2022-2023 Student Enrollment

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. 

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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.

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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.

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Enrollment FAQs

How is Prenda tuition-free? Tuition-free microschools in Kansas are made available through our partnership with Ad Astra Virtual Academy.

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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. 

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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. 

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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. 

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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: 

• Online enrollment form 
• Child’s proof of age, such as a state-issued birth certificate or passport
• Proof of residence, such as a utility bill, mortgage or lease agreement
• Immunization records, medical exemption or religious beliefs exemption
• Health Assessment: only required if your child is 8 or younger, and entering the Kansas public school system for the first time
• IEP or 504 plan, if applicable 
• Custody documentation, if applicable

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‍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.

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.

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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. 

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. 

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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. ‍

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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. 

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. 

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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. 

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‍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.

The application process: 

1. After reading through the Guide requirements, you’re ready to submit your application. Then you’ll set up a virtual interview.
2. Next, we’ll chat with you, review your application, and let you know if you will be moving forward. 
3. If you do, we’ll help you get started on the necessary paperwork so you can begin onboarding. That’s where the real fun begins! You’ll learn all about our learning model, curriculum, and core values, and prepare to open your microschool. 
4. Finally, you’ll get step-by-step support as you begin your journey as a Guide and put the learning from onboarding into practice. 

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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. 

• Experience (paid or unpaid) working with children or home educating children of your own.
• Moderate technology skills; with the ability to pick up new systems quickly.
• Basic understanding of Prenda’s learning experience and core values.
• Ability to recruit students from at least two different families after becoming an approved Guide. We can help you with this too! 
• High level of professionalism; including strong communication skills and prioritization of confidentiality.
• Ever-curious, resourceful, creative, and problem-solving nature—a lover of learning that strives for a growth mindset.
• Top-notch organizational skills in order to monitor student progress and oversee day-to-day microschool operations.
• Open to learning about student autonomy, motivation, and connective discipline.
• Ability to arrange a microschool location (home or other suitable space) that meets the location requirements.
• Obtain CPR & first aid certifications and clear a background check.
• Reliable internet access with high-speed streaming.
• 18 years or older, and authorized to work in the U.S.

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.

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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.

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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.‍

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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. 

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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. 

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.