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SECULAR "ALL IN ONE" ONLINE PROGRAMS
KEY:
Website
Cost
Video Instruction
Online Media
Textbook Coursebook
Faith
Based
Review
Teacher Support
POWER HOMESCHOOL (K - 12)​
Secular, video based instruction
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Power Homeschool is a popular program that offers a plug-and-play curriculum model. Pre-recorded videos are delivered to your students in a fully integrated, user-friendly platform. Power Homeschool is known for its "adaptive" learning system that responds to student progress. Students learn by watching videos, answering questions, completing quizzes and exams. "Special Lessons" offer practical application in the form of worksheets, writing, research, projects, labs, and more. While these are optional, keep in mind that online programs are fully 'receptive' in nature. Hands-on assignments add the expressive component needed to ensure a comprehensive learning experience.
ENROLLMENT: Open subscription, $25 p/mo
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SUBJECTS: Core + large range of electives
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INSTRUCTION: Video​
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INTEGRATED GRADING & ASSESSMENTS: Yes​
PROGRESS TRACKING: Fully Integrated
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PRINTABLES/ENRICHMENT: Yes
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AFFILIATION: Secular
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INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT: No
FUNCATION (K - 12)
Secular, mixed resource instruction
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"FunCation Academy offers four exciting and distinct programs; FAPrep Lite, FAPrep, FAPrep+, and FVA. All programs are designed to help enrich our student's academic journey." - Publisher
This program uses the nationally recognized Edmentum curriculum, meaning courses will be rigorous and at par with top online schools, without the cost or teacher oversight. It follows national and state standards. Instructional delivery includes a variety of resources including online readings, articles, video instruction, interactive activities, etc.
NOTE: Since this program uses the Edmentum curriculum, this program is highly structured, meaning there is not much room for customization or tailoring content beyond choosing courses and electives.
ENROLLMENT: Open subscription, $15 - $55 p/mo
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SUBJECTS: Core + large range of electives
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INSTRUCTION: Guided lessons using internal online media (video clips, audio files, games, interactive exercises, etc.)
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INTEGRATED GRADING & ASSESSMENTS: Yes​
PROGRESS TRACKING: Fully Integrated
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PRINTABLES/ENRICHMENT: Yes
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AFFILIATION: Secular
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INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT: Yes, with paid packages
TIME4LEARNING (K - 12)​
Secular, video based instruction
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"Time4Learning is a standards-based grade-appropriate curriculum with thousands of interactive lessons in math, language arts, social studies, and science. With automated grading, reporting and activity planning tools, homeschooling has never been easier." - Publisher
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Time4Learning is a very popular program with many parents, especially for the younger students. Older students may feel the content delivery is too 'young' for their preferences.
ENROLLMENT: Open subscription, $20+ p/mo
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SUBJECTS: Core + large range of electives
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INSTRUCTION: Video​
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INTEGRATED GRADING & ASSESSMENTS: Yes​
PROGRESS TRACKING: Fully Integrated
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PRINTABLES/ENRICHMENT: Yes
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AFFILIATION: Secular
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INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT: No
KHAN ACADEMY (K - 12+) - FREE​
Secular, video based instruction
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We’re a nonprofit with the mission to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. Students practice at their own pace, first filling in gaps in their understanding and then accelerating their learning. Created by experts, Khan Academy’s library of trusted, standards-aligned practice and lessons covers math K-12 through early college, grammar, science, history, AP®, SAT®, and more. It’s all free for learners and teachers." - Publisher
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Khan academy provides a large array of classes, ranging from elementary courses to AP and SAT prep. Their SAT prep courses are aligned with the College Board and are an exceptional resource for students preparing for the SAT. Instructional delivery is all video-based. While the cost is unbeatable, the content tends to be dry. While you can use Khan Academy as a full curriculum, many find it too dry.
ENROLLMENT: Account required, free
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SUBJECTS: Core + large range of electives
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INSTRUCTION: Video​
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INTEGRATED GRADING & ASSESSMENTS: Yes​
PROGRESS TRACKING: Some integration, with login
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PRINTABLES/ENRICHMENT:
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AFFILIATION: Secular
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INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT: No
STUDY.COM (3rd - College)​
Secular, video based instruction
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Create a customized learning path for your child with thousands of lessons in all subjects. Simple lesson planning, video learning, automatic grading and progress tracking. Go beyond the textbook with engaging 5-minute video lessons, quizzes, and an app for learning any time, anywhere." -Publisher
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Study.com offers courses from 3rd grade onward, but in my opinion, this site is best suited to 6th grade and up. They offer a large array of high school courses, electives, and study resources such as AP exam prep and SAT classes. Their narrated videos offer animations and slideshow-type presentations. Follow-up questions, quizzes, and texts are integrated into the learning platform. Visual learners may appreciate the photos, animations, visual cues, and slides for note-taking. Lessons are thorough, but very succinct, ranging from 5 - 7 minutes. While visually engaging, some students my find the narration dry. Some of their courses may be used for college credit that is transferable to certain colleges and universities, but this requires an additional fee and course exam. Personally, I found their website a little overwhelming and hard to navigate.
ENROLLMENT: Open subscription, $30+ p/mo
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SUBJECTS: Core, electives, college classes, study aids
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INSTRUCTION: Video​
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INTEGRATED GRADING & ASSESSMENTS: Yes​
PROGRESS TRACKING: Fully integrated
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PRINTABLES/ENRICHMENT: Yes
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AFFILIATION: Secular
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INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT: No
DISCOVERYK12 (K - 12) - FREE​
Secular, mixed resource lesson plans
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"Discovery K12 offers an online, secular, homeschool curriculum. Reading classic literature, writing essays, creating presentations, and conducting research are important aspects to the program. Discovery K12 is a flexible program that allows parents to use all or parts of the curriculum with full control over the instruction. There are 180 days of complete, digital curriculum for pre-k to twelfth grade, including STEM projects and The Arts." - Publisher
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Unlike video-based platforms, DiscoveryK12 offers written lesson plans for each subject in every grade level for an entire year's worth of learning. Students learn through a variety of resources including videos, readings, articles, and extension activities. This curriculum is NOT Common Core aligned (which may please some...but be a concern for others who need to follow Common Core standards). One benefit of this type of curriculum is that it may be more "hands-on" in nature than video platforms and parents can adapt, enrich, or regress the curriculum in any way they like.
ENROLLMENT: Account required for access; free
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SUBJECTS: Core courses
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INSTRUCTION: Guided lessons using external online media (video clips, audio files, games, interactive exercises, etc.)
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INTEGRATED GRADING & ASSESSMENTS: Yes​
PROGRESS TRACKING: Some integration
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PRINTABLES/ENRICHMENT: Yes
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AFFILIATION: Secular
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INSTRUCTIONAL SUPPORT: No