Frequently Asked Questions

1.      Are you accredited?

Yes. Southeast Academy is accredited by AdvancED, the premier international accrediting agency. Southeast Academy is regionally accredited by SACS CASI, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Council on Accreditation and School Improvement. In addition, Southeast Academy holds accreditation with the National Association of Private Schools. Southeast Academy also holds State Recognized Accreditation by the Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE).

2.      Does the student have to stay on a schedule or can he/she work at his own pace?

A schedule maximizes the amount of work accomplished in the amount of time spent.  Yes, students can work at their own pace. It is highly recommended that students spend 4-6 hours per day, 5 days per week on their academic studies.

3.      As a parent, do I have to be a certified teacher?

No. Because we are a private school and not funded by the state, our parent/teachers do not have to be state certified.  We recommend that you check the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) web site, concerning the laws regarding home schooling in your state.   www.hslda.org/

4.      Do you require someone to be with the student during school hours, or can they work independently?

Yes, Some students are able to work independently, but we require parents to be consciously aware of their students’ work and progress.

5.    How does each program work from home?

PreK through 2nd grades use colorful booklet curricula. PreK and the learning to read Kindergarten programs have additional materials included with the booklets. The booklet structure is easy to use. Along with simple instructions, you will have access to an academic adviser via email and telephone. Normally a specific number of pages in each subject are set as a daily goal for the student. Periodic tests are mailed to SEA. Most students will score very well with our mastery-based structure. For 1st-2nd grade students, parents can view grades and progress online. More details can be found on the 1st-2nd By Grade page.

3rd-8th grades use our online system for academic work. SEA offers four different programs for these grade levels:

  1. Parent-teacher Led using online curriculum.
  2. Parent-teacher Led using a combination of online and booklet subjects.
  3. Distinctive Service using online curriculum with SEA teachers scoring student work.
  4. Elite Service using online curriculum with academic concept help and scoring from SEA teachers.

3rd-8th Grade Main Program Differences:

The Parent-teacher Led Online program allows for the convenience and benefits of SEA’s award-winning internet-based structure without the added cost of teacher grading or teacher support. However, a large portion of student work is automatically computer scored, which saves parents time and promptly corrects student thinking while the concept is fresh in the mind. Thousands of multimedia features and digital tutors are used in SEA’s online system. Parents are responsible for scoring some answers that cannot be automatically scored by the system. Parent-teacher Led programs are SEA’s lowest cost programs for middle school at $125 per month or $110 per month if paying annually. That is about $6 per school day for an accredited private school enrollment.

The Parent-Teacher Led Combo program uses a combination of online and booklet subjects. Math, Language, and Science subjects use the online format mentioned above, while History/Geography and Bible subjects use a booklet format. The accredited combo format helps transition students from an entirely paper-based curriculum to the benefits of online curriculum by using a combination of formats during the year. Many students will then use an entirely online format the following year. The student will also have more handwriting experience during the year with the combo program than switching entirely to an online structure. The combination of formats will offer students some non-computer time for a portion of each day where a computer and/or internet is not required.  The combo program uses the same award-winning internet-based structure for the online subjects. Each of the two booklet subjects are made up of approximately 10 colorful booklets that are mailed out to the parent throughout the year. Parents have a little more involvement than the Parent-teacher Led Online program because the two booklet subjects do not have automatic computerized scoring for daily work, quizzes, and a test prep assignment called a self-test. Booklets have a unit test where the completed test is mailed to SEA for scoring and record keeping. Parent-teacher Led programs are SEA’s lowest cost programs for middle school at $125 per month or $110 per month if paying annually. That is about $6 per school day for an accredited private school enrollment.

Distinctive Service additionally provides SEA teacher scoring of all online work that cannot be automatically scored by our system. For example, essay and full-sentence answers.

Elite Service provides all the benefits of the Distinctive Service program, but additionally provides academic concept help whenever the student needs it. This is SEA’s best program! Parents are able to focus more on encouragement and motivation. Specific benefits and differences can be found on the appropriate By Grade page. 

High school also uses our online system, but SEA only offers the Elite Service for high school to ensure the best success. The Elite Service provides concept help for these upper grade level subjects. Six subjects rather than five are included in high school.  A full list of benefits and structure can be found on the High School By Grade page. Parents and students can view grades and progress online, which greatly helps with motivation.

6.      Will my student receive holiday breaks as in the public school?

Yes. Please refer to the 2017-2018 SEA calendar. Our school calendar is flexible, and may not coincide with the calendar of your local district.

7.      If my student transfers to another school will they accept his/her credits?

Although it is up to each individual school to accept or deny credits, there should be no problem with them accepting credits from a nationally accredited school.

8.      Can my child do 2 years work in one year? Is there any additional cost?

Yes.

  1. Academic integrity must be maintained and verified.
  2. The 1st year tuition must be paid in full
  3. You must contact SEA for 2nd year tuition cost. This may vary per student.

9.    Will my student be required to take a State Standardized Test?

Yes. Students from 2nd through 12th grade are required to take Standardized Testing in the spring.

10.    If my student finishes early, will I still be required to make the additional monthly payments?

Yes.  The payments are based on the amount of curriculum you are assigned, not on the amount of time for completion .  Records will not be released until all payments are completed.

11.    Can my student work on one subject at a time until finished?

No. Students must work equally on all subjects assigned in order to maintain academic balance.

12.    Are we required to register with our state if we enroll in your online school?

Laws vary from state to state check with the HSLDA (www.hslda.org/) to get an understanding of the law for your state.

13    What if my child does not finish all the assigned work?

You will be charged per semester for any courses that are not completed in the time frame.

14.    Do you tutor my students if he/she needs help?

Yes. Our online curriculum has built-in digital tutors, but Parent-teacher Led and Distinctive Service programs will need to use SEA Tutoring sessions if the parent cannot help with a still troubling concept. The Elite Service program provides human academic help via the built-in messaging center and email. Occasionally a student using our Elite Service program might need SEA Tutoring for a concept area due to learning style. More information can be found on our SEA Tutoring page.

15.    What if I do not like the program and decide to withdraw?

Please look at the withdrawal/refund policy on page 38 of the SEA Handbook.  

16.    Do I complete another application and pay the registration every year?

As long as the Student Update Form is completed each summer, there is no Registration Fee and the student remains enrolled.

17   Does SEA offer any scholarship programs for low income families?

No.

18.    How many credits are required for graduation?

Please see the Graduation Requirements page on the website. 

19.    When can my student start in the academy?

You can enroll your student(s) any day of the year.  Curriculum will be assigned based upon paid registration, verification of prior work completed, and tuition paid.

20   How long does the enrollment process take?

The enrollment process includes registration, placement testing, financial processing, and curriculum shipment.  Allow two weeks or less for finalization of the entire enrollment process provided that paperwork and placement testing are completed in a timely manner.

21.    Do you offer payment plans?

Yes, SEA requires a minimum of a two semester (annual) commitment to protect the school’s reputation for academic progress. Semester, quarterly, and monthly payment options are a provided convenience for the parents’ commitment of two semesters.

22.    Does Southeast Academy send report cards?

Yes, Semester report cards.

23.    Can I use other curriculum?

All students must use SEA curriculum. High school students may, for an additional fee, include outside courses. Outside courses must be pre-approved by a counselor and not be offered in SEA’s curriculum offering.  

24.  Do you have a Statement of Faith?

Yes, on our About Us page.

25.    Will your program prepare my student for college?

Southeast Academy’s college preparatory course of study is designed to prepare students for entrance into most universities and colleges. Because each college or university has its own entrance requirements, the student or parent will want to consult with the chosen school(s) to tailor a high school program which meets specific requirements of that institution. Students are provided a school number for use with FAFSA college financial assistance and College Board Entrance Exams.