+ WHAT IS YOUR POLICY ON DISCIPLINE?

The 24/7 Learning academy approach to discipline is a minimalist one and founded on common sense. We begin by instituting the fewest rules necessary to maintain a positive learning environment. Misbehavior is often merely the symptom of a deeper issue, so we proactively address potential disciplinary issues and will modify the curriculum, if necessary, to accommodate a learners needs. Most importantly, we treat our learners with respect which we have found solves, and even prevents, most disciplinary problems.

+ IS LUNCH PROVIDED OR DO STUDENTS BRING THEIR OWN LUNCH? WHERE DO STUDENTS EAT THEIR LUNCH?

Learners will need to provide their own lunch. We have refrigerators, microwaves, and toaster ovens available if a learner needs to heat their food. Staff members will gladly assist learners with warming their food.

+ DOES 24/7 LEARNING ACADEMY OFFER ATHLETIC PROGRAMS?

No, 24/7 Learning Academy does not have a formal athletic program, but under state law 1006.15, Learners can participate in all athletic programs offered by their local public school as long as they meet the eligiblity requirements.

+ How do I enroll my children? How can I get on the waiting list?

Registration is mandatory because it holds a slot for your homeschooler. We intentionally keep the classes small (Up to 10 Learners per Middle School Group, 12 Learners per High School Group) so they fill up fast! We don't want a family to show up and then find out the sessions they want are full. Please pay the registration fee to register your child. To complete the registration, you must attend Registration and Orientation and to fill out necessary forms and pay additional fees, if required. If the classes you need are full, or you move here after co-op has begun, you may certainly email us to add your name to the notification list to be notified when we open for new enrollments for the next semester. Simply email admissions@247learningacademy.com with your name, phone, and children's ages, grades, and mention 24/7 Co-op.

+ Do you accommodate children with special needs or disabilities?

The terms "special needs" and "disabilities" cover a vast array of diagnoses. Children with special needs may have mild learning disabilities or profound mental retardation; food allergies or terminal illness; developmental delays that catch up quickly or remain entrenched; occasional panic attacks or serious psychiatric problems. We have had children with asthma, food allergies, ADHD, epilepsy, mild developmental delay, and hearing impairment. Some students adapted well to co-op, while others chose to finish out the semester and did not return. Because most parent-teachers are not equipped to teach or maintain discipline in classrooms containing children with severe disabilities, please prayerfully consider if co-op is right for your special needs child before enrolling. Depending on the parent, teacher, and Leadership Team's assessment of a child's ability to participate in classes with minimal disruption to the learning process, it may be necessary for the parent of any child to be assigned as a helper or teacher in some or all of their child's classes.

+ What are the requirements for enrollment? Do we have to subscribe to other 24/7 Learning Academy services?

Membership is open to all homeschooling families of any homeschool with learners 11 - 19. You do not have to participate with or use other 24/7 Learning Academy programs. Our goal is to have enough parents to ensure that no particular parent needs to "work" the entire co-op session, and that the co-op is a source of training, socialization, support, and encouragement for parents as well.

+ We participate in another co-op, too. Can we be involved with that one and 24/7 Co-op?

This is completely up to you. Some learners and families have been able to handle two co-ops successfully.

+ We missed the Fall/Winter Semester. Can we still enroll for Spring or Summer Semester?

Yes, you can still enroll for spring or Summer semester even if you did not attend in the fall. Your high schooler may earn the full high school credit by completing the coursework from fall semester over the summer.

+ What if we have to quit the co-op unexpectedly?

Please understand that our co-op will not “fit” every family, so we ask you to consider your decision to join before you actually sign up. We do offer virtual options to accomodate families who have to move, travel, or deal with injury and sickness. We suggest reading "Why or why not join a Homeschool Co-op" before registering because by enrolling your learner you are committing to participating for the full semester. When even just one parent is late or absent or quits, it puts a heavier burden on the rest of us, and consequently, the children suffer. Plus, the homeschool community is a small one, and you don't want to burn any bridges unnecessarily. Nevertheless, we understand that family comes first in a crisis. If an unexpected emergency, such as moving, serious illness, or death in the family, has made it impossible for you to continue 24/7 Co-op in person, please email the admissions@247learningacademy to discuss fulltime virtual options.

+What do you mean when you say we have to volunteer or “work” at the co-op? Can I specify where I want to volunteer?

Our co-op is truly a cooperative effort. We need every participating parent to keep the co-op functioning smoothly. By registering your children, you agree to work during their class periods as a teacher, team teacher, teacher's helper or on the set-up or clean-up crew, with at least one period as your break time. Parents who volunteer to teach or team teach two classes automatically get two breaks. When you pre-register your children, please specify the classes in which you would like to volunteer. If your children feel more comfortable having you with them or if you need help teaching that subject at home, you can request their classes. If your children do better without you present or they prefer the independence of a class without mom, this can be arranged, too. Just indicate this option when you pre-register your children and specify if you would rather help preschool, elementary, junior high or high school. Also, let us know what subjects you would like to teach. Those who do not indicate a preference will be assigned where they are needed most.

+Do parents have to complete a background check in order to participate in the 24/7 Co-op?

Yes, Parents must complete a background check to participate in the 24/7 Co-op. By law, you must pass a background check in order to be eligable to work with children in an educational setting. All of our background checks are completed through https://www.backgroundchecks.com and the fees are seperate from your registration fee.

+When do I complete my background check?

Parents must complete their background checks during the registration process and before they can start working with other children.

+Why don't you allow drop-offs without the Drop off fee? Why do parents have to stay all day?

Parental participation at co-op is mandatory Our co-op is truly a “cooperative effort.” As homeschoolers, we parents are the primary teachers of our children, and this responsibility does not end with co-op.

+If I sign up my children for co-op classes, does that mean that I don't have to teach them at home?

No! The parent is still the primary teacher for classes taught at co-op. While our classes are designed to provide students with specialized instruction and support, co-op classes do not absolve the parents from their responsibility for their children's education. Parents must ensure that their students keep up with assigned work each week as well as administer tests and determine final grades. 24/7 Learning Academy homeschool curriculum can support with this, and is an additional offering of 24/7 Learning Academy.

+Are parents allowed to sit in on classes?

Absolutely! Parents should sit in on classes. Also, parents are used as “helpers” in all classes, so each class usually has 2 or 3 adult teachers and/or helpers. We believe that more interaction between learners and adults leads to a more relaxed relationship between both groups. Extra hands are always a blessing. Besides, homeschooled children are accustomed to having a parent close by to give quick responses to their questions, so more adults in the room means more attentive help for the students.

+How is behavior handled?

• Every student is expected to behave in a proper and respectful fashion at all times. If a child is disrupting a class session, he or she will be removed from the class and the parent notified.
• If a parent fails to control the child’s disruptive behavior, the co-op reserves the right to dismiss the child from that class.
• An incident report will be filed and a meeting may be requested by the Board with the parents to discuss necessary actions if there was no proper resolution or correction in the child’s behavior.

+What size are the classes?

We intentionally keep our classes small. The teachers of each class set the limit on the number of students they can handle. Except for PE, most classes range between 4 and 10 students.

+How are classes planned each year? Can I suggest a class?

Activities are chosen according to a yearly theme determined by the 24/7 Learning Academy Education team. If you have a need or suggestion for a class, please notify the Leadership Team. We love to get new ideas. In addition to our parent and volunteer teachers, we partner with other online learning platforms to support with the core academic subjects.

+What is the schedule of classes this semester?

Click here to see an exact daily schedule

+Are classes ever canceled?

Since we offer virtual sessons inclement weather should never be a reason we cannot provide a class.

+Do you go on field trips?

Although we do not plan field trips, interested parents may certainly organize field trips that relate to a class or project. Preferably, field trips should be scheduled on a Fridays, since we cannot take a day off from co-op to go on a field trip. As field trips may interfere with other homeschool activities or family plans, the trips are not mandatory, but they make excellent opportunities for rounding out our children's education and helping them “see” what they are learning. In the meantime, we do invite guest speakers to the classes when possible, which sort of brings the field trip to co-op!

+How are classes filled? How can I guarantee my child will get in?

The 24/7 Co-op registration is first come, first serve. Families currently involved in the 24/7 Co-op are given the chance to pre-register for the next semester first, followed by families on the notification list (waiting list) for that semester, then registration is open to the public.

+How are classes divided? Since we homeschool, how do I know what “grade” my child is in?

Groups are divided by age as of September 1: High school (grades 9-12; 14+ years old), Middle school (grades 6-8; 11-14 years old).

+What exactly is done in the classes? Is it lecture format or projects, etc.?

Co-op classes are reserved for group activities, such as discussion, debate, experiments, labs, projects, re-enactments and simulations. Classes enrich and enhance what you do at home. This is why Middle and high school students are expected to read and study during the week in preparation for what they do at co-op. Tests are not given during class, but parents may test at home, or teachers may provide tests for parents to administer at home.

+My child is older, but can he take a class for the younger group?

We request that students not be more than two years above their grade peers in age. In most cases, children can take a class for the younger group as long as they are within 2 to 3 years of the other students, they do not present a disruption to the group, and there is space in the class. Generally, parents should be able to decide which classes their learner’s attend based on each student's skill level, maturity and interests, but the teacher and Leadership Team make the final determination.

+My child is 12 years old (or another young age) but does high school level work. Or my child is very interested in one of the high school classes. Why can't he take a high school class?

We request that students not be more than two years below their grade peers in age for many reasons. Most of our classes are limited by the space of the rooms and by the abilities of the teachers, who may be equipped to handle only a certain age-range with an expected maturity level. Furthermore, for many courses, particularly those offering credit hours to high school students, separation by age is necessary based on the skills required; after all, we want upper level courses to be challenging for high school students trying to earn high school credit. As a result, sometimes the skills required for a class outweigh the student's interest in that class. Additionally, when a student is far advanced in academics but young in age and maturity, he may not “fit” in most high school courses. An older student can effectively sit in on a class meant for a slightly younger age group, but a younger student may not work out as well in a class intended for older students. While accelerated learners may have an advantage in academics, they usually have not achieved the maturity to go with it. Even though they can handle algebra and read high school literature, they would not be able to discuss many of the broader topics that the other high school students are interested in discussing and studying. Furthermore, although accelerated learners may be intellectual equals of the teens, they are not equipped emotionally, physically, or in any other way to participate in the teens' social events, and one of the benefits of co-op is making friends and developing a social life. Fellow classmates, who would be so much older and more mature, may not accept them as equals or friends. In other words, their emotional/philosophical level is still in elementary school, where their age places them. For their self-esteem alone, it would be better for them to be with their age peers.

+How does my high schooler earn high school credit hours?

When your child signs up for the 24/7 Co-op, he or she is participating in a co-op. As such, parents are still the primary teachers of their children. We would not presume to take that responsibility from the parents. To earn the high school credits suggested for each class, parents should not only ensure that their students complete all homework, but also discuss topics during the week with their children in preparation for further class discussion. Additionally, parents administer tests and determine final grades. To use a science class as an example, such as chemistry or physical science, students read the text book and answer questions during the week at home; then at co-op once a week, they do the experiments and participate in discussion. They take the tests at home.

+What curriculum do you use? Do we have to use the same curriculum at home?

The 24/7 Co-op uses PBL projects created by the 24/7 Learning Academy along with other instructional materials, and online platforms. Each parent/volunteer teacher determines the books and materials to be used in their class. The class and project descriptions will note if the learner must purchase additional supplies. Learners will need access to a smart device, we recommend a either a tablet or laptop, notebook, and writing utensils. You are free to use additional materials. Co-op is meant to lift the burdens of parents of middle and high schoolers, not create more. Many families follow the curriculum of co-op for every subject, but some have their own favored course of study at home in addition to co-op.

+Are there tests?

Testing is offered by 24/7 Learning Academy. Some classes may provide tests for parents to administer at home, or parents may certainly test their children at home if no tests are provided.

+Why is there homework?

Middle school groups have homework, and high school groups have homework. To earn the high school credits suggested for each class, students must complete all homework. If not, they may be asked to go to study hall or to their parent. Habitually unprepared students will be suspended or expelled from the class. It is virtually impossible to cover all necessary topics of a subject or even go in-depth on one issue in only one or two hours per week. No one expects high school students to retain everything in one or two days; instead, they are expected to work during the week to reinforce and prepare for what they do at co-op. Remember, one benefit of our co-op is to serve as a basis for accountability. For students to earn the high school credit, parents should make sure high school assignments are completed during the week. Also, they should discuss topics during the week with their children in preparation for further class discussion, and they should assign any additional coursework they feel may be necessary to complete the subject.

+What is a syllabus?

Each parent/volunteer teacher will use a class syllabus or project overview, which is simply a brief outline or list of what will be done each week. The syllabus supplies structure to the class and lets the parent/volunteer teacher hand off to a helper or newcomer if she is absent. It also provides a guideline that parents can use to devise supplemental lessons at home and to ensure their children are prepared for class each week.