Novatio is a Cognia-accredited virtual private school for students in grades 2 through 8. Every Arizona K–12 resident is eligible for the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Account program, which means Peoria families can use ESA funds to cover Novatio's $7,500 annual tuition without writing a tuition check. The state deposits education funds directly into your child's ESA, you manage those funds through ClassWallet, and tuition transfers from your ClassWallet account to Novatio. If any funds remain after tuition, they stay in your account for other approved educational expenses such as tutoring or curriculum materials.

What does an online school in Peoria actually look like day to day?

Students complete approximately two hours of focused, personalized core academics each morning, covering Language, Reading, Math, Social Studies, and Science. Every student follows the same subject schedule, but the work within each subject is personalized to their current level. One student might be strengthening multiplication skills during the math block while another is working on algebra. Academics are designed to be done by lunch, and there is no homework, ever. Afternoons are reserved for live clubs where students work on real projects with teacher coaches.

How does Novatio personalize learning for my child's specific level?

AI works behind the scenes to build each student's academic plan using real-time assessment data. It places students at the appropriate level in each subject, identifies skills they are ready to learn, and adjusts the learning pathway as they progress. A student may be working at different levels across different subjects, so a sixth-grader who is ready for eighth-grade math is not held back while they receive support in reading. The plan adjusts as your child demonstrates mastery rather than waiting for the rest of a class to move together. You can learn more about the full curriculum at Novatio's curriculum page.

Are there real teachers, or is it mostly software?

Certified teachers are at the center of Novatio's model, not a side feature. One Novatio parent put it directly: 'This is NOT an AI school, this is a school that applies features of AI to customized learning for each child.' Teachers provide direct guidance, personalized intervention, progress monitoring, and real accountability throughout the school day. When a student gets stuck, a teacher steps in with additional explanation and support. Students are not left alone to figure out an online program by themselves.

What proof is there that this model actually works?

NWEA MAP data from Novatio's first cohort showed that students learned 4.6 times faster than expected during the measured period. Individual results vary, and that figure reflects first-cohort data rather than a guaranteed outcome for every student. As a separate example of what the model can produce, one Novatio student moved from the 8th to the 80th percentile in reading over one year, based on NWEA MAP scores. That is one student's experience, not an average, but it illustrates what mastery-based, personalized placement can make possible when gaps are addressed directly.

What happens in the afternoon, and how does my child connect with other students?

After academics, students participate in two live clubs per session. Club sessions generally rotate every nine to eleven weeks. Past clubs have included Game On, where students build and publish a Scratch game; Wealth Builders, where students work through a 20-year financial life simulation and study concepts like budgeting, saving, and investing; The Summit, a debate-style club where students research global issues and defend a position with evidence; and Level Up, built around habits and well-being using a curriculum adapted from Yale's Science of Well-Being. Clubs are built around a real challenge, a project or measurable outcome, and teacher coaching. As one parent noted, 'the friendships made at school are organic and natural.' Not every club runs every session, so specific offerings vary.

Does Novatio support students with learning differences or IEPs?

Yes. Many supports are built into the daily model rather than added only after a student begins to struggle. Individual pacing by subject, short focused session blocks, movement breaks, text-to-speech, and regular teacher check-ins are part of how the school operates. Novatio also offers a Special Education Support Program that may include case management, executive-function coaching, targeted reading support, one-on-one specialist-led dyslexia intervention, and review of an existing IEP or 504 plan. Additional support services carry an additional cost, and for students with an IEP or 504, those additional costs are covered by the state. Visit Novatio's special education support page for more detail on available services.

How does a Peoria family get started with ESA and Novatio enrollment?

Arizona's ESA program has no income test and no disability requirement. Every Arizona K–12 resident is eligible. Families complete the ESA application process through the state, receive their award, and manage funds through ClassWallet. Novatio accepts students without academic entry requirements, so grades, test scores, and current academic level do not determine admission. Once your ESA is in place, tuition transfers directly from your ClassWallet account. To find out whether Novatio is the right fit for your child's situation, you can book a 1:1 admissions call with Karissa. The call takes a short amount of time, there's no commitment, and the application itself takes under two minutes with no fee.