FAQ
1. Do I have to "enroll" my child in the "academy"? I am already using an umbrella school and I don't want to change. Or....I want to remain classified as a "homeschooler".
Answer: No, you sure do not have too. Enrolling in the academy is an option but it is not required. View E=mc2 Academy as an online curriculum that anyone may use. The screening process/application is to help parents identify if your child is a good match for taking any online course.
2. My child is excellent at math and has completed Pre-Algebra. He is 13 years old. May I enroll him in your high school Algebra 1 course?
Answer: Because the class is completely online and requires consistent participation of watching videos that are typically between 25 and 45 minutes long, at this time I do not enroll any students under the age of 14 as of September 1 of the school year.
3. Since my student is enrolled in your class, is there a role for me as the parent?
Answer: Yes! It is vital that you are an active parent/teacher in this course! This course is not a "parents hands off" course. Parents must log-in regularly, at least twice a week, to ensure that their student is doing his/her work and staying on track. I will alert the parents only when the student has not completed one assignment in a two week period of time. In two weeks, a student will be seriously behind so parents must be proactive and verify their student's work weekly.
It is the parents' responsibility to ensure that the student is not gaming or surfing the web when he is to be doing math. I STRONGLY encourage you to have the computer in the dining room or some location that you can directly monitor so you, as the parent, can ensure that math is being done.
In addition, there are certain topics that students typically need extra help learning. This would be mixed fractions and long division to start. If you have a student in Pre-Algebra, plan on helping him with these topics to ensure he has a full understanding.
4. My student does not know the multiplication tables and you do not allow a calculator. What do we do? He just can not learn them!
Answer: This is not a problem! Print out the multiplication table so your student may use it while watching the videos, doing homework and taking exams. This is PERFECTLY fine! By the end of the course, your student WILL have the multiplications memorized just because he has been doing math on a regular basis.
5. I am very concerned about the dangers of the internet and this being an online course. What recommendations do you have to help me keep my child safe?
Answer: In my family, there is no internet access if an adult is not home. Secondly, the computer is always on the dining room table or in the office nook which does not have a door, and the monitor is set so everyone can see it. We do not allow computers in the bedrooms or other rooms with a shut door. Lastly, I STRONGLY encourage you to use some type of internet protection. My family uses Clean Router and we are very pleased with their options, support, customer service and reliability.
6. How long are the lecture videos?
Answer: For the Pre-Algebra course, at this time, there are 79 lesson videos for the course. The average length of the videos is 36.5 minutes. The shortest video is 7 minutes long; the longest video is 80 minutes long. There is a total of five videos that are 60 minutes or longer.
7. How long will my student spend on math for the Pre-Algebra course?
Answer: The pace for the high school student is such that the student will watch a video and then do approximately fifteen homework problems. The next day, the student will do approximately 35 homework problems. I have designed the class so that the student will typically spend about 60 to 90 minutes per day on math. There will be days that are shorter and some that will be longer, but for the most part, I target 90 minutes for math which includes the video lecture time.
8. Is the book included in the tuition?
Answer: No, the book is an additional fee. The current price for the Pre-Algebra online access code is $129.95 which includes the e-text and everything that you need for the class, but not the physical textbook. The Algebra 1 online access code is a little less expensive.
9. How much is tuition?
Answer: The current tuition rate is $299.00 per course, per child for the year. The second student from the same family during the same year will receive a $40.00 discount on tuition. Each additional child from the same family will receive a $50.00 discount off of the regular tuition rate. Discounts can be combined with other discounts or specials.
10. How much are the access codes?
Answer: This depends on where your buy your code from and if you purchase a physical textbook in addition to the MyMathLab code.
11. Is there a payment plan?
Answer: Yes, you may put down $150.00 deposit and pay another $50.00 each month until your balance is paid.
12. Are there scholarships available?
Answer: Yes, we have partial and full scholarships available for tuition only. We are not able to offer scholarships that cover books or course codes.