District FAQ
Questions districts ask before adopting
Privacy, teachability, standards, contracts, and funding — answered directly.
Does Schoolhouse collect student data?
No. Students do not log in, create accounts, or submit any information to our systems. Curriculum is delivered as public web pages and printable PDFs. We do not collect, store, or process any student personally identifiable information (PII) — not even anonymized usage data about students. See our privacy & data policy for the full architecture.
Do we need to set up rostering, SSO, or an LMS integration?
Not to get started. Because students never log in or create accounts, there is nothing to roster and no SSO to configure — curriculum is delivered as public web pages and printable PDFs. Divisions that want the units inside an existing LMS anyway can use the Common Cartridge package listed on the Division tier, currently on our roadmap. See pricing & funding for tier details.
Do I need to sign a DPA before we can start?
We will sign your division’s DPA or the SDPC National Data Privacy Agreement (NDPA) — including Virginia state addenda — within five business days. Because we collect no student PII, Exhibit E is largely “not applicable” and review is faster than for most edtech vendors. Download the pre-filled documents from our DPA procurement pack or email privacy@contact.schoolhouse.space.
Is it safe to teach AI to young students?
Yes — the curriculum is designed for age-appropriate, thoughtful engagement with AI concepts. K-2 units are 100% unplugged: students learn through physical activities and printable cards with no screens required. All bands integrate ethics, privacy, and responsible use as core content, not add-ons — Unit 4 of the K-2 band is entirely about fairness, safe choices, and honesty with smart machines, mapped directly to VDOE AI Guidance.
Does a teacher need a computer-science background?
No. Every unit ships with a full teacher edition — lesson plan, pacing notes, anticipated misconceptions, discussion questions, and facilitation guidance — written for non-specialist generalist teachers. There is no expectation that the teacher has prior AI or CS experience. Onboarding is a single virtual session with your curriculum coordinator — not a multi-day training program — and is included with School and Division licenses (and with the free pilot) at no extra cost. A deeper, live PD workshop for your staff is available as a paid add-on if you want it.
What grade bands are available today?
K-2, 3-5, and 6-8 are authored and live — 17 units total, available immediately. The 9-12 band (11 units) is in development with a target availability of the 2026-27 school year. K-2 includes a free public exemplar (Unit 3 — Teach the Machine) you can evaluate before requesting access. Preview the K-2 band →
What does each unit include?
- Student lesson (web + printable)
- Teacher guide with pacing, facilitation, and misconception notes
- Assessment with scoring rubric
- Differentiation & access document (IEP/504, ELL, above/below-level)
- Vocabulary reference
- Printable activity materials
- Family letter
- VA CS SOL and VDOE AI Guidance alignment in every component
Does assessment get harder to grade as students get older?
No new grading infrastructure is required at any authored band. K-2 through 6-8 assessment stays observational and performance-based — a look-for checklist plus a short performance task scored Meets / Approaching / Reteach — not a worksheet or scan-tron test, so it doesn’t add gradebook work for the teacher. Rigor increases by asking for more (writing an if-statement, diagnosing a device, not just sorting cards), not by changing the grading format. The 9-12 assessment format is still being finalized as that band is authored.
How is the curriculum aligned to Virginia standards?
Every component carries explicit VA CS SOL codes and VDOE AI Guidance themes in its source file front-matter. The standards crosswalk is generated automatically from those declarations — it is never hand-maintained, so it stays in sync with the content. You can audit the alignment by comparing the crosswalk directly to any lesson.
Is the curriculum refreshed when standards or AI guidance change?
Yes. We run an annual content refresh cycle every July, timed to Virginia’s academic calendar. Volatile facts (AI model names, benchmark numbers) live in dated callouts rather than lesson body text, so updates are surgical rather than full rewrites. Refreshes are included in School and Division license pricing at no additional cost.
What does pricing look like?
Flat annual site licenses — not per-student fees. Classrooms start at $499/year, schools at $2,500/year, and divisions at $12,000/year. We also offer a free one-semester pilot for divisions evaluating before purchasing. See pricing & funding for the full breakdown.
What funding sources can cover this?
The most common pathways Virginia divisions use: Title IV-A (well-rounded education & effective use of technology), Title I (supplemental instruction), and Perkins V / CTE for the secondary bands. We can help you draft budget-justification language for whichever pathway fits your division. See the pricing page for more detail.
How does a purchase order work?
We accept purchase orders. Request a formal quote using the form below — we return a written quote within two business days. Issue the PO to: Schoolhouse, Virginia, USA. A W-9 and sole-source justification letter are available on request. Access is activated within one business day of payment or PO receipt. Full instructions at procurement →
Can we cancel after the pilot?
Yes. The pilot is a free one-semester trial with no obligation. If it isn’t the right fit, cancel with no questions and no charge. For paid annual licenses, cancellation terms are in the license agreement provided at quote; we do not auto-renew without confirmation.
Who do I contact for accessibility or 504/IEP questions?
Every unit includes a Differentiation & Access document covering IEP/504 accommodations, ELL scaffolds, fine-motor and AAC alternatives, and vision and color-contrast notes. For accessibility questions about the website or PDF formats, see our accessibility statement or use the contact form.
Still have questions?
Get in touch
Use the contact form for anything not answered here. We respond within two business days.