FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Home Education Academy?
Home Education Academy is a college and career prep homeschool program that offers small, live, interactive, weekly, a la carte, classes taught from a Judeo-Christan perspective for grades 5-9 (with grades 10-12 coming soon.) We’ll give you the much-needed support, structure, and accountability to help you homeschool with excellence and with confidence. We provide your student with their weekly instruction from experts in online interactive virtual classrooms while you, with our guidance, oversee your student during the week.
How did it get started?
Home Education Academy was founded by two Florida homeschool moms, Sue Puchferran and Jeanne Campbell, with backgrounds in engineering and psychology. In 2004 they made a vision a reality when they started a local one day a week academic program to assist families in educating their children at home. Over the past nineteen years, this Home Education Enrichment Day (HEED) (www.heedhomeschool.com) has provided assistance to hundreds of families and helped thousands of students to graduate strong. Home Education Academy is the expansion of this vision bringing the same academic excellence and commitment online to your family.
How can you help me?
You are not alone. We directors bring a combined fifty plus years of experience home educating our own eight children, as well as eighteen years of working together assisting homeschooling families. We will help you select courses, set up structure, and bring a quality education to your children. We can also advise on extracurricular, athletic, college, etc. questions and concerns. You can have our qualified instructors do the hard parts by teaching live, interactive classes to your students, providing lesson plans, feedback and evaluation of their work. This combined with your oversight at home allows for a successful hybrid learning experience, giving you the time to discover and learn with your children and, more importantly, grow in your relationship.
What does it look like?
You’ll need a computer with internet access and a working webcam and microphone. Your student will sign into a virtual classroom every week at the same time. For example, they might take math on Wednesday mornings at 10:30. They will see and hear their instructor as well as the other participants. Instructors will get to know your child as they engage with them weekly in the virtual classroom. Students can enjoy getting to know one another too. Instructors present information and lessons by speaking, sharing their screen, using a virtual whiteboard, document camera, etc. Your child will receive their weekly instruction at this time and can ask questions, share thoughts, etc. Throughout the week, your student will be using our LMS called LEARNspace to see lesson plans, assignments, etc. They will also submit assignments through LEARNspace during the week. You will have an opportunity to learn and discover with your child as you oversee their work, and if you have questions, you may message instructors throughout the week.
What’s my role?
Your child’s first and primary teacher is you. No one knows your child as well as you do and no one loves your child as much as you do. We have taken the guess-work and uncertainty out of homeschooling by providing a complete homeschool hybrid learning program. You’ll stay consistently engaged throughout the week, overseeing your student’s work, and seeing that it is completed and submitted on time, with integrity. You are ultimately responsible for keeping your children accountable and their assignments up to date. For more complete information on your and your student’s roles, see our CODE OF CONDUCT
Can you arrange classes for groups or organizations?
If you have a group of 6 or more (6-12) students, we will organize your own classes for your students. You will use our LMS for your students. For example, you could have your own local support group offering classes to families in any subjects that you need. These classes would have to be scheduled privately with our administrators to consider availability of instructors and in some cases time zone differences.
What is an LMS?
LMS stands for Learning Management System and is a software platform designed specifically to create, distribute and manage the delivery of educational content. We use an LMS called LEARNspace to conduct our virtual classes, to share syllabi, lesson plans and class information as well as to communicate with you and your students throughout the week. Your students will communicate with instructors and submit assignments through LEARNspace.
How do I know what courses my student should take?
Recommended scope and sequence for each grade level is listed on the SCHEDULE PAGE. This will help you see what courses are typically taken in each grade. If you need more help, just click here. We can offer the help you need to customize the right courses for your student.
Can my student take courses from different grade levels?
Yes. Appropriate placement is essential to your student’s success. Consequently, you can select courses from different grade levels depending on your child’s ability. We want to be sure your student is placed at the level in which they will be most successful. We do not want to keep them back or set them up for failure in an environment that is too challenging for them. Therefore, we require diagnostic assessment for our math and English program. Placement tests are required for all of our new students enrolling in Math 5 or higher, as well as all of our new students enrolling in English 8 or higher. See PLACEMENT TESTS.
How many classes does my child have to take?
There is no requirement for the amount of classes taken by a student. Your child can take one class or several classes. We are here to assist you by filling in the gaps for you. You’ll choose whatever classes serve your family best.
Can my student miss a class?
Regular attendance is very important for success in our classes as students are receiving an entire week of instruction during their weekly class time. However, as a homeschooling family, we understand that flexibility is important at times. If your students must miss a class, you should make arrangements ahead of time with their instructors, so they do not fall behind.
How many students are in a class?
Class sizes range from about 6-12 students. These smaller class sizes allow for our instructors to get to know each of your children by name and individually engage them during their online class.
How long are the classes?
Classes meet weekly for 70-80 minutes.
How long is the school year?
Our school year is 30-32 weeks, depending on the class, beginning in September and ending in May.
See our ACADEMIC CALENDAR.
Who provides the books?
For the majority of our classes, you will be required to purchase your student’s textbooks and materials. Some courses may have a fee for curriculum provided. A complete list of required books and materials for each course is provided within the course description.
How much does it cost?
Most classes cost $499 each. Some courses may have an additional fee for curriculum provided. These fees are listed in the course description. There is a $50 registration fee per student per year. As we must plan our classes and pay our instructors based on the interest exhibited by the registration process beginning in April, it is not possible for us to refund any payments. Therefore, all payments are non-refundable and non-transferable.
How are payments made?
A $50 registration fee per student is due upon registration. Half of the total balance is due July 15 and the final half of the balance is due August 15. Payments can be made online by bank draft or credit card. All payments are made online and are non-refundable and non-transferable. We do not process payments by phone, email or postal mail.
Does my student get grades?
Yes. Your child’s work will be evaluated by their instructors, and they will be given grades on assignments, participation, tests, etc. However, as homeschooling parents, ultimately your student’s grades come from you, and you have the option to adjust their grades as you see fit.
Is it accredited?
No. Home Education Academy is not a school. It is a homeschool hybrid learning program to be used as your tool for educating your children at home. You’re the homeschooling parent. You can have our qualified instructors do the hard parts by teaching live, interactive classes to your students, providing lesson plans, feedback and evaluation of their work. This combined with your oversight at home allows for a successful hybrid learning experience, giving you the time to discover and learn with your children and, more importantly, grow in your relationship.
How do you choose curriculum?
Our curriculum is individually chosen based on the directors’ combined 60 plus years of experience educating their children at home as well as the past 18 years assisting other homeschooling families. We examine the scope and sequence covered, academic content, biblical worldview (where applicable) and learning compatibility with the home education platform. Our selections for middle school prepare your children for success in high school. Our selections for high school help prepare your children for success in college, career, and life.
Are instructors certified teachers?
Although many of them are, not all of our instructors are certified teachers. We seek out and secure well educated experts who love God and are passionate about their respective subjects. Our instructors include lawyers, scientists, engineers, pastors, college professors, psychologists, accountants, high school teachers, and more. Real-life experience combined with an excellent grasp of the subject, and a passion to pour into your children are the characteristics that make Help Me Homeschool Academy’s instructors some the best!
Do you issue transcripts?
We do not issue transcripts, but instead we provide a grade for your student’s work in the class. You will have access to their gradebook on the learning management system.
Does the Academy prepare students for college testing?
Yes, our Math and English classes, along with our SAT and ACT prep class, prepare our students for success in their college applications and in earning scholarships. Our students have attended college and universities across the country and internationally. In addition, we have had many National Merit Scholars graduate from our program.