Frequently Asked Questions
How Many People Are Homeschooling Now?
Home-based education is experiencing regeneration and growth at a significant pace in nations as widespread as Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Mexico, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and Japan. Numbers are hard to come by in some nations. An estimated 50,000 to 95,000 students were being homeschooled in Canada during the 2000–2001 conventional school year. In England and Wales, estimates vary widely, from about 13,000 to 50,000. Australian figures are in the range of 35,000 to 55,000. In Germany, a country that remains strongly committed to state education, one organization thinks there are between 500 and 600 homeschooled students.
The United States offers the most accurate information available. During the 2001–2002 school year, the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) estimates that between 1.6 and 2.0 million students were being homeschooled in the U.S., in every grade level from kindergarten through twelfth grade. This is a remarkable increase of 500 percent over the number homeschooled in 1990–1991. Indications are that the growth rate is between 7 percent and 15 percent per year.
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What Kind of Families Homeschool?
Families from all social and racial backgrounds are taking on the education of their own children: parents with a grade 10 education, others with Ph.D.s; the wealthy and the less well-off; Christians, humanists, Jews, Mormons, Muslims, and New Age devotees; families with eight children and those with one; married couples and single parents; those in the inner city and those in the wilds of Alaska; sales clerks, public schoolteachers, doctors, and plumbers. Every year the variety broadens and expands.
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Are Their Children Getting a Good Education?
Homeschooled students in the U.S. and Canada score 15 to 30 percentile points, on average, above their public school peers. This is true not only in the basics of reading, writing, and mathematics, but also in science, social studies, and study skills. Testing shows that they are also receiving a firm foundation in sound values, in the history of their own nation and the world, and in self-directed learning.
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What about Socialization?
Homeschooled children and youth are involved in an array of activities with children, youth, and adults of all ages. Homeschoolers know that solid social and emotional development is based on interaction with a variety of people and ages in many different settings, not on the stultified peer group setting of typical institutional schools. Home- and family-based activities—including sports, 4-H clubs, Scouts, church activities, gardening, cooperative small-group classes in foreign language and science, and courses at local community colleges—all help to round out the basic home curriculum.
Homeschooled children and youth develop strong ties with their parents and siblings. Research shows that they are also socially, emotionally, and psychologically healthy and strong.
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How Do We Start?
Continue reading and thinking about homeschooling and about your own philosophy of education. Second, find a local support group in your town or city, and learn from experienced homeschoolers who are in it. Join a statewide or provincewide homeschooling organization, and attend one of their conferences. Subscribe to a couple of homeschooling magazines. Consider the benefits of joining an organization that focuses on protecting the unalienable and legal rights of parents to direct the education and upbringing of their children. And finally, read the last chapter of
The Worldwide Guide to Homeschooling carefully for detailed information and tips on how to get started.
Starting a home schooling program may seem a bit challenging at first. As home schooling professionals, we’re here to help. Odyssey Learning Services features a complete line of parent materials designed to avoid confusion and help you get started on the right foot. Our student testing and placement kits will ensure that your child maximizes his learning by beginning at the
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ODYSSEY ACADEMY FAQS
What is the parent’s role?
The parent’s role is seen as the primary teacher supported by a partnership with the Academy support staff. This is a powerful combination. Parental involvement as the primary* teacher is necessary to insure your student’s success.
*Primary, meaning “first in line.” As the primary teacher, you are your child’s “first-responder” with help for academic questions. Next in line is your On-Line teacher who will help through the built-in memo pads for student/teacher correspondence. Odyssey Academy On-Line teachers are available for “real-time/live-voice” additional assistance via telephone when needed.
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What is a typical school day like?
You arrange the school day as you see fit; have your student do all the work in one sitting or space it out over the day. Time spent on the computer will vary depending on your school calendar, the number of subjects that have been assigned, and the student’s understanding level of the course material. Generally, a student taking a full course load spread over a 180-day school year will spend three to four hours a day on the computer.
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Do the parents set up the lesson plans?
The parents are required to set up their student’s school calendar at the beginning of the school year. Based on this calendar, the computer will divide the entire course into a lesson plan. The calendar can be adjusted through the year to allow for unplanned events, illness, or planned vacations.
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How much time does the student have to finish the school year?
Each student is given one calendar year (12 months) to complete one school year’s course work.
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Is it better to have two computers if there are two Online Academy students in the same family?
If you have two (or more) students working in the Online Academy, it makes it easier for your students to have two (or more) computers; however, it is not required. If there will be two students working on one computer, we recommend having one student complete his or her work in the morning, and the other in the afternoon. If there are more than two students in the same family enrolled in the Online Academy, an additional computer is highly recommended.
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When can my student start?
You can enroll your student(s) any day of the year.
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How long does the enrollment process take?
From October to June, the entire enrollment process takes approximately two weeks to complete. From July to September, the process can take three weeks to complete. The enrollment process includes registration, transcript processing, placement testing and program placement, and curriculum shipment.
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Will my Internet filter cause any problems?
The Online Academy will not work with a filtered Internet service provider. If you have an Internet service provider that allows you to set a filter (i.e., AOL), you will need to set the filter to the lowest level (i.e., parent level) to synchronize with the school. Third-party filters (software filters) will work satisfactorily with the Online Academy.
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Does my student have to be connected to the Internet while doing schoolwork?
No, after your student synchronizes before starting work for the day, the student can disconnect from the Internet. Your student will need to connect to the Internet again to synchronize after completing schoolwork for the day.
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Do you offer payment plans?
Yes, we offer a three-part payment plan for full time students. The first installment of the tuition is due after the placement testing and evaluation, when the curriculum is shipped. The second installment is due 45 days after the shipment. The final payment is due 45 days after the second. However, if the tuition is paid in full at the time of shipment, the price is discounted.
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How does the Academy work with a student who has a learning disability, such as ADD or ADHD?
In many cases, learning disabled children can be placed in the SOS curriculum level that is recommended by our counselors according to the results of the placement test for language and math. However, AOA is not staffed to work with learning disabled children who are incapable of independent progress, or who must be assisted by tutors in performing remedial academics.
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What should I do if my student misses a scheduled day of work? Do we need to notify the Academy?
One of the benefits of home schooling is the flexibility of the schedule. With Odyssey Academy, you have the flexibility to change your schedule when it becomes necessary. You do not need to notify the Online Academy of a school day that has been missed. If your student will not be working for a week or more, we recommend informing the Academy and updating your school calendar.
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How often should I check my student’s progress?
We encourage parents to take an active role in their student’s education. Parents are essential in actively teaching and working with the student throughout the lessons, and we encourage daily review of student progress. Your involvement is critical to your student’s success. If you need help interpreting scores, answering questions, providing additional instruction, and more, please call your student’s academic-support teacher for help. We encourage “parent conferences.”
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How does the student communicate with an Academy teacher?
The student can communicate with an Academy teacher in three ways. The first is through the writing of messages left in the memo pads and “message from student” boxes built into the curriculum, and are sent through the Internet with the student’s work. The second is through e-mail with an on-site teacher. The final way is by phone; the student can call a toll-free number and talk to a teacher during our normal business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. PST.
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Does OA periodically send report cards or progress reports?
Yes, Odyssey Academy will send a printout at the end of each semester. The grades shown will reflect fully completed units, including all projects or essays. In addition, the SOS programming allows immediate viewing for the parent to see the current and cumulative progress of the student and also furnishes the parent with the capability of printing a “grade summary” at any time.
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Do students have a set calendar?
You, the parent, sets the school calendar for your student by determining the months and days your student will work. Your school calendar is then used to establish the lesson plans and due dates. The curriculum is flexible. You can start and stop at any time based on your schedule. You can make changes in the calendar through the year to accommodate any unexpected events, illness, or planned vacations.
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Can I enroll my student for just one course?
Yes. Part-time students must take at least 1 full credit course. If, however, your student plans to earn a high school diploma through the Academy, he or she should register as a full-time student, with the usual placement testing and program planning.
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How quickly will my student’s work be graded?
Our teachers have 24-48 hours (with the exception of weekends and holidays) to review and grade each student’s daily assignments. For this policy to be enforced, the student must transmit schoolwork the same day it is completed.
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What can I do to improve my student’s penmanship if all the work is done on the computer?
We offer two options if you would like your student to do more penmanship work: (1) obtain our penmanship course, or (2) have the student do the projects on paper for the handwriting practice and then type the work into the SOS project page.
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Does my student need to be able to type to be successful?
Typing skill is an advantage. However, many students successfully do the work using the “hunt and peck” method. We recommend use of a quality typing tutor software to develop typing skills.
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Is there any work that is not completed on the computer?
Projects that are accomplished away from the computer include science experiments (if you choose to have your student complete them hands-on rather than by solely watching the videos), as well as research papers for Language Arts, History, and Bible. Also, in grades 7 through 12, our Language Arts course includes reading and evaluating printed novels, plays, and biographies.
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Do you offer an official transcript for outside courses that are approved for Academy credit?
The credit will show on our transcript; however, it will show as a transfer credit with the school name from which the credit was transferred, or as a “home-school” course, if the course was administered by the parent.
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LIFEPAC FAQS
What is the difference between LIFEPACs and Horizons Math?
Both are wonderful curriculums. The key difference between the two is the introduction of math concepts. Horizons introduces a few concepts at once with review, while the LIFEPAC curriculum introduces one concept at a time. Horizons is extremely popular with our parents and good for a child that can multi-task. LIFEPACs are better for a child that needs to concentrate on learning one skill very well before moving on to the next . Horizons has two larger workbooks and the LIFEPACs have 10 smaller workbooks.
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Where can I get materials for science experiments?
Call Home Training Tools 1-800-860-6272.
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What does LIFEPAC stand for?
LIFEPAC stands for L-Learning I-Individually F- For E- Excellence P- Promotes A-Academic C- Confidence.
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How long does it take to complete one LIFEPAC?
Each LIFEPAC should take approximately 3-4 weeks to complete. Remember to use the teacher’s guide for additional activities and supplementary teaching ideas. Have a family celebration or special recognition at the completion of each work-text! It provides children with an additional sense of accomplishment.
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What subject and grade levels do you offer in the LIFEPAC curriculum?
Challenging students to demonstrate both academic and spiritual growth, our curriculum consists of five core subjects – Bible, Language Arts, Math, History and Geography, and Science. The curriculum is available for grades K-12.
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What electives do you offer?
We offer several electives including Spanish, Spanish 2, Art, Home Economics, Accounting, British and American Literature, Health Quest, Health (for high school) Consumer Math, Foundation for Living, Communication Applications, Computer Literacy and LIFEPAC Selects.
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How do I get started home schooling?
mastery and content appropriate grade level. We also offer guides on the basics of home schooling and how to manage our curriculum.
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How is your curriculum unique?
The versatility of Odyssey’s products makes our curricula easy to use, whether you’re new to home schooling or a veteran educator. You select from our six options of instruction based on the level of student involvement that is right for you. Look on the Home page under Products for more information.
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What is mastery learning?
Our curriculum is written on the principle of mastery learning. This means that students truly master the content and skills of one unit before progressing to the next. Different students learn at different speeds, so mastery learning ensures success by allowing each student to spend as much time as he needs a in particular subject area before moving on.
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How many lessons are there in each subject for a complete school year in each curriculum?
- Horizons contains 160 lessons with 16 tests
- LIFEPAC contains 10 LIFEPAC tests, self tests and quizzes
- Switched-On Schoolhouse and Classes2You contain approximately 130 lessons that combine tests, quizzes and projects.
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If we have been using a different curriculum, do I need to test my students?
Because different curricula introduce concepts at different times we feel that a diagnostic test is an essential tool for ensuring that a child fits into a curriculum correctly. It is not a standardized test (i.e. SAT, California Achievement, Iowa, etc.) nor an intelligence test. It simply is used to place students in the curriculum, and to make sure that any learning gaps are addressed. Our hope is that a child will love to learn and enjoy the process. By placing students correctly in the curriculum they are set up for success.
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Do I grade the test myself or send it in?
The diagnostic tests are easy to grade and evaluate yourself, however, we also offer a student placement service. If you choose the placement service, you will be sent a Math and Language Arts diagnostic test to administer to your child. The test will then need to be sent back to OLS for evaluation. The parent then receives an evaluation/placement letter and a quote order for recommended curriculum to purchase. This service can take 2-4 weeks to complete.
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What is your return policy?
Customers have 30 days to return the curriculum for a full refund. Between 30-60 days a 20% restocking fee will be charged. After 60 days no returns will be accepted. Product or items must all be in resalable and reusable condition (no marks, highlights, bent covers or pages, etc.) Tests must be intact.
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What payment types do you accept; do you have a layaway plan?
We accept MasterCard and Visa. We do not accept American Express or Discover. Personal checks under $50 are accepted with a check guarantee. All COD orders require a cashiers check or money order. We do not offer a layaway program.
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Will my child get a high school diploma?
Odyssey Academy offers transcripts and diplomas to children that are registered in one of our two options. If you are using the curriculum on your own, a GED will be needed. Many students also take their SAT or ACT exams for college entrance.
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Is your curriculum accredited?
Only institutions can be accredited. There is not any curriculum that is accredited. We can provide the best educational products possible, but we don’t have any control over what is done with the product once it leaves our building. A school however, can be accredited by an accrediting agency. Our partner academy, Alpha Omega Academy is currently in the CITA candidacy stage. Accrediting means that all the processes are in place for accurate record keeping and meeting certain standards.
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How do I keep track of grades?
We carry Student Record books. Each book has space for one quarter. Keeping accurate records is essential to keeping track of your child’s progress.
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How long should a student work on each subject?
We recommend approximately 45 minutes per subject per day. Time spent on a lesson will vary depending on the child and on the lesson.
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HORIZON FAQS
Do you have a diagnostic test for Horizons?
Yes, the Horizons test is a readiness test. For example, if a student passes the 5th grade math test, this means he is ready for the 5th grade Horizons curriculum. For LIFEPACs, if a student passes the 5th grade test, he would be placed in our 6th grade curriculum. The Horizons test is located in the back of the diagnostic test for Math.
Can I make copies of my curricula?
No, this is a direct violation of copyright laws. A second set of LIFEPACs and Horizons can be easily purchased without having to pay for a second teacher’s guide. Certain pages in the Weaver curriculum can be reproduced for personal use.
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