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Frequently Asked Questions for Parents

Parent Frequently Asked Questions Page One

How do I check my child’s report card?
Simply log in to your parent account and click REPORT CARD after selecting your child’s name. From there, you can view not only grades and averages, but the actual lessons your child has completed.

Does your school encourage accelerated learning?
A major advantage to home schooling or online learning in high school is that most students can complete the required coursework earlier than through a traditional high school setting. This means that many students are able to take college credit courses while in their junior and senior years of high school.

Students and parents will need to check the procedure and requirements for their college of choice but in general most colleges use the following guidelines:

Students must have the approval of their parent(s)/guardian(s) and of their high school principal. (Be sure to let the college know of your home school status and ask what alternative recommendation letter will suffice.)
Must be high school juniors or seniors, although under special circumstances younger students may be granted permission.
May be required to take a placement exam.
May be limited to number of courses per term or total credits available.

Is home schooling legal?
Home schooling is legal in all fifty states and throughout Canada. Home schooling is also becoming increasingly popular in Australia, New Zealand, England, and Japan. However, every state and province has its own laws regarding home schooling and some are more "friendly" than others. Some home schooling laws merely require you to let your local school district know that you will be home schooling your children. Some laws require you to fill out paperwork as if you were a private school. If you are considering home schooling, you will need to get information on the current laws in your area. State or local home school groups are often the best source of information. A member of a support group in your state can advise you on how to register as a home schooler in your state. It is NOT necessary to join a Legal Defense Fund. We also recommend becoming familiar with your state's home school law at
http://www.nhen.org

Parent Frequently Asked Questions Page Two

4.	Will my home schooled child be able to get into college? Home schooled students are accepted and recruited by some of the top universities in the country because of their maturity, independent thinking skills, creativity, and strong academic preparation. As previously mentioned, home schooled students generally perform above average on the ACT. Success on the ACT test reveals that the courses taken by high school students to prepare for college have been effective. Home schooled students’ also placed highest on the SAT College entrance exams in the year 2000. In addition to academic success, home schooled students’ have had athletic success in college. Coaches are recruiting home schooled athletes, and in 2001 the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) declared about 100 home schooled students eligible for athletics as freshmen at major universities, up from 85 the year before. An article in Time on September 11, 2000, reported that 26 percent of 35 home schooled applicants had been accepted into Stanford University’s 2000-2001 freshman class. This is nearly double the rate of overall acceptance.
5.	What are the costs involved? Please refer to the Student Handbook for a clear understanding of fees.
6.	What are some benefits of Online Learning? Students take control of their own learning. Learners are treated as individuals within the class. Learners can interact with teachers and students throughout the course. Learning can take place anywhere – anytime. Students get to manage their own time and work schedule.
7.	What are some special considerations of Online Learning? Some students may not have enough motivation to complete the course. Some students may need parents to help schedule their time. Students need to take responsibility for their learning - this is new for some students. Students may spend long periods using a computer. Students who are not used to thinking for themselves will have to learn new techniques. Students are expected to complete the course at a specified deadline, usually at the end of a "typical" semester (18 weeks).

Parent Frequently Asked Questions Page Three

8.	What is your role in Online Learning? Parents need to be involved in supporting and supervising their student. Parents should view the materials online. You use your parent username and password to locate this information Parents are encouraged to communicate with the online instructor about any concerns that they have in regards to the students course.
9.	Who do you contact for information on your student? The online instructor may contact you by phone or email or you have the option of contacting the instructor through email and the District office by phone.
10.	Can AZTEC provide an adequate environment for my special education student? Special Education is accommodated by longer course times and can be backed by a teacher’s assistant from the student’s local school or other teacher support. Our lessons are audible as well as visual and our teaching styles have proven highly effective in improving special education online.
11.	How do students take a final exam? Students take a final exam in a supervised setting with a licensed Exam Proctor, much like the SATs.
12.	Will my child need to be online at the same time as his teacher? No. When a student logs in to class, he’ll see the assignment and instructions his teacher has left for him. He’ll communicate through e-mail and message boards mostly, but don’t rule out the telephone. His teacher will let him know how to communicate. There may be specific times set up for chat rooms or instant messaging, either with his teacher or with other students, but his teacher will let him know if that’s the case.