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Zero-cost doesn’t mean zero-quality. Louisiana families have access to robust free curricula and resources that genuinely work as complete programs or strong supplements.
Key Takeaways:
- Easy Peasy All-in-One is a complete free K-12 curriculum with daily lessons, assessments, and progress tracking
- Khan Academy provides free math, science, and other subjects with video instruction and practice
- Louisiana public libraries offer extensive digital resources, including databases and e-books
- Free resources work for both Home Study and Nonpublic families; library-based learning is especially strong
- Many paid programs offer free trial periods; some offer free sample curricula or specific grade levels
Complete Free Programs
Easy Peasy All-in-One (easypeasyallinone.com) is a web-based, self-contained homeschool curriculum for K-12. Everything is free: daily assignments across all subjects, progress tracking, and assessments. Easy Peasy has a Christian worldview but frames it gently. The curriculum is self-paced—you can progress faster or slower depending on your family’s rhythm. For families new to homeschooling or operating on minimal budget, Easy Peasy removes financial barriers entirely. The catch: it requires parental engagement and works best for families comfortable with independent learning.
Math (Free and Strong)
Khan Academy (khanacademy.org) offers complete K-12 math with video instruction, practice problems, and progress tracking. Videos are 5–15 minutes, which fits well into homeschool schedules. Khan also covers science, and it’s genuinely high-quality. It’s not a complete curriculum on its own—many families use Khan as their math program with a separate literature or social studies curriculum.
OpenStax (openstax.org) provides free textbooks for higher grades (Algebra, Geometry, Precalculus, Calculus) with practice problems and solutions. If you have teens working through advanced math, OpenStax textbooks replace $100+ textbooks at zero cost.
Science and Social Studies (Free Resources)
CK-12 (ck12.org) offers free science and math textbooks, interactive simulations, and supplementary resources. Great for hands-on, visual learners.
Crash Course Kids (YouTube channel) provides free, engaging 5-minute videos on science and social studies topics. Many Louisiana families use Crash Course as their introduction to topics, then go deeper with other resources.
National Geographic Kids and PBS Learning Media offer free videos, articles, and activities on science and natural history. National Geographic content is especially relevant for Louisiana ecology, climate, and regional science.
Louisiana-Specific Free Resources
Louisiana State Library System offers free digital access for cardholders (and most Louisiana residents can get a card):
- OverDrive/Libby: Free e-books and audiobooks
- Hoopla: Free movies, documentaries, music, and ebooks
- Learning Express: Free tutoring and educational videos
- Gale Databases: Academic databases for research and reference
Visit Louisiana (louisiana.gov) provides free educational materials about Louisiana history, culture, geography, and attractions—perfect for localized learning.
Poverty Point State Park (povertypointpark.org) offers free educational resources about this UNESCO World Heritage Site and its 3,400-year history. Field trips are affordable ($4 entry fee), and learning materials are free online.
Atchafalaya Heritage Area (atchafalaya.org) provides free educational content on Louisiana’s largest river basin, ideal for ecology and environmental science.
Jazz Museum of New Orleans (nolajazzmuseum.org) offers free online exhibits and educational resources. Even if you can’t visit in person, the free online materials teach Louisiana musical history and culture.
University and Institution Resources (Free)
Louisiana State University and major university websites often host free lectures, course materials, and lab resources. LSU’s Herbarium is freely searchable and useful for biology and botany study.
LIGO Observatory (Livingston Parish) offers free virtual tours and educational materials about gravitational waves and physics—unique to Louisiana.
Audubon Zoo Online Resources: Free content on animals, conservation, and ecology complements potential field trips.
How to Use Free Resources Effectively
Mixing and Matching: Most successful Louisiana families don’t rely on a single free curriculum. They combine Easy Peasy for core academics, Khan Academy for math practice, free library access for literature and research, and Louisiana-specific free resources for place-based learning.
Library Power: Your Louisiana library system is massively underutilized. Beyond books, libraries offer:
- Free interlibrary loan (access to books beyond your branch)
- Free database access for research
- Free digital textbooks and educational videos
- Free learning software and apps
- Free reference services
- Free programming (science demonstrations, history talks, etc.)
Spend an afternoon with your librarian explaining your curriculum needs. Most librarians can recommend free alternatives and resources perfectly aligned to your plan.
Supplementing Paid Programs: Even if you buy one core curriculum (like Abeka for math structure), free resources supplement extensively. Use Khan Academy for practice and reteaching. Use library resources for literature and research. Use Crash Course for engagement and visual reinforcement.
Assessment with Free Curricula: If you’re Home Study and use primarily free resources, you’ll need to document progress for your annual reporting. Options include:
- Third-party testing ($30–$75)
- Khan Academy progress reports (show comprehension and mastery)
- Portfolio documentation (kept samples of work showing progression)
- Materials packet (showing lessons completed, assignments submitted)
Most Free Peasy users generate sufficient progress documentation through the built-in assessments and portal.
Budget-Friendly Approach
A lean-cost Louisiana homeschool might look like:
- Core curriculum: Easy Peasy ($0) or Khan Academy ($0) + a used copy of a literature anthology ($20–50)
- Library card: Free
- Supplies: Notebook, pencils, paper ($30–50 for the year)
- Testing/assessment: $30–75 if Home Study
- Field trips and supplements: Free (local parks, museums with community days)
Total: $80–175 per child annually, with no quality sacrifice.
Limitations of Free-Only Approach
Completely free homeschooling works beautifully for:
- Families with time flexibility
- Self-motivated learners
- Tech-comfortable families
- Those comfortable curating their own materials
It’s harder if you:
- Prefer structured, scripted daily lessons
- Have multiple children at different levels (mixing curricula gets complex)
- Want “someone else figured this out” simplicity
- Have learners needing significant hands-on materials
Next Steps
Start with for a complete curriculum overview—understanding paid options helps you see what free resources actually replicate.
covers budget strategies beyond just curriculum, including stretching limited funds across full homeschool operation.
Louisiana families: contact Homeschool Louisiana (homeschoollouisiana.org) for local support group recommendations. Ask which free resources other local families successfully use—lived experience beats generic advice.