FAQs About Our Online School

Texas Online Academy (TXOA) is a tuition-free online public school serving Texas students in grades K–12. We offer learning options that provide the structure, accountability, and certified teachers and counselors families expect from a public school — along with the freedom to learn in a safe, judgment-free space.

Texas Online Academy (TXOA) is powered by K12, a brand of Stride, Inc., a Cognia-accredited organization committed to high standards in teaching, learning, and continuous improvement.

Texas Online Academy uses the K12 online learning platform, tailoring its high-quality curriculum and extensive resources to meet our students’ unique needs here in Texas.

K12 has been delivering online education for more than 25 years and is used in more than 100 online schools across the U.S. We’re proud to be one of them!

Texas Online Academy (TXOA) offers full-time enrollment for students in grades K–12. Some of our students enroll in kindergarten and spend their entire school career with us, while others may enroll for a semester or two to catch up on credits. We love seeing our students grow and discover their strengths.

English/language arts, math, science, history, music, art, and physical education may be required courses depending on grade level. Also, depending on grade level, students may opt to take a world language elective in addition to these courses if they wish.

High school students also take a world language and have access to honors courses and a variety of electives.

Visit our online elementary, middle school, and high school academic pages for more details.

Texas residents in grades K–12 do not pay tuition to enroll in or attend TXOA because we are an online public school. Students receive full access to K12’s high-quality curriculum at no cost. Like traditional public schools, we don’t provide some common household items — such as printer ink, pens, and paper.

Based on income guidelines, eligible families may receive a loaner computer to help defray costs. Reach out to our enrollment consultants to learn more. 

Yes, Texas Online Academy provides students with textbooks and instructional materials. These books and materials vary by grade level and the courses the student is enrolled in. For instance, high school students may receive fewer books and materials than elementary and middle school students.

At Texas Online Academy, we believe in the power of family involvement. As a parent, you are an essential part of your child’s learning experience — whether you take on the role of Learning Coach yourself or designate a trusted adult to support your child day-to-day. The Learning Coach helps keep students on track, encourages engagement in lessons, and partners with teachers to support academic progress. Even if you’re not the one logging in every day, your involvement and support are key to your child’s success.

Your involvement as a parent or Learning Coach will vary by grade level, your child’s needs, and your family’s schedule. As your child becomes more comfortable with online learning, they’ll develop greater independence, giving you more flexibility. On average:

• K–2: Approximately 4 to 5 hours per day of school time, with 30–40% of learning completed online. You’ll spend about 1 to 2 hours actively supporting lessons and guiding activities, with the rest being more supervisory.
• Grades 3–5: Approximately 5 to 7 hours per day of school time, with 50–60% of learning online. Your involvement will be more hands-off as students work more independently, but you’ll still check in for progress and occasional help.
• Grades 6–7: Parents typically spend about 1 to 2 hours daily checking in, helping with organization, or offering occasional homework support.
• Grade 8: Students are mostly independent. Parents may check in for progress reviews or support on specific assignments.
• Grades 9–12: Students are largely self-directed. The Learning Coach —whether a parent, guardian, or another trusted adult — plays a background role: checking in on progress, helping with time management, and offering encouragement when needed. Texas Online Academy supports students directly through teacher interactions, counselors, and college/career prep tools.

Depending on a child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP), we can tailor learning to meet their needs. To discuss your child’s IEP learning needs with an enrollment team member, please contact our office.

Texas Online Academy meets the needs of advanced learners [insert link to school’s advanced learners page as applicable] in a variety of ways. The beauty of our elementary and middle school programs is that they’re flexible enough to meet children where they are in any given subject and take them where they want to go. Placement assessments allow us to place your student at the appropriate curriculum level. For example, if your 6th grader is doing math at an 8th grade level and reading at a 6th grade level, we can tailor lesson plans to meet your student’s abilities.

Texas Online Academy is a safe, inclusive, local community, and we know how to have fun! Students at TXOA can:

• participate in live class sessions and group discussions that help build relationships and communication skills;
• join student-led clubs to explore their interests and connect with their peers;
• and experience optional in-person school outings, like field trips, picnics, and other social events throughout the year. Local groups of students and parents can also get together on their own!

Check out our Student Life page to learn more about how students connect and socialize at TXOA!

Yes, students who attend TXOA are public school students, and they earn a high school diploma identical to those awarded by other public schools in Texas. Our graduates enjoy the same rights and privileges as any other Texas graduates when applying to colleges and universities across the state and nation.

Transferring credits is usually straightforward, especially between accredited schools. Credits earned at a K12-powered, accredited online school like Texas Online Academy are often transferable to and from accredited brick-and-mortar public schools and may count toward a high school diploma at both public and private institutions. Please confirm credit acceptance with the district you are transferring into.

Transferring credits is usually straightforward, especially between accredited schools. Public school credits generally transfer to Texas Online Academy by K12, an accredited online public school. Some courses may not transfer exactly and could require placement adjustments or additional coursework. Please reach out to our school enrollment team to confirm credit acceptance.

Transferring credits is usually straightforward, especially between accredited schools. Partial credits or unaccredited coursework may require additional review, placement assessments, or makeup work. Texas Online Academy by K12 is accredited and has standard processes for evaluating transcripts and accepting credits for successfully completed courses. Please reach out to our school enrollment team to confirm credit acceptance.

At TXOA, we are committed to providing a safe education environment for all students, employees, parents/legal guardians, volunteers, and community members, free from harassment, intimidation, or bullying.

Gain peace of mind by reading more about our dedication to creating a safe and welcoming community in the TXOA policy on bullying.

In addition to details about specific policy provisions, reporting, and investigations of bullying, harassment, or intimidation, the Texas Online Academy policy on bullying includes a direct link for students to report instances of bullying anonymously.

Texas Online Academy receives Title I funding, the largest federal assistance program for our nation’s schools, through Texas’s Department of Education. The funding allows schools to hire additional teachers to reduce class sizes, purchase supplemental materials and educational programs, conduct parent activities and workshops, and provide professional development for staff. In our schoolwide program, certified teachers can provide instructional levels based on student data, re-teach sessions based on student performance, and offer multi-tiered levels of support based on assessments — as well as English learner support and more.

Texas Online Academy follows the Texas State Library, Archives, and Public Records retention schedule. Special education records (including placement records, referrals, evaluations, testing data, and other related records) are destroyed four years after the fiscal year of final enrollment in the program.

To obtain copies of records for students who have attended TXOA, please call our office at 855.532.6988.

No home visits are required to attend TXOA, and there are no other intrusions into your home. Texas requires students to meet with their teacher in person four times a year. This is accomplished by attending academic workshops, school outings, or state or other testing events.

Flex is a program designed to help optimize a student’s learning schedule through flexible options. Check out how TXOA’s Flex program works and learn more about program eligibility.

TXOA offers enrollment for Texas residents in grades K–12. While attending TXOA, students must maintain a full-time Texas residency.

Because TXOA provides the lesson plans and materials needed for grades K–12, many parents find it easy to enroll multiple children in the program.

Start by creating an account in the K12 enrollment portal or logging in to your existing account and completing the TXOA online enrollment form. Please be prepared to provide copies of documents within 30 days, such as:

• Proof of residence (e.g., a driver’s license or state ID, tax record, utility bill, etc.)
• Proof of age (e.g., a birth certificate or other reliable proof of the pupil’s identity and age)

You can also contact our enrollment consultants at 855.532.6988 or view the “Four Simple Steps to Enroll” for a step-by-step tutorial.

Our enrollment team will contact you to let you know whether your enrollment has been approved, or if we need more information to process your application. Once approved, a Texas Online Academy representative will call you to discuss enrollment in TXOA’s program and course placement.

Yes, we do accept transfer students throughout the year. Simply follow the steps on our How to Enroll page to transfer your student to our online public school mid-year. TXOA is here to help families make a smooth transition when it works best for them. 

Each student who has been expelled from a Texas public school and submits an enrollment application will be considered on an individual basis. Parents are responsible for informing our enrollment team if their student has been expelled at the time of their initial enrollment application submission.

The McKinney Act of 1987, or P.L. 100-77, ensures that each child of an unhoused individual and each homeless youth shall have equal access to the same free, appropriate public education as provided to other children and youth. The act has been amended and is now known as the McKinney-Vento Act. Under the Act, schools are prohibited from delaying an unhoused child’s entry into school due to delays in obtaining school records. Rules regarding guardianship must be waived for unhoused students living with foster parents or relatives other than their legal guardians. Individuals considered McKinney-Vento students are in temporary housing and, due to hardship, their housing is substandard or inadequate, or they are not living with a parent or guardian.

TXOA can offer school supplies and Title I services to qualifying youth experiencing homelessness. Qualifying students are determined on a case-by-case basis. If you feel your child may be eligible for services or would like to review the TXOA Admission of Homeless Children and Youth policy, please call our school office at 855.532.6988.

All Texas Online Academy students must comply with the state-required minimum number of 180 instructional days. A minimum number of instructional hours per grade level is also required. Contact our office for specific grade-by-grade attendance requirements. Students may log instructional time at any time during the day, on any day of the week, or on the weekend. It is important for students to log attendance daily.

Whenever possible, family vacations should align with school vacation days. Our school calendar includes school holidays and vacation time. However, families may work with TXOA teachers and administration on a case-by-case basis. Leave will be approved based on the individual student’s consistent progress and attendance. No educational leave will be granted during scheduled state-mandated testing.