- Home
- /
- Home study
- /
- Home study FAQ’s
Homeschool Faq's
General Intro
What is the Getting Started Resource?
The Getting Started Resources for new and returning families allow you to have a general understanding about the Compass Charter Schools as well as learn some of the procedures you will need to follow as a Home Study parent and scholar. The Start Up Course allows us to guide you through our processes while you and your scholar are letting us know your abilities on the digital tools that you will need to use throughout the school year. We will also ask for some “work” from your scholars to demonstrate the use of these tools as well as giving the ST a very brief view of your scholar’s skills.
What is Seesaw?
Easily capture student learning in any form – photos, videos, drawings, text notes, links to show what they know. Seesaw is a digital portfolio that allows kids (or parents) to save and submit a variety of work. Scholars or Parents can reflect on the work in writing or with a voice recording when submitted, and teachers can offer feedback as well. It is a perfect tool for the collaborative model that Compass Charter Schools Home Study seeks. Parent, Scholar and Supervising Teacher are able to walk through educational experiences together on a regular basis and share in the learning, the growth, the joys and the pride. Awesome!! Seesaw Video
Funds and Vendors
When can I begin ordering?
As you go through your Start Up course you will see that Day 1 begins some thoughts on curriculum and Day 2 goes more in depth and then instructions on ordering occurs at that time.
How does a parent place a request to order something?
Once you and your scholar(s) complete you Day 2 Start Up Course, you will be able to make your first order request. However, prior to that you will need to be sure that you have two important forms understood and signed:
Family Order Agreement: You must have a signed version on file with your EF before you can place your first order. This form explained what you are responsible for as far as placing order.
Master Agreement: you signed this prior to enrollment. It explained what was expected of you and your scholars as part of attending this special charter school program. It is basically your and your scholar’s contract with the school.
How do I get one of our local vendor on the Approved Vendor List?
You can direct the vendor to our website ( www.CompassCharters.org ) under Academics – TK-12 Options Curriculum. At the bottom of that page is a link that will allow them to send in a Pre-Enrollment. Most SERVICE VENDORS would be very willing to do this. Some PRODUCT vendors might respond better if you send them them the link directly. Make sure you check the vendor list to see if they are already approved. (Also it COULD take a few weeks to get a vendor onboard -depending on how fast the vendor hands in their paperwork. There is no timeline because it is dependent on them and outside agencies that verify background checks.)
Academics
Will students be assigned work from their ST regularly?
As long as you, the learning coach / parent are providing your scholar with with grade level appropriate work, there would no need for your ST to assign additional assignments. With that said, it is required of an ST to request additional work sample assignments or assign work if she needs a clearer picture of your child’s progress because she has not been receiving adequate samples or communications.
How are grades calculated for our scholars?
You, as the learning coach, and the ST as the credentialed teacher, will work together to determine the scholar’s grade. When you purchase your curriculum, you will provide your ST with a copy of the Table of Contents (aka. Scope & Sequence or a Course Outline from the publisher). If you have your own curriculum or your own plans already, you can share that instead. Also, below you will find the Benchmarks / Standards for each grade level that also help to determine the scholar’s grades. Together through discussions, work samples, review of the standards, scholar’s educational experiences via Seesaw, you will come to a collaborative decision on the grade. When your scholar reaches high school, more weight will be given to the grades from the Subject Qualified teacher.
K-5 grades:
- M-mastery of 81%-up of grade level benchmarks.
- C-completed, or met, 70-80% of grade level benchmarks.
- I-incomplete 69% of less of grade level benchmarks.
6-12 grades:
- A, B, C, D, F
What is the minimum amount of samples we need to turn in to our ST?
The minimum learning samples you provide will be two per learning period. However, it is your ST’s desire to share in the educational journey you and your scholar(s) experience, and Seesaw can help them do that. Seesaw is actually meant for your scholar to use just as much as you. We would love for him/her to feel pride in all the learning he/she is doing so that he/she will want to share it to his portfolio for the ST to see. It is also a great tool for him / her to be able to refer back to, and see just how much growth has occurred. Parents will be equally happy to see the things their scholars are proud to post or the things they (parents) proudly post. From field trips, to science projects, to them reading aloud or giving a speech … all these things can all be added to his/her portfolio via Seesaw.