As a part of our diploma program, each family must attend at least three consultations per year. New families in their first year of homeschooling meet an extra two times at the beginning of the year, in September and October, or within a month of their initial consult.
Additional consultations for families who feel they need extra help may be requested at an additional charge of $30 per consultation. Additional consultations may also be required if students are falling behind in their work or, for any reason, are put on academic probation.
The first meeting must be completed by August 10, or within 30 days of enrollment. At this meeting, the advisor will help set up the educational goals and program, giving advice on curriculum, electives, teaching styles, daily routines, logging credit hours, etc. The advisor, parent, and student will complete a contract. The student will choose a mid-year and end-of-year date for completion of work.
A family enrolling a current high school student (for example, not an incoming freshman) must submit, to the reviewer’s satisfaction, one of the following items: a transcript from his/her former school OR portfolio showing credits attained.
A second, mid-year meeting must be completed by February 15. At this meeting, the advisor will review the year to date and aid in making any necessary adjustments to curriculum and goals. The family must supply credit-hour logs, portfolio, test scores, and evidence of contracted progress.
A year-end meeting must be completed by July 30. Most families combine the end of year meeting with the planning session for the following year. It is mandatory for the student AND a parent to attend this meeting. The advisor will review the portfolio and interview the student. The advisor will also work with the parent to assign credits for the year using credit-hour logs, portfolio, and test scores and assign make-up work for the summer if necessary. Mount Sophia Academy requires that grades be awarded for all classes. The following scale will be used in order to maintain consistency in grading:
A 92-100%
B 82-91%
C 72-81%
D 65-71%
F 0-64%
Mount Sophia will not award credits for any classes with less than a final grade of “C”.
If a portfolio review is not completed to the satisfaction of the reviewer, the student may be put on probation. Any deficiencies must be made up during the summer months, or the child must repeat the class during the following school year. An additional review will be set in order to determine whether the conditions have been met. Partial credit may be given. (For example, science may need to be repeated, but the other subjects are accepted.)
Conditions for dismissal will be set by the board in the best interest of the family’s needs, as well as maintaining the integrity of the diploma program. Money will not be refunded for consultations that have already taken place.
The requirements for this program may be altered for a student with special academic needs upon the written recommendation of a recognized professional evaluator.