Online K-12 School Enrollment Agreement Checklist

Why a Comprehensive Enrollment Agreement Matters

An enrollment agreement is more than a contract—it's the legal foundation of your relationship with every family. For online K-12 schools, this document must address unique challenges: virtual instruction, technology requirements, multi-state operations, children's privacy, and subscription-based billing. A well-drafted agreement protects your school, sets clear expectations, and reduces disputes.

Key Differences from Traditional School Contracts

Online schools face distinct legal considerations that brick-and-mortar schools don't encounter. Your enrollment agreement must address technology requirements and access, virtual attendance and participation standards, online conduct and acceptable use, data privacy and COPPA compliance, multi-jurisdictional operations, and automated billing and renewal practices. Each of these creates potential liability if not properly addressed.

The Cost of Inadequate Agreements

Schools with weak enrollment agreements face recurring problems: refund disputes that escalate to chargebacks or litigation, families claiming they didn't understand tuition obligations, privacy complaints when data practices weren't disclosed, regulatory issues from non-compliant auto-renewal terms, and difficulty enforcing academic policies. A thorough agreement prevents these issues.

State-Specific Requirements

Different states impose varying requirements on educational service contracts. California requires specific refund disclosures and auto-renewal consent. Florida has enrollment agreement content requirements for private schools. New York mandates certain disclosures for distance learning. Your agreement must comply with requirements in every state where students reside.

Using This Checklist

Work through each section systematically. Essential provisions are legally required or critical for protecting your school. Important provisions significantly reduce legal risk. Recommended provisions represent best practices that improve clarity and reduce disputes. Your completed checklist identifies gaps in your current agreement and prioritizes what to address first.