Schoolhouse Dialogues is a free program from Schoolhouse — the nonprofit peer-tutoring platform founded by Sal Khan of Khan Academy. It pairs students worldwide, with one-off events for high-school students ages 14–18 and clubs for students ages 14–21, for structured 1-on-1 or small-group Zoom conversations on topics they care about. Over 174,000 students from 180+ countries have participated in Schoolhouse programs.
Two formats:
| Format | Frequency | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-Time Event | Weekly | 60 min | 1-on-1 with a matched student; new discussion topic every week; guided by a provided discussion guide |
| Dialogues Club | Every 2 weeks | 60 min | Same group of students each session; builds community over time; opportunity to become a Club President |
The Dialogues Portfolio:
After completing 3 or more Dialogue sessions and submitting the post-session survey each time, students become eligible for a Dialogues portfolio — showing the topics they discussed, the number of Dialogues completed, and self-selected feedback and reflections. Colleges do not see the content of a student's conversations. Several college partners recognize the portfolio directly as part of admissions; students can also upload it as an extracurricular activity when applying to other colleges.
Who runs Schoolhouse?
Schoolhouse is a nonprofit founded by Sal Khan (founder of Khan Academy) in 2020. It is 100% free with no paywalls or applications, and is backed by partnerships with College Board and other educational organizations.
Participation checked November 4, 2026: The official Dialogues FAQ distinguishes high-school students ages 14–18 for one-off events from students ages 14–21 for clubs. The programme page confirms free 60-minute events and clubs meeting every two weeks. Club terms are January–May, June–August and September–December; sign up for the relevant listed event or club, as no universal annual deadline is given. The mandatory post-session reflection can be completed within seven days; at least three sessions and reflections are needed before selected feedback appears in the portfolio. Exact later event dates must come from the live listings.