New Code Academy offers tuition-free online kindergarten for Minnesota families. Licensed teachers lead live classes, small groups and hands-on learning with short, age-appropriate screen blocks.
Children build early reading, writing and math skills while developing confidence, independence and real friendships. They get the structure of a public school day without the commute or morning scramble.
New Code Academy may be a good fit for families looking for:
Your child receives the teaching, curriculum, feedback and support of a Minnesota public school. Your family provides a comfortable place to learn and a trusted adult who can help with routines throughout the day.
Kindergarten teachers lead daily lessons, small groups and classroom activities designed for young learners. They get to know each child’s strengths, needs and personality while providing encouragement, feedback and individual support.
Families love the balance we offer—screen time mixed with plenty of off-screen activities. Kids spend their days creating, exploring, and collaborating, while parents enjoy the flexibility of learning from home.
Through hands-on, age-appropriate activities, Kindergarteners build problem-solving and pattern skills. What sets New Code apart is computer science woven into daily lessons—giving young learners persistence and flexible thinking that grow with them.
A predictable routine helps young children feel comfortable and ready to learn. New Code Academy balances live teaching with independent activities, movement, hands-on exploration and play.
Each kindergarten day blends live time with teachers and classmates (synchronous) and independent, hands-on learning (asynchronous). This gives students the structure of a school day without expecting them to sit on a screen all day.
Live learning may include:
Between live sessions, students have time to practice skills and learn in different ways. Many of these activities are screen-free! Activities may include:
Students are expected to attend scheduled live learning sessions and complete the independent activities built into their day. If a child is having difficulty keeping up with independent work, families can reach out to the teacher for support.
Kindergarten students learn through a mix of live instruction and independent or hands-on activities.
During live learning, children join their teacher and classmates for lessons, discussions, small groups, games and community-building activities.
Between live sessions, students may read, write, draw, practice new skills, use hands-on materials, complete a project or take part in movement and play.
This balance keeps the school day fun! It's active, varied and age-appropriate for young learners.
Families are an important part of helping kindergarten students build strong routines and confidence as online learners.
Each student should have a learning coach — a trusted adult who is available during the school day to help as needed. Kindergarteners typically need more support at the beginning of the year while they learn their schedule, technology and daily routines.
You won’t be expected to create lessons, grade assignments, or become your child’s teacher. New Code Academy teachers provide instruction, assignments, feedback and academic support.
Families also work with a Digital Learning Specialist who helps them learn the online systems and is available when questions come up.
A learning coach helps by:
Online school doesn’t mean learning alone. Kindergarteners see their teacher and classmates throughout the day through live lessons, morning meetings, small groups, games and collaborative activities.
Schoolwide events and optional activities give students even more ways to connect, share their interests and feel part of the New Code Academy community.
Schoolwide events may include:
Wednesdays give kindergarten students a little more flexibility while keeping them connected to their learning. The day includes live instruction, independent work, enrichment and optional in-person opportunities.
Students can use the afternoon to explore interests, join virtual clubs, complete teacher-provided activities, catch up on assignments or participate in face-to-face options at Washburn Elementary.
9:00–11:00 a.m.
Live morning meeting and teacher-led instruction
11:00–11:45 a.m.
Independent learning activities provided by the classroom teacher
11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
Lunch and break
12:45–3:20 p.m.
Flexible learning options may include:
Wonderful Wednesdays give families more breathing room in the middle of the week while giving students meaningful choices in how they learn and connect.
Kindergarteners can also take part in New Code Academy’s student-run NewsBytes show. Students begin with simple contributions, such as recording a weather forecast, and can build toward creating a full end-of-year episode.
Early Childhood Screening
The state of Minnesota requires all children to be screened before entering kindergarten. If your child has participated in a Bloomington Public Schools preschool or early childhood program we should have their screening on record. If your child has already been screened by another school district, Head Start or a health care provider, let our enrollment team know. We can help you understand what documentation is needed and what steps, if any, remain.
Enrollment is Open
New Code Academy accepts students throughout the school year when space is available. Families interested in fall enrollment are encouraged to begin the process as soon as possible, as some grade levels may fill.
Immunizations
Send copies of immunization records:
Computer science at New Code Academy starts with skills kindergarteners already use every day: noticing patterns, putting steps in order, solving problems, trying new ideas and learning from mistakes.
Through stories, games, hands-on activities and age-appropriate technology, students build creativity, persistence and flexible thinking. They learn that when something doesn’t work the first time, they can adjust, try again and find another solution.
These early experiences aren’t about putting young children in front of more screens. They’re about helping children become curious, confident problem-solvers — skills that support reading, math and learning across every subject.
And because computer science is part of New Code Academy from kindergarten through graduation, those early skills grow with them year after year.
Explore Computer Science