then, they can group related information—like dates, terms, or ideas—and focus on mastering each chunk one at a time.
4. Remember to Recharge: Physiological factors like stress, diet, and sleep play an important role in how well we remember things. “Powering through” when the body needs a break will only hinder comprehension. Students should prioritize periods of rest and relaxation, so their minds are sharp when they return to their books.
5. Incorporate Visual Aids: Diagrams, charts, and flashcards can significantly enhance understanding of key concepts. They make it easier to grasp complex concepts and bring new information to life in a more engaging way.

Study Tips for Better Retention and Focus

We’ve shared a few general learning techniques. Now, let’s focus on study strategies for high school students that significantly improve information retention.

• Use Spaced Repetition: The spaced repetition method greatly improves memorization. Students cover a new topic return to it the next day or a few days later, and continue the reviews over time. This reinforces what they’ve learned and reduces the need for last-minute cramming.
• Minimize Distractions: Learning when you’re constantly being disrupted is nearly impossible. High school students, in particular, can be easily distracted by their devices. Turning off phone notifications and using apps that block social media can help maintain focus while studying. It’s also important for teens to have a study area free from interruptions, like family chatter or TV noise.
• Use a Variety of Study Methods: Everyone learns differently. Mixing visual, auditory, and kinesthetic (movement) learning techniques to engage different parts of the brain can help new information stick. Students can bounce between auditory practices like reading notes aloud or listening to recorded lectures, kinetic exercises like walking while reviewing notes, and visual aids like mind maps.

Overcoming Procrastination and Staying Motivated

It’s one thing to have a list of study skills for high school students, and it’s another thing to implement those skills on a regular basis while dealing with the challenges of everyday life. Extracurricular activities, part-time jobs, and conflicts with friends or family are just a few situations that can make maintaining a consistent study schedule difficult.

Here are a few helpful study tips for high school students who may be struggling with feelings of anxiety, overwhelm, or fatigue:

• Break Tasks Into Smaller Goals: Large assignments can be overwhelming. Focusing on smaller tasks makes the process feel more achievable. Students feel a sense of accomplishment as they complete each portion, which boosts their morale and enthusiasm.
• Use a Reward System: High school students aren’t robots or machines. They’re human beings who thrive when they can enjoy what they’re doing. Allowing your teen to go to the movies with friends if they study for an afternoon, for example, is a great way to ensure they’re balancing their academics and personal enjoyment in a healthy way.
• Find Study Buddies: Group studying encourages collaboration and deeper understanding. Plus, it provides access to different perspectives and can help clarify difficult topics.

Creating the Right Study Environment

It would be a missed opportunity to focus on building good study habits for high school students without acknowledging the importance of their learning environment. Where they study is just as important as how they study.

Keep these study tips for high school in mind when determining where homework will be completed:

• Choose a Quiet Place: Look for a spot with minimal distractions when possible, away from loud noises like TVs or conversations. A well-lit area, like a desk or cozy corner, works best.
• Keep Supplies Handy: Items like highlighters, pencils, sticky notes, and flashcards are handy during study sessions. Choose a location where they can be easily accessed.
• Maintain Cleanliness: Clutter can distract the mind and make it harder to focus. Try maintaining order using folders or bins to separate notes, books, and supplies. Also, remember to straighten up after each study session.

Using Technology to Enhance Study Skills

Many lists of study tips for high schoolers promote a tech-free approach to learning, but we don’t totally agree. Technology can benefit the learning process when used strategically and in moderation.

Take a look at these examples of how to make technology work for your teen’s studies:

1. Use Study Apps: Apps like Quizlet allow students to create flashcards for important terms and concepts, making it easier to memorize information. They also have interactive features like games and quizzes that can enhance comprehension.
2. Set Timers: Timer apps like Pomodoro make it easier for students to manage their time by setting specific study periods, like 25 minutes of focused work followed by a short break. This can prevent burnout and lead to better learning outcomes.
3. Take Advantage of Online Resources: Platforms like YouTube can be excellent resources for high schoolers who need more context about a particular subject. They better understand course materials by watching videos and exploring topics more in-depth.

Building Lasting Study Skills

A bright future begins with a solid foundation, and we’re here to support students in getting the most out of their learning journey. If you’re a high school student looking to increase the likelihood of college acceptance, we offer the courses and opportunities you need. For parents seeking guidance for their child, we provide a personalized online learning experience.

Don’t hesitate to reach out today! We’ll help you explore all the educational possibilities available to you and create a plan that aligns with your high schooler’s goals.