Whether you’re interested in enrolling your child, applying to become a Guide, or discovering more about what we do, welcome!
Start enrollmentPrenda is available to students as a tuition-free option thanks to our partnership with the Education reEnvisioned BOCES.
In Colorado, microschools are made up of 3-4 students, in grades spanning from K-8. Explore the tabs below to learn more about Prenda in your state.
Enrollment in Colorado is open from March 8th, 2022 until September 12th, 2022. After this date, any families interested in enrolling their child will have to wait until the following school year. However, Prenda Platform is an option to families that miss the enrollment deadline, as it is available year-round. More on Prenda Platform at the bottom of this page.
How is Prenda tuition-free? Tuition-free microschools in Colorado are made available through our partnership with Education reEnvisioned BOCES. Prenda is considered a homeschool enrichment program in Colorado, although students are receiving a complete K-8 education experience.
How do I enroll my child to start attending Prenda? Simply create an account in Prenda’s enrollment portal and start the four-step enrollment process for each child. We will let you know via email when your registration is complete or if we need any additional information. Typically, it takes 1-2 weeks to process and finalize.
Note: If the school year that you are enrolling for has not started yet, you may not receive a final confirmation until closer to the start of the school year.
1. Confirm that your child is new to Prenda
2. Select your program and funding source
3. Choose your microschool/Guide. You can come back to this later if you don’t have a microschool picked out yet, but your student’s enrollment cannot be finalized without it. Many new microschools will start to become available in April and throughout the summer.
4. Submit the online enrollment form. Be sure to have all of your student’s documents ready!
Enrollment for returning students for the 22-23 school year in Colorado is open from May 2022 to June 30th, 2022. Due to the fact that microschools fill up quickly, we recommend that parents start the enrollment process as soon as possible.
Any students who have not completed returning student enrollment by June 30th, 2022 will be withdrawn from the Prenda program. A new student enrollment form can be submitted anytime after that if you decide to enroll in Prenda again.
How do I enroll my child to continue attending Prenda? Simply create an account in Prenda’s enrollment portal and start the four-step enrollment process for each child. We will let you know via email when your registration is complete or if we need any additional information. Typically, it takes 1-2 weeks to process and finalize.
Note: If the school year that you are enrolling for has not started yet, you may not receive a final confirmation until closer to the start of the school year.
1. Confirm that your child is currently enrolled with Prenda
2. Select your program and funding source (link to tab)
3. Choose your microschool/Guide. You can skip this step and come back to it later if you don’t have a microschool picked out yet, but your student’s enrollment cannot be finalized without it. Many new microschools will start to become available in April and throughout the summer.
4. Submit the online enrollment form. You may need to have some/all of your student’s documents available depending on what may be changing from last school year to 22-23. For example if your family moved, you will need to provide a new proof of residence.
When can I select a microschool? You can start exploring the microschool map whenever you’d like. You’ll receive a link to the map via email after you start the enrollment process or by filling out the request for information form.
Microschools for the 2022-2023 school year will begin showing up on the map May 2022 and in the following summer months as new microschools open. Before this time, you can get a headstart on your student’s enrollment, but will need to come back to finish the enrollment process.
When will school start? Prenda Guides set their own first day of school, so this is a great question to ask as you are connecting with Guides on the microschool map. Microschools will open for learning anytime after August 1, 2022.
Do I need to complete a separate enrollment form for each of my children? Yes, but you will only need to create one account in the enrollment portal. You’ll add basic information and upload documents for each child you are enrolling.
What documents will I need for enrollment? In addition to submitting the documents below, you will need to submit an intent to homeschool form to your district of residence 14 days before the start of the homeschool enrichment program.
What is the cut-off date for Kindergarten? Kindergarten students must turn five before August 31 of the current school year in order to be enrolled in Prenda.
Typically microschools observe a four-day school week from Monday through Thursday. Schedules are set by each Guide and can vary, but generally follow local district calendars. Guides provide an annual minimum of 688 in-class hours for Grades K-8.
Tip for parents: When you visit microschools, ask each Guide what school hours and days they have set. You can also ask if they follow a particular school district’s calendar, or if they have set their own.
Every student is unique, and so is their learning experience at Prenda. Whether a student is behind in one or more areas, working above grade level, or right on track, Prenda and its Guides are there to empower them with the tools and support they need to succeed.
Guides are focused on getting to know each child, identifying their learning needs, implementing accommodations/modifications, and working with certified teachers and a team at Prenda to ensure that they continue to progress as learners.
Does Prenda provide special education services? Prenda does not provide special education services for enrolled students in Colorado, however, our Exceptional Student Services team will work with Guides to create a Prenda Support Plan when necessary.
We’ve always prioritized self-paced mastery, problem-solving abilities, mindset, and overall student experience over a letter grade, but we haven’t thrown out the book either.
Students participate in i-Ready, an adaptive online assessment tool that measures what they know and what they need to learn next. This information is used to help Guides determine a learning plan that best meets the needs of each child.
Guides are also able to stay highly tuned into student progress because of the small and personalized learning environment. They regularly communicate with parents to share successes, challenges, and plans for continued progress. Every Guide is supported by a certified teacher and a team of individuals at Prenda that help monitor student progress and create learning plans to meet the needs of every child.
What is an adaptive online assessment tool? Rather than presenting all students with the same set of questions, this tool adjusts based on responses entered. When a student demonstrates understanding of a particular topic, the questions become more challenging. Conversely, if a student is struggling with a concept the questions adapt to help determine what they do know. At the end of the day, the goal is for students to always be working at their learning frontier—that sweet spot between too easy and too difficult. This tool helps students do just that.
Colorado does not require homeschool enrichment students to participate in Colorado Academic Success (CMAS) assessments, however, students do have the option to take part in testing.
Additional testing information can be found on the Colorado Department of Education website.
Maybe you’re a parent or former educator looking to get involved with Prenda. Maybe you just came across our website or heard about us from a friend, and are looking for an opportunity to work with kids. Here’s what you need to know about applying to become a Guide in Colorado:
The application process:
How long does it take to go through the application and onboarding process? It depends on how quickly you attend your virtual interview and submit the required documents, including fingerprint clearance. On average, it takes someone about two to three weeks to become a Guide.
What is the state fingerprinting process, and how long does it take? It generally takes about two weeks for new Guides to receive their fingerprint clearance cards.
Prenda empowers parents and community members from all over to get involved and make a difference as a Prenda Guide. The requirements listed below will help you get a better idea of whether or not guiding is an opportunity you’d like to pursue.
As a Prenda Guide, you would be considered an independent contractor. Compensation depends on the number of students in your microschool and the length of your school year. We’ve calculated some estimates below.
Guides are paid per student per year, which amounts to $6,840 - $9,120 per year for a microschool. Keep in mind that this is based on a nine-month schedule with about 20 microschool hours a week and 3-4 students enrolled.
How many hours do Guides work each week? About 20 hours per week, plus additional hours required for SPED services, meetings, and preparation.
How many students can enroll in my microschool? Each microschool needs to have three students enrolled from at least two families to begin. Each microschool can have a maximum of four students enrolled if the Guide does not have an active Childcare License. If the Guide has an active Childcare License, the maximum number of students is ten.
Will I get help from Prenda to find students? Yes! Oftentimes, when new Guides share with their network that they are opening a microschool, they have no trouble filling the 3-4 spaces for students. If you need help though, we have a team of people that can connect you with interested parents in your area.
Is there a deadline for enrolling students in Colorado? Yes, enrollment is only open through September 15th, and all microschools must start no later than October 1st.
Prenda selects Guides that are passionate about education and dedicated to empowering learners. Additionally, every Guide reports to a certified teacher that oversees each microschool and provides support when needed.
All Guides undergo microschool site inspections and background checks, submit character references, obtain fingerprint clearance cards, and complete onboarding with Prenda to set them up for success.
During onboarding, Guides get a deep dive into our learning model, curriculum, and core values. They get support at every step of the way from Prenda as they prepare to open their microschools and enroll students. Throughout the school year, they can reach out to a team of certified teachers to ask questions, navigate challenges, and feel confident that their students are getting what they need to thrive.
Why do Guides need a fingerprint clearance card? This card shows that a thorough background check was administered by the state and is typically required by anyone working with children. The safety of our students is a top priority at Prenda, so we ensure that every Guide goes through this process.
What is the process for getting a fingerprint clearance card? This card can be obtained in-person or online by the Department of Public Services and typically is received in the mail within a few weeks.
In Colorado, parents have two partner school programs and/or funding options to choose from. One of these options allows your student to participate in Prenda tuition-free. Please check out some of the other differences below:
For more information, visit https://www.edreenvisioned.org/domain/18
For more information, visit https://www.prenda.com/state-offerings/prenda-platform
You'll have the option to set up a call with us, find a microschool, or apply to become a Guide.
These offerings are available in your state. Make a selection below to find out more information.
Create an empowering learning experience for your K-8 child with Prenda Familyschool—a tuition-free home education program.
Unlock your child’s potential with Prenda Platform—an affordable monthly subscription program for parents to educate their K-8 children at home.
This is a great place to start! Our Guides and a team of Prenda employees host in-person and virtual events so that we can get to know each other better and you can explore Prenda by connecting with our community firsthand.
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