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 as a K-8 education option in Kansas through our partnership with Ad Astra Virtual Academy. Students are registered with Prenda, as well as our charter school partner, so they get access to Prenda’s personalized learning experience, a tuition-free education, and so much more.
In Kansas, microschools are made up of 5-10 students, in grades spanning from K-8. Explore the tabs below to learn more about Prenda in your state.
Enrollment in Kansas is open until August 31, 2022. For families that miss the deadline, Prenda Platform is an option available year-round. More on Prenda Platform can be found at the bottom of this page.
Do I need to enroll my child again if they were enrolled in a Prenda Microschool for the 2021-2022 school year? Yes, every year parents will need to enroll their child in Prenda for the upcoming school year.
How do I enroll my child to start attending Prenda? You can get started today by completing steps 1-2 below. In mid-July, you will be able to complete steps 3-6 of the enrollment process for each child.
1. Create an account in Prenda’s enrollment portal
2. Add a student profile for each student (NEW students only)
If your child was enrolled last year, you'll be able to select their name
3. Confirm whether your child is new or returning to Prenda
4. Select your program and funding source
Prenda Microschool (or Prenda Platform)
Ad Astra Virtual Academy (or monthly subscription)
5. Choose your microschool
You can choose a microschool later if you don't have one picked out yet.
Once you find a microschool, ask the Guide for their Guide code to register.
6. Submit the online enrollment form and upload documents
We’ll 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.
How is Prenda tuition-free? Tuition-free microschools in Kansas are made available through our partnership with Ad Astra Virtual Academy.
When can I select a microschool? You can start exploring the microschool map now. When you fill out a request for information form or create an account in the enrollment portal, we’ll share a link to the microschool map via email.
When will school start? Microschools will open for learning in the fall between August 16, 2022 and September 13, 2022. Each Prenda Guide sets their own first day of school, so this is a great question to ask as you are connecting with Guides.
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.
What documents will I need for enrollment? You don’t need any documents to create an account in the enrollment portal, but you will need the paperwork below when it’s time to complete your enrollment forms to register with Prenda and our partner. These are the documents you’ll want to have handy:
What is the cut-off date for Kindergarten? Kindergarten students must turn five on or before August 31, 2022 of the current year in order to be enrolled in Prenda.
K-8 microschool students in Kansas meet for 20 hours per week for a total of 720 hours per school year of in-microschool learning time.
Typically, microschools observe a four-day school week from Monday through Thursday and meet for five hours each day. Schedules are set by each Guide and can vary, but generally follow local district calendars.
Tip: 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.
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. 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.
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? Special education services are not provided by Prenda, however, they are offered virtually by our partner, Ad Astra Virtual Academy.
What additional support are Guides responsible for providing? When a student has an IEP or 504 and is enrolled through a partner, the Guide will attend IEP/504 meetings, take direction from specialists the child may be seeing outside of microschool hours, and communicate with the child’s parents and support team throughout the school year. Most Guides are not certified teachers and do not hold special education certifications, however, they do work closely with the service providers that specialize in these areas.
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:
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. On average, it takes someone about two to three weeks to become a Guide.
Prenda empowers parents and community members from all over to get involved and make a difference as a Prenda Guide. Below, you'll find all the requirements for becoming a Guide.
As a Prenda Guide, you’ll 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 approximately $7,500 - $25,000 per year. Keep in mind that this is based on a ten-month schedule with about 20 microschool hours a week and 3-10 students enrolled.
How many hours do Guides work each week? About 20 hours per week for K-8th Grades, plus additional hours required for SPED services, meetings, and preparation.
How many students can enroll in my microschool? Each microschool needs to have a minimum of three students enrolled from at least two families to begin, and can have a maximum of 10 students enrolled.
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 spaces with students. If you need help, we have a team of people that can connect you with interested parents in your area.
Is there a deadline for enrolling students in Kansas? Yes, enrollment is only open through August 31, 2022, and all microschools must start no later than September 13, 2022.
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, 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.
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.
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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