FAQ ~ AHA

    Getting Started

    Although parental participation is essential at Athena’s Homeschool Academy, it is important that the child be able to fully participate in class. Children should know how to:

    • Use the computer and the Internet. (Parental assistance is required if your child has emerging computer and typing skills.)
    • Use a microphone to communicate verbally. This is especially important during the weekly webinars. (A headset is recommended for clarity and to reduce echo.)

    Athena’s Homeschool Academy classes are appropriate for learners new to the online classroom experience, as well as the seasoned online learner.

    At Athena’s Homeschool Academy, we understand that homeschooled children learn and mature at different rates. Except for classes geared specifically for teens, our classes do not have age requirements. Rather, each course has a minimum ability requirement that allows parents to select the most appropriate courses for their children. Some classes tend to attract certain age groups. The age groups will be noted on the class description page when applicable.

    We feel parents are the best assessors of their children’s abilities. We require only that children meet the prerequisites for each course and have a desire to learn.

    We want our students to be excited about learning. We encourage students to take ownership of their learning with the guidance of their instructor and their parents. We love hearing their thoughts, ideas, and perspectives. We ask students to actively participate, communicate politely, stretch their minds and keep their minds open, and have fun!

    Parental participation is highly encouraged at Athena’s Homeschool Academy. We view the instruction of your child to be a collaboration between you, your child, and the Athena’s Homeschool Academy educator. We encourage parents and students to make the class their own.

    Parents are free to document their child’s learning according to their educational plan. Assisting your child with technical requirements, weekly assignments, and classroom participation will help to ensure that your child gets the most out of each class.

    Many assignments require Internet access, and we believe that this is best done under parental supervision. Athena’s Homeschool Academy is not responsible for inappropriate content that your child may access on the Internet.

    The educator’s role is to inspire, excite, and engage students through the learning process. We view the instruction of your child as a collaboration between Athena’s Homeschool Academy educator, you as the parent, and your child.

    Our educators’ qualifications can be found linked on our Educators webpage.

    At Athena’s Homeschool Academy (AHA), parents are able to place their student into Athena’s courses according to their ability or learning level not their age– opening learning opportunities for their student! For more information, refer to our Student Placement page.

    Athena’s Homeschool Academy is not affiliated with any religion. Athena’s courses are secular and taught from a secular standpoint. We welcome students of all beliefs into every class. In courses where religion is discussed, it will be discussed as it pertains to the subject being covered, the historical significance, or the literary significance. The discussion will only occur from a secular viewpoint.

    At Athena’s Homeschool Academy, our rules and regulations are spelled out in our Athena’s Handbook located on our Courses website.

    Both students and parents are bound by AHA’s policies and must electronically sign our Athena’s Handbook Acknowledgement Form.

    • The link for the Athena’s Handbook is located in the Introduction and Welcome Activities sections in every classroom as well as the Athena’s Resources Room.
    • The link for the Acknowledgement Form is located at the end of the Handbook.

    Families will receive an email notification upon completion of the Acknowledgement Form.

    The Academic Calendar is linked in several places on our website including:

    • The main navigational bar: Home > Courses > Academic Calendar & Weekly Schedules.
    • On every Course Description page under the Enrollment Options section.
    • On a tab on the current Webinar Schedules webpage.
    • In each classroom in the Information section.

    Students need to be registered at Athena’s Homeschool Academy and have an active profile to enroll in our courses.

    Please see Step 1 on our Registration & Enrollment webpage to register.

    Registration & Enrollment

    Students need to be registered at Athena’s Homeschool Academy and have an active profile to enroll in our courses.

    Please see Step 1 on our Registration & Enrollment webpage to register.

    Once a student is registered, they may choose and enroll in courses linked on our Courses webpage.

    At Athena’s Homeschool Academy (AHA), parents are able to place their student into Athena’s courses according to their ability or learning level not their age– opening learning opportunities for their student! For more information, refer to our Student Placement page.

    We recognize the necessity for flexibility, which is why we offer several Enrollment Options for most of our standard courses. Our Enrollment Options include:

    • On-Demand, Self-Paced Learning Courses – students listen to recorded webinars only; students do not attend live weekly webinars.
    • Synchronous – students attend (or have the option to attend) the live weekly webinars.
    • Asynchronous – students listen to the recorded webinars only; students do not attend the live weekly webinars.

    To determine the flexibility of a course, click on a Course Description webpage, scroll down to the Enrollment Options section. To enroll, click on the corresponding link.

    Sample:

    Enrollment Options at Athena's Homeschool Academy - AHA!

    Visit our Enrollment Options webpage for more information.

    Our On-Demand, Self-Paced Learning Courses include tutorial or webinar recordings and may be started at any time. Students may move through the material at their own pace.

    The Academic Calendar is linked in several places on our website including:

    • The main navigational bar: Home > Courses > Academic Calendar & Weekly Schedules.
    • On every Course Description page under the Enrollment Options section.
    • On a tab on the current Webinar Schedules webpage.
    • In each classroom in the Information section.

    Each course at Athena’s is priced separately based on course length, instructor preference, and overall course pricing at AHA.

    Course cost is located on each course description webpage.

    AHA currently accepts vouchers from several schools and programs under Athena’s Advanced Academy, Inc. Athena’s Homeschool Academy is a division of Athena’s Advanced Academy, Inc. (Athena’s). Athena’s is an approved vendor for, or has worked with, the organizations listed on our Participating Schools webpage. If your organization is not listed and you would like to use vouchers from your school, please email us. Please note that special arrangements must be made to use vouchers for year-long classes.

    Please refer to the Pay by Voucher section (Step 4) on our Registration & Enrollment webpage to learn how to enroll your student using funds from charter schools or educational organizations.

    If a Specialized Receipt is required, parents should fill out AHA’s Specialized Receipt Request Form.

    • Athena’s Homeschool Academy charges a non-refundable $5.00 processing fee to cover processing the Specialized Receipt Request Form. 

    Athena’s Homeschool Academy educators work with families to adjust the content to fit the student’s ability level as described in our Student Success Plan. If the course needs to be adjusted to fit your student’s level or learning style, contact the instructor as soon as possible.

    If after working with the course instructor, you find the course is not working for your student, email Dr. Kirsten at at least 24 hours before the third webinar. Students are welcome to move to another course before the course’s third webinar or before the first webinar of the third week.

    Please see our Refund Policy webpage for information about our refund policy.

    1. If your child is registered, log into our Classroom Site with their username & password.
    2. Click on the “My Courses” label.
    3. If the course in their list, they are enrolled!
    • If the course has not started, the temporary classroom will appear in the course list. Students are moved from the temporary classroom to the permanent classroom before the first webinar.
    • It takes longer for courses to appear in a student’s “My Courses” list when using an Alternative Payment Method.
    • For information about receipts, navigate to the Registration & Enrollment page.

    Courses

    Our courses at AHA are on-demand, meaning homeschooled students can begin and complete their courses when it works best with their schedule. Families have access to each course for 40 weeks.

    Each class and workshop requires specific materials. A list of required materials for each class is listed on its Course Description webpage.

    All courses include real-time and asynchronous discussions each week. In each virtual classroom, students will find Required, Highly Suggested, and Optional activities. Students may view online videos, complete interactive activities, and use Internet tools to synthesize new information and creatively express learned ideas. Specific course activities and assignments can be found on the What to Expect tab on the Course Description page.

    • Visit our Course Components webpage for more information about our virtual classrooms.

    We offer the opportunity to make the classes fit your family’s educational plan. In each virtual classroom, students will find Required, Highly Suggested, and Optional activities. Students may view online videos, complete interactive activities, and use Internet tools to synthesize new information and creatively express learned ideas. Specific course activities and assignments can be found on the What to Expect tab on the Course Description page. Students and parents should work together to determine how much work students should complete each week.

    AHA’s students may have emerging writing and typing skills. Students are encouraged to grow in these areas. We offer activities that are meant to challenge, not overwhelm. Our courses focus on appreciating elements of effective writing across subject areas. Although students may use written discussion forums to share ideas with classmates, formal writing assignments are not required except in formal writing classes. We encourage parents and students to make the class their own to fit with their child’s learning plan. Please refer to the individual Course Description pages for more information about each course.

    The Academic Calendar is linked in several places on our website, including:

    • The main navigational bar: Home > Courses > Academic Calendar & Weekly Schedules.
    • On every Course Description page under the Enrollment Options section.
    • On a tab on the current Webinar Schedules webpage.
    • In each classroom in the Information section.

    Independent Study classrooms are available to students for 40 weeks. Families should keep a close eye on their calendars to make sure their student completes the course, saves the desired information, downloads the certificate, etc. before the 40 weeks culminate.

    The virtual classrooms that meet live are available to students through the end of July of the academic year. Students taking a fall, spring, or summer course will have until July 31 of the current academic year to enter their classrooms. Having access through July 31 gives students the flexibility to refer back to their classrooms even after the live webinars have culminated. Courses archive on August 1 to make room for the upcoming academic year.

    • If you are having trouble logging in to AHA’s classroom site, begin by clicking on “Forgotten your username or password?”
    • Type in your Username or your Email address in the corresponding field and press Search.
    • Wait for a while then check your email for directions on how to reset your password.
    • If you don’t receive an email, check the spelling of your username or email address.
    • If there is an issue, it is usually because an incorrect email address is inputted.
    • The email address is usually a *student* email address.

    Grades

    Yes! AHA (under Athena’s) is an independent provider of online courses and is accredited by Cognia™, a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools and nationally recognizes educational organizations that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation that meets the needs of learners, and effective leadership worldwide.

    Most often, families can use AHA’s courses on their child’s transcript provided the child meets the requirements for their school of record (e.g. homeschool, charter school, umbrella school, etc.).

    Although AHA provides the courses, AHA is not officially the school of record. Instead, the overseeing primary institution (e.g. homeschool, charter school, umbrella school, etc.) is responsible for maintaining the student’s school record and for ensuring courses taken fit with the student’s learning plan.

    Classes from Athena’s Homeschool Academy (AHA) under Athena’s Advanced Academy, Inc. work extremely well to meet this need. AHA (under Athena’s) is an independent provider of online courses and is accredited by Cognia™, a nonprofit organization that provides quality assurance for schools and nationally recognizes educational organizations that meet rigorous standards focused on productive learning environments, equitable resource allocation that meets the needs of learners, and effective leadership worldwide.

    Athena’s Homeschool Academy assists parents in evaluating their student’s performance. Parents can log in to AHA’s classroom website with their student’s username to view completed work and student assessments. Families working with a charter school, educational organization, or another school of record should share the student information with their cooperating school or educational organization.

    The role of the AHA educator is to inspire, excite, and engage students through the learning process. Primary instruction and guided discussions are provided during live webinars, while asynchronous assignments are designed to promote interaction between students. The educator assesses the work in the classroom based on a completion scale or a scale included in the course syllabus.

    Current families, please see the Athena’s Academy Handbook, linked in the Athena’s Academy Resources Room for general policies. Please see each course’s syllabus (posted in the Introduction section of each classroom) for a course’s grading policy. Parents are encouraged to email the instructor when questions about performance arise.

    Student Success Plan

    Student Success Plan at Athena's Homeschool Academy - AHA
    Click the photo to view.

    Athena’s Homeschool Academy (AHA) educators work with families to adjust the content to fit the student’s ability level. AHA’s Student Success Plan begins after students are introduced to the class and have settled in.

    Quick Quarter Check-In (QQCI): During AHA’s 16-week and 32-week courses, students are asked to fill out the QQCI after the fourth webinar. The results of the QQCI Form provide AHA’s Educators with early feedback so they can help families make sure their students’ educational needs are being met at the quarter mark of the semester. If necessitated, educators reach out to families to help select a course of action.

    Mid-Semester Check-In (MSCI): During AHA’s 8-week, 16-week, & 32-week courses, students are asked to fill out the MSCI at the mid-course point. The results of the MSCI Form provide AHA’s Educators with detailed information so they can help to make sure their students’ educational needs are being met at the halfway point of the course. If necessitated, educators reach out to families to help select a course of action.

    Working together, families learn to adjust the course content to make sure their student’s educational needs are met.

    At AHA, courses are adjustable and flexible. If a family is interested in a letter grade for their student, one will be provided. If they would rather not have a grade for their student, the gradebook may be completely ignored.

    Although each teacher assesses according to their course parameters, most of the work submitted by students is assessed using our site-wide rubric. The result of the assessment can be translated into a letter grade. If a family is interested in a final letter grade for their student, one will be suggested.

    Please note, students who would like a grade to include on their learning record should focus on the Required activities in their class. Each course includes Required activities that students should complete to earn a solid grade in the course. Families are welcome to modify or alter the assignments and activities to better fit the needs of their students. However, for higher-level courses especially, we recommend working with the course’s teacher to make sure that the alternate assignments and activities reflect the level of learning needed for a solid grade in the course.

    When completing the online assignments, students upload written work, answer discussion posts, share projects, and more in the online classroom. However, we know that there are often projects, field trips, family activities, and more that do not get reflected in the course grade book. Therefore, the grade in the grade book in the classroom might not reflect the student’s final grade provided by the school of record (e.g., homeschool, charter school, umbrella school, etc.). The final grade should reflect all the work completed by the student, no matter if the work was done in or out of the online classroom.

    Sometimes it can be overwhelming for the homeschooling parent to pull it all together to determine a student’s final grade for the course. Therefore, upon request, teachers at AHA will assist in recommending a final grade for the course. To request assistance recommending a final grade, please reach out to the instructor and let them know about what has been completed at home.

    Athena’s Homeschool Academy does not maintain a record of student enrollment or student work after the culmination of the current school year. We recommend that parents keep track of the courses their students take at Athena’s Homeschool Academy.

    For culminating documentation, there are two documents available:

    • Standard Certificate of Completion: When a course culminates, the course Certificate of Completion will be available in the course’s virtual classroom. Families should download the Certificate of Completion before access to the classroom becomes unavailable.
    • Specialized Course Completion Report: Families who need a specialized report for documentation, beyond the Course Completion Certificate located in every AHA classroom, should fill out the AHA’s Specialized Course Completion Report Form. AHA charges a non-refundable processing fee for this form.

    Technical

    Technical requirements for Athena’s Homeschool Academy courses are found on our Technical Requirements webpage.

    Please refer to the video on our Course Components webpage which illustrates how our classrooms and webinars are run.

    In addition to our course slides to provide visual references, we use audio and text-chat for communication during our course webinars. The absence of webcams helps to keep the focus on the content of the lesson.

    Legally, we are required to keep webcams off so we can provide services to students working with charter schools insisting on having webcam-free webinars. Charter schools set this criterion as an important legal precaution protecting instructors and students. We also accept this criterion because we are very cognizant about student privacy and protecting our students.

    All of our webinars are recorded for students to view and review when time permits. Keeping webcams off allows us to record course content while maintaining student privacy.

    By excluding webcams from our webinars, we also eliminate the possibility of having something inappropriate shown on the screen. Thus we engage students in ways that will ensure as much safety as possible while promoting class interaction and creating connections within our community.

    In addition, active webcams create more lag for students who are on slow connections and can be distracting for some students–too many visual inputs can make it challenging to focus on the content.

    Additionally, by not having a webcams feed, students (and teachers) are free to wiggle around, be any age, wear whatever they feel comfortable in, and be in various locations that may distract others.

    Webcam-free webinars also allow parents to attend, directly supervise, or assist their student if needed.

    If the family desires, webcams may be used during one-on-one tutoring webinars. Students are also invited to record webcam responses in the classrooms and forums if desired and approved by their parents.

    To register for classes, a student profile must be created by our team. Each profile must contain an email address not linked to another profile at AHA.

    We encourage each student to have their own email address and check their email frequently. Often parents set up an email account that is linked to their own, to provide parental control (e.g. Gmail).