Parent Responsibilities of an Online Student
For students enrolled in our full-time program, we strongly recommend that a parent or another responsible adult be
available at home to serve as a Learning Coach, providing an age- and ability-appropriate level of assistance
and supervision to the student. Pearson Online Academy also asks parents to sign an agreement outlining their
responsibilities as Learning Coaches and describing suggested steps for creating an optimal learning environment
at home.
View a sample parent
agreement
For students enrolled part-time in individual courses, we advise online school parents and learning coaches to
familiarize themselves with the requirements of the course or to consult with an Admissions Advisor to determine
the amount of parent participation required to ensure student success.
Online Elementary School—Starting Out Together
In grades K–5, students require a lot of support from caring adults at home and in the online classroom.
Learning Coaches can expect to:
- Devote about five hours per day to overseeing their students’ schoolwork
- Set the daily schedule with varied activities and breaks
- Assist with lessons and communicate frequently with the teacher
- Help monitor student progress and comprehension
Online Middle School—Nurturing Independence and Accountability
As students become more independent and responsible in grades 6–8, Learning Coaches “step back” a
bit, and subject-specific teachers “step in” to provide expert online instruction and offline
support in math, language arts, science, social studies, and an array of electives.
Learning Coaches support this transition to more independent learning as they:
- Oversee schoolwork for two to three hours per day
- Assist with some lessons
- Monitor student comprehension and grades
- Refer students to teachers as needed
- Communicate regularly with teachers
Online High School—Students Take the Lead
In grades 9–12, online students start to really take charge of their education—setting goals, working
independently, and exploring their future options.
Learning Coaches encourage their students’ growing independence as they:
- Commit one to two hours per day to overseeing schoolwork
- Verify that lessons and assignments are completed
- Communicate with teachers, referring students to teachers for help when needed
- Attend regular teacher conferences
Supporting the Online Learning Coach
Our online orientation program helps the Learning Coach understand his or her responsibilities. It also introduces
all the resources and support systems made available to help the Learning Coach and student succeed. Pearson
Online Academy offers Learning Coach Central, an online resource, that's available to Learning Coaches 24/7.
The Learning Coach can also call a toll-free number to speak with a technical support representative. This
support is available for troubleshooting.
You’ll also find support available from your student’s teacher, school staff, and other families.