FAQ
What grades are offered by the Hoosier Academies?
The Hoosier Academies are offering grades K-10 for the 2008-2009 school year. The Muncie campus serves students in grades K-8, and the Indianapolis campus serves students in grades K-10. Kindergartners must be five years old before August 1, 2008, to be eligible for the program.
What subjects will my child study?
Language Arts, Math, Science, History, Art, and Physical Education and Wellness are the core courses. High school students also take an elective, and have access to AP® courses as well.
Does the program provide textbooks and other instructional materials?
Yes, we provide all the textbooks and instructional materials that are needed to complete the program. These books and materials are available at each of the learning centers and are sent to students directly for the subjects students will be covering during the at-home portion of the instruction. High school students receive fewer books and materials than elementary and middle-school students, due to the nature of their courses.
Can my child work at his or her own pace?
The pace of the K-8 program is shared between the teacher at the learning center and the Learning Coach. Some subjects will be self-paced and flexible within the parameters specified by Indiana regulations. Whether at the learning center or working with a Learning Coach, students will have the opportunity to explore concepts in more depth and spend more time on concepts that might be challenging. The high school program is a combination of self-paced work and scheduled lessons and activities.
What happens if my K-8 student completes a course mid-year?
When a student completes a course, the Hoosier Academies will send him or her to the next level, up until March 31. After that date, courses cannot be ordered again until the next fall. Teachers work closely with students and Learning Coaches to help pace the curriculum to meet the student’s goals for advancement.
How much time do students spend on the computer?
While working with their Learning Coach, we expect that students will spend no more than 20 to 25 percent of that time on the computer in the early grades. Older students may spend more time online in certain subjects, but the majority of their time working with the Learning Coach will also be offline. In the learning center, the computer is primarily a tool for the teacher to facilitate lessons with the whole class or small groups.
We believe in a balanced approach toward education. Computers help us provide you and the Hoosier Academies staff with effective assessment, planning, and time-management tools. Computers also act as powerful teaching tools that can motivate, stimulate, and inform children about the world around them. Computers do not, however, replace a solid education. Rather, they help facilitate one. That's why we use a unique multimedia approach that also includes a great deal of old-fashioned books, workbooks, and instructional materials. At the high-school level, students will spend less than half of their instructional time each week online. They, too, will be involved in hands-on science experiments, reading novels, and completing math problems that are done without the computer.
Do you provide curriculum for special needs children?
Depending on a child’s IEP, we can tailor our curriculum to meet your needs. To discuss your child’s needs with us, please contact our office, and we will put you in touch with our special education team.
Can you accommodate the accelerated learning needs of my gifted/talented child?
The beauty of our K-8 program is that it is flexible enough to meet children where they are in any given subject and take them where they want to go. Placement assessments taken online during the enrollment process allow us to place your student in the appropriate level of curriculum. So, for example, if your fourth grader is doing math on a sixth-grade level and reading on a fourth-grade level, we can tailor your curriculum and lesson plans to meet his or her abilities. High school students have the opportunity to take more advanced courses, including AP® courses for college credit. Learn more!
How do students interact socially?
The students of the Hoosier Academies have many opportunities to interact both socially and academically. Since students will be with peers regularly in the learning center, they will have a chance to do many collaborative activities, including science experiments, literature discussions, and providing feedback on a peer’s written work. Throughout the year, students are invited to participate in school outings, field trips (e.g., to historical sites, museums, zoos), picnics, and other social events. We expect local clusters of students and parents to get together on a regular basis in their areas. We also are exploring new ways to interact socially using the powerful reach of the Internet. The online Family Directory provides a way for families to network with other families in their region of the state. With online discussions and forums, new types of communities can be formed that are based not on geography and place but on shared interests. Learn about our school outings.
Will this program intrude into my home?
There are no home visits as part of the program, unless you ask your teacher to come to your home (completely optional), and there are no cameras or any other intrusions into your home. This school was created to help your child obtain an exceptional education and serve your family’s needs. If you ever feel that it is not right for your family or your child, you can withdraw at any time.
How do I enroll my student?
Visit our How to Enroll section for information on enrolling your student in the Hoosier Academies.
Can students do extracurricular activities in their resident district?
This decision is made on a district-by-district basis. The staff of the Hoosier Academies will be proactive in identifying extracurricular activities for students.
Didn't find the answer to your question? Try one of our other FAQ pages:
Technical FAQ
Enrollment & Attendance FAQ
Testing & Assessment FAQ
The Hoosier Academies are offering grades K-10 for the 2008-2009 school year. The Muncie campus serves students in grades K-8, and the Indianapolis campus serves students in grades K-10. Kindergartners must be five years old before August 1, 2008, to be eligible for the program.
What subjects will my child study?
Language Arts, Math, Science, History, Art, and Physical Education and Wellness are the core courses. High school students also take an elective, and have access to AP® courses as well.
Does the program provide textbooks and other instructional materials?
Yes, we provide all the textbooks and instructional materials that are needed to complete the program. These books and materials are available at each of the learning centers and are sent to students directly for the subjects students will be covering during the at-home portion of the instruction. High school students receive fewer books and materials than elementary and middle-school students, due to the nature of their courses.
Can my child work at his or her own pace?
The pace of the K-8 program is shared between the teacher at the learning center and the Learning Coach. Some subjects will be self-paced and flexible within the parameters specified by Indiana regulations. Whether at the learning center or working with a Learning Coach, students will have the opportunity to explore concepts in more depth and spend more time on concepts that might be challenging. The high school program is a combination of self-paced work and scheduled lessons and activities.
What happens if my K-8 student completes a course mid-year?
When a student completes a course, the Hoosier Academies will send him or her to the next level, up until March 31. After that date, courses cannot be ordered again until the next fall. Teachers work closely with students and Learning Coaches to help pace the curriculum to meet the student’s goals for advancement.
How much time do students spend on the computer?
While working with their Learning Coach, we expect that students will spend no more than 20 to 25 percent of that time on the computer in the early grades. Older students may spend more time online in certain subjects, but the majority of their time working with the Learning Coach will also be offline. In the learning center, the computer is primarily a tool for the teacher to facilitate lessons with the whole class or small groups.
We believe in a balanced approach toward education. Computers help us provide you and the Hoosier Academies staff with effective assessment, planning, and time-management tools. Computers also act as powerful teaching tools that can motivate, stimulate, and inform children about the world around them. Computers do not, however, replace a solid education. Rather, they help facilitate one. That's why we use a unique multimedia approach that also includes a great deal of old-fashioned books, workbooks, and instructional materials. At the high-school level, students will spend less than half of their instructional time each week online. They, too, will be involved in hands-on science experiments, reading novels, and completing math problems that are done without the computer.
Do you provide curriculum for special needs children?
Depending on a child’s IEP, we can tailor our curriculum to meet your needs. To discuss your child’s needs with us, please contact our office, and we will put you in touch with our special education team.
Can you accommodate the accelerated learning needs of my gifted/talented child?
The beauty of our K-8 program is that it is flexible enough to meet children where they are in any given subject and take them where they want to go. Placement assessments taken online during the enrollment process allow us to place your student in the appropriate level of curriculum. So, for example, if your fourth grader is doing math on a sixth-grade level and reading on a fourth-grade level, we can tailor your curriculum and lesson plans to meet his or her abilities. High school students have the opportunity to take more advanced courses, including AP® courses for college credit. Learn more!
How do students interact socially?
The students of the Hoosier Academies have many opportunities to interact both socially and academically. Since students will be with peers regularly in the learning center, they will have a chance to do many collaborative activities, including science experiments, literature discussions, and providing feedback on a peer’s written work. Throughout the year, students are invited to participate in school outings, field trips (e.g., to historical sites, museums, zoos), picnics, and other social events. We expect local clusters of students and parents to get together on a regular basis in their areas. We also are exploring new ways to interact socially using the powerful reach of the Internet. The online Family Directory provides a way for families to network with other families in their region of the state. With online discussions and forums, new types of communities can be formed that are based not on geography and place but on shared interests. Learn about our school outings.
Will this program intrude into my home?
There are no home visits as part of the program, unless you ask your teacher to come to your home (completely optional), and there are no cameras or any other intrusions into your home. This school was created to help your child obtain an exceptional education and serve your family’s needs. If you ever feel that it is not right for your family or your child, you can withdraw at any time.
How do I enroll my student?
Visit our How to Enroll section for information on enrolling your student in the Hoosier Academies.
Can students do extracurricular activities in their resident district?
This decision is made on a district-by-district basis. The staff of the Hoosier Academies will be proactive in identifying extracurricular activities for students.
Didn't find the answer to your question? Try one of our other FAQ pages:
Technical FAQ
Enrollment & Attendance FAQ
Testing & Assessment FAQ