Frequently Asked Questions
WE WANT TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
If you have never homeschooled before it is likely you have some questions! We may not have thought of everything, but we know what parents ask of us and here are some of the most frequently asked questions for parents considering a school for their homeschool education partner. If we have not covered your question here, call our offices and we will get you the answers to your questions. We want to be your school of choice and to do that you need to have all your questions answered.
QUESTIONS AT NFC ACADEMY
ONLINE PROGRAM GRADES 3-12
K-4 STUDENT BOOK PROGRAM
When Does The School Year Begin?
NFC Academy students may start anytime of the year as NFC Academy is in session all twelve months of the year. All students who start a new year at NFC Academy have a school year of 180 school-days to meet the hour/day requirements of a school year. Students who transfer to NFC Academy in their first semester have a similar school year prorated depending on the work transferred to NFC Academy.
Do Parents Construct The Daily Lesson Plans?
In our online program for grades 3-12, NFC Academy manages and directs the lesson plans for each subject as a part of the online curriculum. The daily lesson assignments will be automatically updated by the computer each day and are based on the students 180 day school year.
Students enrolled in our K-4 book program have the NFC Academy Daily Lesson Planner which lays out each day’s assignments to be completed based upon a school year of 180 school-days.
How Much Time Does The Student Have To Complete The Course Work?
Each student in K-12th grade have a 180 school-day school year to complete their work. Extensions of the school year may be granted. The policy for extensions is for up to two months which would make a full calendar year. There is no additional tuition charge for students for a one month extension. Students needing a final month extension can be granted the extension and there is no additional tuition charge for those in both the Book Program (K-4) and the Parent Led Program online for grades 3-8. Families will be charged the standard monthly tuition rate for students in the Teacher Led Program for the second extension.
How Long Does The Enrollment Process Take?
Once the decision is made by the parent to enroll and the application is completed and received by the Academy, the next step is getting previous school records to the Academy. Typically, the process takes 1-2 weeks, but in August and September it may take longer because the increased number of enrollments made during those months. Once we have all the necessary academic records the process moves rather quickly. We can use unofficial records from the latest grading period with official records being received by the start of the second semester. It is essential that unofficial records be correct or students may need to repeat or take additional work to complete any work outstanding if the unofficial records are inaccurate.
Are There Age Limits For Enrollment In NFC Academy?
NFC Academy has established age guidelines for students entering school based upon the traditional school age expectations. Students entering kindergarten should reach their 5th birthday by September 1 as they start. Students can start their senior year at a maximum age of 19 years and 9 months. Seniors must complete all their academic work by no later than 20 years and 7 months. These guidelines are provided for parents to understand if they should at a later date enroll their children in a traditional school. Any exceptions to the age for entering school would require the Academy’s approval and parent’s written request along with academic supporting information. Typically, exceptions would be made based upon weeks or a few months of age difference to our standards, not years.
What About Transfer Credit Into NFC Academy?
NFC Academy is a fully accredited school by Cognia, the Middle States Commissions on Secondary and Elementary Schools and the Florida Association of Christian Colleges and Schools. The Academy accepts credits from regionally accredited schools at face value. Additionally, credits are accepted from schools accredited by FACCS (Florida Association of Colleges and Schools), ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International), and other schools with a relationship as a member of the National Council of Private School Accreditation (NCPSA).
Homeschool students from unaccredited programs will have their work/credit accepted after a review of the curriculum and details provided to the Academy. A student accepted from unaccredited programs will have their previous work validated by successful completion of the next semesters work at NFC Academy.
What About Credit Earned Through Home Schools Or Schools That Are Not Accredited?
Credits are accepted two ways from home school students. If they were registered under an umbrella association, the credits are typically accepted as received. Other home school students and students from non-accredited schools have their credits accepted through a portfolio development using curriculum, grades, and testing information from the homeschool or school that is not an accredited program. The NFC Academy Admissions Office will provide you with forms to complete to make this process simple and easy.
What Determines Grade Placement?
A student is placed in a grade based upon the records received from their previous school. Included in materials should be report cards and recent standardized test results. All students will need to submit a birth certificate along with their academic record. Some students whose records may not be complete may take a diagnostic test that will help make the placement in the curriculum.
Is There A Payment Plan For Tuition?
There are several payment options for all of our programs including a monthly payment option. K-12th grade parents may select the option of paying by the month with payments divided over 10 months, semi-annual payments, or an annual payment. There is a modest reduction in tuition cost when selecting the semi-annual or annual payment options. Those in our K-4th Book Program using the monthly payment option will also need to set up their Auto-Pay account with NFC Academy.
Do I Need To Be With My Child All Day While He Or She Is Doing Schoolwork?
Distance learning is a partnership between parents, students, and your teacher(s) at NFC Academy. While all parents doing home school are involved with their children in unique ways, those parents who select the NFC Academy Parent Led Program with the parent as the primary teacher will have to spend significant amounts of time working with your child. While you have support from your Resource Assistant, they will not be involved in the daily work with the curriculum.
Those parents in the K-4th Book Program are the primary teacher and will be involved daily as the primary teacher. While you will not be in “school” all day, the time you invest will be substantial requiring your face-to-face work with your child.
Those who select the Teacher Led Program, which includes Academy teacher support, may spend less time with their students, but successful homeschooling must include the home actively involved daily no matter which option is chosen. A parent or guardian’s committed participation in the Learning Team is essential to making a child’s experience a success. The parent or guardian is responsible for setting up and monitoring the developed learning schedule, verifying that course work is being submitted in a satisfactory manner, monitoring student progress, and facilitating a working relationship between the members of the Learning Team. Parental involvement equals success!
What If My Child Has A Learning Disability? What Kind Of Help Is Available?
Many children who may have been diagnosed as ADD or ADHD can function well in a traditional school and a distance program such as NFC Academy. However, it is important that reading skills and math skills be at a level that allows the student to do the work in their assigned curriculum. NFC Academy does not provide additional assistance for students who may need direct assistance by a teacher and have a problem working as an independent learner successfully.
Will My Child Be Able To Graduate From NFC Academy?
Yes. Students may complete their high school program and graduate from NFC Academy. Starting in the 9th grade each full-time student will have their own Path to Graduation that will include all required courses for graduation as well as electives they may take. Students may take some courses at different grades during their high school years, but all students must meet NFC Academy’s requirements for graduation which you can find on this website under the High School Online tab. Each year the student’s Path to Graduation is updated. To be eligible to graduate from NFC Academy, seniors must complete their entire senior year as a full-time student at NFC Academy.
Will My Child Take An Annual Achievement Test?
NFC Academy gives the Stanford Achievement Tests typically in April of each year. This test meets most states requirements for annual testing. Students in grades 3-11 will be able to take the test online from a schedule we will provide to you. Students in K-2 will take the test in booklet form using directions from NFC Academy. You will receive a copy of the test results after they have been scored by the testing company.
Taking the annual Stanford Achievement Test is recommended but not required for students. It will meet most all states requirements for a standardized test although we recommend you check with your state to see if they require such annual testing.
Even if a state does not require such a test, we recommend you take the test each Spring. Taking the test provides the parents with a recognized test that can help you see how your child is doing related to his or her peers. You can also have some objective tool to measure the academic programs being offered by the school you select.
Does NFC Academy Offer Tuition Discounts?
Tuition discounts are available for families who enroll student(s) full-time at NFC Academy. Discounts are available for:
- Families With Multiple Children Enrolled At NFC Academy.
- Families Who Are Full-Time Missionaries.
- Our First Responders Which Include Full-Time Law Enforcement, Fire Fighters, Paramedics and EMT’s.
- Those In Our Military Both Retired And Those Serving On Active Duty.
- Families Serving Full-Time in Christian Ministry.