Whether you're new to homeschooling or simply new to OpenBook, we've gathered answers to the questions families are most likely to ask as they explore a different way to learn.
The basics about OpenBook Homeschooling.
OpenBook Homeschooling is being developed as an online homeschool curriculum and learning platform for families who educate their children at home.
The goal is to bring lessons, activities, assignments, assessments, student progress and parent tools together in one organized system.
OpenBook is beginning with Kindergarten. Our long-term plan is to expand one grade at a time through Grade 12.
We would rather develop each grade carefully than rush to publish an incomplete K–12 curriculum.
Visit our Grade Levels page to see the OpenBook roadmap.
No. OpenBook is currently being developed as a homeschool curriculum and educational learning platform rather than as a public, private or accredited K–12 school.
Parents or guardians remain responsible for the legal homeschool arrangement under which their child is educated.
The planned system begins with a parent account. Parents add student profiles and select the appropriate grade level.
Students then use their learning area to work through subjects, units, lessons, activities and assessments. Parents can follow progress through the parent dashboard.
You can see the full overview on our How It Works page .
What students will learn.
OpenBook's core curriculum is being built around four major subject areas:
Subject depth and lesson structure will expand appropriately as grade levels are developed.
OpenBook Kindergarten focuses on important early foundations such as letter recognition, beginning phonics, vocabulary, counting, number sense, shapes, patterns, early science concepts, families and communities.
Kindergarten is also intended to include drawing, movement, reading together, counting real objects, observation and other activities away from the screen.
Visit OpenBook Kindergarten for more information.
That is not our goal—especially for young learners.
Technology can be useful for delivering instruction, organizing curriculum and recording progress, but learning should also happen through books, conversation, movement, hands-on activities and exploring the world around us.
OpenBook lessons can intentionally direct students away from the computer for age-appropriate activities.
OpenBook is being designed with homeschool flexibility in mind. Families may spend additional time on a concept when a student needs more practice and move forward when the student is ready.
Parents should still make sure their homeschool schedule and instructional program satisfy any requirements that apply where they live.
Printable materials can be included when they improve the lesson. Some concepts are better practiced with pencil and paper, drawing, writing, matching, cutting, measuring or other hands-on activities.
We do not want OpenBook to become nothing more than a screen full of multiple-choice questions.
Your role in the homeschool experience.
OpenBook itself does not require a parent to hold a teaching certificate in order to use our curriculum.
However, homeschool laws differ by jurisdiction and by the legal homeschool option a family chooses. Parents should verify any instructor qualifications that apply to their situation.
Parent involvement will vary according to the student's age, independence and needs. Younger students generally require considerably more guidance.
For Kindergarten, parents should expect to help with directions, reading, hands-on activities, encouragement and supervision.
Older students can gradually take greater responsibility for their own learning while parents continue to oversee progress.
The purpose of OpenBook is to provide an organized curriculum sequence so parents do not have to create an entire academic program from scratch.
Parents can still supplement the curriculum, add field trips, books, projects and other educational experiences whenever they wish.
OpenBook is intended to provide scheduling flexibility. A family might learn in the morning, afternoon or use a schedule built around work, appointments and other family responsibilities.
Families remain responsible for satisfying applicable attendance or instructional-time requirements in their jurisdiction.
Understanding what your student has learned.
Assessments are part of the planned OpenBook learning system. Depending on the lesson and grade level, these may include short lesson checks, quizzes, unit assessments and other ways of demonstrating understanding.
Questions with clearly defined answers—such as multiple choice, true/false and certain matching or short-answer activities—can be automatically scored by the platform.
Writing, creative work, projects and other subjective assignments may require parent review rather than automatic grading.
Yes. The planned parent dashboard will allow parents to review student progress and assessment information associated with their child's OpenBook coursework.
Not necessarily.
OpenBook curriculum assessments are designed to measure learning within the curriculum. A state-required standardized assessment or independent evaluation may have specific requirements that an ordinary OpenBook quiz does not satisfy.
Parents should verify their current state requirements before relying on any curriculum assessment for legal compliance.
Progress tracking is an important part of the planned system. Student records can include completed lessons, activities, assignments and assessment results.
Families should still determine which records they are legally required to keep and maintain their own copies of important homeschool documentation.
How family accounts are intended to work.
The parent or guardian creates the main family account and manages student profiles from that account.
Yes. OpenBook is being designed for families with one or multiple homeschool students. Each child can have an individual student profile and separate learning progress.
The account system is being designed so student access can remain separate from the parent's administrative controls.
Because students may be minors, we will prioritize simple access while limiting the personal information collected from children.
That is part of the planned parent dashboard. A parent with multiple students should be able to select a child and view that child's curriculum and progress separately.
Keeping homeschool curriculum affordable.
Our planned introductory pricing is $19.95 per month for the first student, or $199 per year.
Additional students are planned at $9.95 per month each.
See our Pricing page for current details before subscribing.
We do not currently plan to charge a separate enrollment fee.
Our planned monthly membership is intended to be cancelable rather than requiring families to sign a long-term contract. Final billing and cancellation terms will be clearly displayed before paid subscriptions begin.
OpenBook is being built as an online curriculum and learning platform rather than a tuition-based private school.
Our goal is to keep the service affordable to families while building a sustainable platform that can continue adding curriculum and useful learning tools.
Understanding OpenBook's role.
No. OpenBook is currently being developed as a homeschool curriculum and learning resource and does not represent itself as an accredited K–12 school.
If OpenBook obtains accreditation or changes its educational status in the future, that information will be clearly stated.
OpenBook does not currently issue an accredited high school diploma.
High-school diploma and graduation procedures for homeschool students can depend on the family's educational arrangement and applicable state law.
No. Purchasing or using OpenBook curriculum does not by itself complete any notice, registration or other legal process that may be required for homeschooling where you live.
Parents and guardians remain responsible for determining and completing the applicable homeschool requirements.
No. Requirements can differ by state and, in some circumstances, by the educational option a family chooses.
Visit our Homeschool Laws & Requirements page for general information and links to official resources.
No. OpenBook can provide general educational information and links to official resources, but we cannot determine whether a particular family has satisfied every legal requirement that applies to them.
Families should verify current requirements through appropriate government agencies or qualified legal professionals when necessary.
Using the OpenBook learning platform.
OpenBook is being designed as a web-based learning platform. A modern computer or compatible tablet with an up-to-date web browser and reliable internet connection should be appropriate for most online activities.
Specific technical requirements will be published before enrollment opens.
The main OpenBook learning experience is planned to run through a web browser rather than requiring families to install a large software package.
Families will be able to contact OpenBook support for problems involving accounts or use of the learning platform.
When reporting an error, screenshots are especially helpful. If a screenshot cannot be taken, a clear photo of the screen can also help us understand the problem.
Protecting student information is an important part of building the OpenBook platform.
The parent account will control student profiles, and our goal is to collect only the information reasonably needed to operate the educational service.
Our final privacy policy and account system will explain what information is collected, how it is used and the controls available to parents before the service opens for enrollment.
Try another word or phrase, or contact OpenBook if there's something we haven't answered yet.
OpenBook Homeschooling is currently being developed beginning with Kindergarten. Some features described throughout this website represent the learning system we are building and may not yet be available. We will clearly distinguish available curriculum and features from those still under development before families are asked to purchase access.
Some questions are easier to answer when we know what you're trying to accomplish.
Have a question about the curriculum, your account, pricing or using the website? Send us a message and we'll help.
Contact Us →Start with our homeschool information page, which explains the major requirements families should investigate and links to official government resources.
Homeschool Information →OpenBook is beginning with Kindergarten and growing toward a complete K–12 homeschool learning path.
Explore Kindergarten →