03/26/2008  Frequently Asked Questions

 

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Did You Notice?

Our Frequently Asked Questions are now in a different format.  We hope this makes it easier for visitors to browse.

 

   FAQ is a common abbreviation or acronym (sounds similar to the word fact) of the term Frequently Asked Questions.  We have taken many of the questions frequently asked by parents and students and answered them here for those interested in our school.  Take a few minutes to browse through the questions and answers.  If clarification is needed after viewing, don't hesitate to contact us.

 

For Everyone:

 

Is Crossroads a recognized school?       

Is Crossroads accredited by the Florida Department of Education?

Is Crossroads accredited?

What does the term "umbrella" mean?

I live in another state.  Does the "umbrella" work for me?

If I do not qualify for the full umbrella, what other services does your school provide?

Is Crossroads a correspondence school?

What curriculum do you require that we use while enrolled with Crossroads?

We prefer the unit study approach.  Is that acceptable?

Does Crossroads sell curriculum or homeschooling materials?

Why do you require immunization records, birth certificates, physicals, and waivers?

Are standardized tests required?

At what time would Crossroads request standardized testing?

Why are your fees lower than most schools that provide the same service?  And how do you operate on such a low tuition?

Why do you not offer a toll-free phone line, glossy bounded catalogs, curriculum guides, etc.?

Do you have a catalog that can be mailed to me?

I'd like references.  Would Crossroads give me a list of student's names and phone numbers?

How do I obtain a list of Crossroads students in my area?

How long does Crossroads plan to be in existence?

 

Enrolling Early:

If I enroll my child early, may he begin school at a later date?

When is the best time to enroll?

I am still trying to decide and obtain the curriculum that I plan to use.  Must I submit the Curriculum List now?

Are lesson plans due before I begin school?

 

Reporting:

When are reports due?

What is involved in reporting to Crossroads?

We've had a death in the family.  Can we get an extension on the due date?

I have never been able to keep up with a lesson plan book.  What is the alternative to submitting lesson plans?

How many samples are needed to report?  Will you accept photocopies of the children's work?

Does Crossroads return the samples?

We use the unschooling method.  How would we report to Crossroads?

If I submit standardized test scores, do I need to submit lesson plans or samples?

What happens after a report is submitted?

 

High School:

What are your requirements for graduation?

Crossroads requires more credits than other schools who offer umbrella or satellite services.  Why require so many?

Are Crossroads credits accepted by public schools, private schools, and colleges/universities?

Does Crossroads have a College Board/Testing Code number?

After graduating from Crossroads, will my child receive a diploma?

Does the diploma mention homeschooling or correspondence school?

I am an adult.  Is it possible for me to receive a high school diploma through your program?

 

For Florida Residents:

I'm interested in enrolling with Florida Virtual High School.  Can you help me?

We are Florida residents; however, my high school students participate in the local high school's extra-curricular activities.  Is it possible to receive the record-keeping services of Crossroads without losing our status as homeschoolers with our county?

Is Crossroads a "600" school?  If so, what does "617" mean?

When do we send in our letter to terminate our homeschool program?

How do we join FPEA through Crossroads?

 

Crossroads Christian School (CCS) is a fully recognized educational institution in the state of Florida. CCS is registered with the Florida Department of Education. Crossroads is very much a real school. We use the term "umbrella" school to indicate a legal covering provided to residents of Florida (and other states). The term "satellite" school is often used when referring to a school in a central location with students spread out over a wider geographical area.

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The Florida Department of Education does not accredit any school, public or private. Accreditation must be done through an accreditation agency.

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Crossroads has met all the criteria and has been accepted for accreditation by The Southern Association of Private Christian Schools. SAPCS is a non-profit corporation whose ministry is to serve private schools in the Southeast. It was an honor when Dorothy and Allen were invited to sit on the Board of Directors of SAPCS in Florida. We will be able to assist SAPCS in its ministry to serve those who offer programs to homeschooling families.

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CCS provides a legal "umbrella" to residents of Florida. "Umbrella" simply means covering. When Florida homeschoolers enroll in CCS, they are not required to register and meet the requirements of the state. They are students of CCS even though they are taught at home. By being private school students, they are not bound by Florida homeschooling laws.

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In some areas it may; however, we recommend that you contact your local Superintendent of School's office or School Board about their position on this. It may be beneficial to contact the local and/or state homeschool support group. In many cases, families are still bound by their state's law even if registered with a school located in another state. CCS will be happy to assist families in any way possible. We encourage parents to be familiar with their state's laws. And though not required, we recommend families join the HomeSchool Legal Defense Association at www.hslda.org.

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CCS will maintain (or create) a cumulative school folder on your child. We will provide a transcript of credits, which may be useful when enrolling in a public or private school later. Transcripts are needed when applying for some scholarships and enrolling in most colleges. We also offer records transfers. If a family withdraws from CCS and enrolls him in another school, private or public, we will send a full cumulative folder to the new school, when requested. And we offer an accredited high school diploma for those who meet our graduation requirements.

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No, Crossroads is not a correspondence school. With a correspondence school, families are required to use one particular curriculum. The student's work is sent to the school during a specific time frame where it is graded and returned to the family. CCS is a private school with a home-based education program. We believe parents should have the freedom to set their school calendar, choose the curriculum, and grade the materials.

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CCS believes in giving parents the freedom to choose the curriculum. We believe that parents will be able to customize a program to best suit their child's needs. Some children may be a grade level ahead in some subjects, on grade level in others, or below grade level. By allowing the parent to select and purchase their own materials, it is our hope that homeschooling will be more affordable. Parents have the ability to purchase materials on sale or even used. Homeschooling shouldn't be a financial burden.

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Using the unit study approach is acceptable. CCS believes that parents should be given the ability to choose their teaching methods. Some parents prefer to use all textbooks such as ABEKA or BJU. Others prefer using workbooks such as School of Tomorrow or Alpha Omega. Many families enjoy unit studies such as Prairie Primer, Amanda Bennett, Far Above Rubies, Learning Adventures, Life in America, etc. And literature-based programs, such as FIAR and Sonlight, are becoming rapidly popular. The Charlotte Mason approach is also popular and effective. We will work with parents as much as possible.

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Crossroads does not sell any homeschooling books, curriculum, or other materials. It is the responsibility of the parents to obtain the educational materials whether new or used.

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We require immunization records, birth certificates, and school-entry physicals (or waivers) because it is the law in Florida. We, as a non-public school, are required to maintain those items in the student's folder. However, if one does not immunize based on religious convictions or practices, these requirements may be waived. Please refer to our MS Word document titled, Immunizations. Keep in mind that Crossroads is a "real" school, and we are subject to school laws in our state.

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Standardized testing is not required. However, we reserve the right to require testing based on individual situations.

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If a family is not diligently teaching their children and fulfilling their responsibilities, testing may be required for continued membership in Crossroads. Students, who are accelerated several grade levels above the traditional grade level, may be required to submit standardized test scores.

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Because we operate as a ministry to homeschoolers, we keep our fees low. We strive to keep operating costs at a minimum, which in return helps keep our tuition from increasing. Crossroads is a non-profit corporation. All the fees sent to the school will remain in the school to cover expenses.

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These things are all costly. If we offered all these things that would make us more attractive, it would cause our fees to increase greatly. So, we sacrifice a few perks for the overall benefit of the families enrolled with CCS. As the budget allows, we will increase the benefits. Everything is introduced into the budget on a priority basis. We hope to offer all those things and more in the near future without increasing our rates to match those of other well-known schools. We hope families realize that fancy national advertising, large homeschool convention booths, toll-free lines, shiny catalogs, etc. do not make a school any more credible. It just means more overhead. For some schools are big business. To us, our families are more important.

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We do not have a catalog that can be mailed. All our information may be found on this website. If a parent does not have access to a printer, we will be happy to mail them a set of our forms.

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Under no circumstance will we release the names and/or contact information of our students without their direct permission. We want parents to feel assured that their private and personal information is not being released. Crossroads has a strict policy on security; we will not put any of our parents or students at risk by releasing information. If one would like references, email us, and we will give your email address to Crossroads' families with Internet access. They may choose as to whether they contact you and give you information or not. We appreciate your understanding, and if you enroll your child, we hope you will have "peace of mind" that your information is not being casually released or sold.

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We will not release any names and/or contact information of the parents or students of our school. If one would like to have Crossroads' student or families contact them, email us with your contact information. We will share it with the necessary individuals.

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Crossroads has no plans to cease operation. Our staff plans to have their children and grandchildren graduate from Crossroads. However, since no one knows what the future may hold, we have adopted policies to protect our families. In the event that the current staff no longer desires to participate in Crossroads, they will be succeeded by other like-minded Christians who will carry on Crossroads policies and ministry as it currently operates. There is no need for the school, itself, to cease operation.

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You may begin school at any time. Most families traditionally begin the next grade level in September. If you enroll early, you may begin then, earlier, or wait. On the Student Enrollment Form, indicate the month in which you plan to start along with the current school year.

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The best time to enroll is spring. During the summer, enrollments are abundant. If an enrollment deadline or limit is set, it will be during that time. By enrolling in spring, one will have their enrollment packet processed more quickly and will avoid any limits, deadlines, and at times, fee increases. As space allows, we do accept enrollments all year.

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The Curriculum List may be submitted prior to the start of school. The parent need not submit it immediately if enrolling early. Be sure to indicate in the enrollment package that the Curriculum List will be mailed at a later date.

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Lesson plans are due when one submits a report, which is after completing ninety days of actual school (not ninety calendar days). Those who opt for the annual reporting plan are not required to submit lesson plans until the student has completed 180 days of school.

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Reports are due after the child has completed ninety days of actual school (not calendar days). Families have six months in which to complete ninety days of school.  Families may opt for the Annual Reporting Plan.  Those on the Annual plan are not required to submit any reports until the student has completed 180 days of actual school.  The student has twelve calendar months in which to complete the 180 days.  Those students will receive one report card during the year.

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Reporting to Crossroads is easy. After the student has completed ninety days of school, it is time to report. The parent will need to print and complete the Semester Reporting Form. The child's attendance and grades need to be indicated. In a large envelope or small box, the Reporting Form along with samples of the child's school work and lesson plans/journal should be mailed to Crossroads. Be sure the box or envelope is properly secured. Some families send us videos, photos, or computer movies along with their samples. A second report will be sent after the child has completed an additional 90 days of school. This will be the final report of the school year.  Keep in mind that we are speaking of ninety actual school days and not calendar days.  A student following a year-round plan will have six months in which to do ninety school days.  Families may opt to report annually.  For those choosing the Annual Reporting Plan, they will submit the Annual Reporting Form after 180 days of school.  They have twelve months in which to complete the 180 days.  The same information mentioned above is required.

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If your family is experiencing a hardship, contact our office to discuss a reporting extension.

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Instead of lesson plans parents may submit a journal. Each day, as work is assigned, the parent will record the assignment or activity in the journal. Extra activities and field trips will also be recorded daily in the journal. A journal may simply be a spiral notebook with each page representing a day of school. If parents desire not to submit lesson plans or a journal, they may submit standardized test scores instead.

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We avoid setting a particular number on the amount of samples we need. The reason is that we want parents to send us a good variety of the semester's work without counting pages. Samples should consist of work completed at the beginning, middle, and end of the semester. We want samples with excellent grades as well as any lower grades. If a parent insists on a number amount being sent, we suggest two samples from each subject area per month. Photocopies are acceptable.

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Crossroads does not return any of the samples or lesson plans/journals. If there is an item that the parent wants to share but desires to retain, we suggest photocopying it and sending us the copy. Larger projects may be shared by sending us a photograph.

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We understand that unschooling families may not have the same amount of paperwork to submit as others. It is important to send us samples of the work the child has completed. Photos, videos, or recordings of the child participating in various educational activities is also accepted. With unschooling families, it is important that they keep a detailed journal (or log book) to submit at reporting time.

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If the parent submits a nationally known standardized test scores taken that school year, they are not required to submit lesson plans/journals or samples. CCS must be notified in writing at the beginning of the school year of the parents intent. If the child does not submit test scores, lesson plans/journals and samples for the year will be required before promotion, transfer, or graduation occurs. The Reporting Form is required even if using this option. We would very much enjoy receiving videos, photographs, or recordings of the child participating in educational activities. Samples, though not required with this option, are still appreciated since it allows us to better know the child.

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After a report is submitted, it will be processed. A semester or end-of-year report card is mailed to the parent. The parent will receive two report cards from CCS per year. If student is on the Annual Reporting Plan, he/she will receive one report card for the year.

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We offer three sets of requirements for graduation. The parent may choose the Basic Plan, the Academic Scholar Plan, or a customized plan based on the child's abilities. Most students do a combination of the Basic and Academic Scholars plan. Both the Basic and Academic Scholars plan have been widely accepted by colleges and universities across the country. Students with varying educational abilities may use a customized plan. If a family desires to customize a graduation plan, contact CCS with details.

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We have based our requirements on the courses that most colleges and scholarships prefer in transcripts. Most graduates of Crossroads will earn more than the twenty-four required credits. However, we do offer a parent-designed course of study that allows the parent the opportunity to customize a program that will work best for their child.

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At this time, Crossroads' transcripts and credits have been widely accepted by other private schools, public schools, and colleges. There has not been any disputes or problems. Our graduates have been accepted into the colleges in which they have applied. However, it should be stated that there is no guarantee that credits will be accepted. Public schools, private schools, and colleges have the right to accept or reject credits from any school. No school can guarantee that their credits and transcripts will be accepted by every school. If a school makes such a statement, they are not being honest. No matter how many accreditations or credentials a public or private school may have, another school, public or private, has the right to accept or refuse the transcript or credits. Don't be fooled by false promises.

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Our College Board/SAT testing number (also referred to as CEEB) is 100326.

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After meeting the pre-determined graduation requirements, the student will receive a diploma from Crossroads Christian School.

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Our diploma does not mention homeschooling, correspondence, umbrella, satellite, extension, home-based, or anything in that nature. It resembles diplomas of many private and public schools. Basically, it states that the child has graduated from Crossroads Christian School.

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Adults are welcome to enroll in Crossroads. We'll be happy to assist them in setting up an accelerated graduation plan so that they may receive their high school diploma in a timely fashion. Or, if they are not in a hurry, we will create a more traditional course of study. Contact us for more details.

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We can help. Crossroads is affiliated with the Florida Virtual  School. Students enroll with FLVS and report their courses and grades to Crossroads. Students will earn high school credit for the courses they complete with FLVS. Courses will appear on the student's transcript and be applied toward graduation.  For more information on Florida Virtual School, visit http://www.flvs.net.

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If the student is registered and in good-standing with their county (Florida only), they may register with Crossroads and receive our record-keeping services, which include a diploma and transcript. However, if the student is enrolled with the county (Florida only), the parent must be aware that the legal covering does not exist for them. They will continue to be accountable to the local School Board and are bound by all Florida homeschooling laws.

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Crossroads is a "600" school. All private schools in Florida, large or small, are "600" schools. Crossroads is a "617" school. This mean we are a non-profit school, and we can provide legal covering to all Florida residents. Some schools such as "607" and "623" are for profit businesses and/or limited to operation in their county or immediate surrounding areas.

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As soon as the student is enrolled in Crossroads, the parent should send a letter to their School Board or Superintendent of School's office terminating their homeschool program. The letter should contain each child's legal name and date-of-birth. And it, as any correspondence sent to the county, should be mailed USPS Certified with return receipt. Retain the receipt in the child's important records at home. Failure to send in the letter of termination could result in the parent submitting a portfolio evaluation or standardized test scores to the School Board at the end of the year.

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To join FPEA (Florida Parent Educators Association) through Crossroads go to www.fpea.com/membership/membership.htm and print the membership form. Send the form and a check in the amount of $18.00 payable to Crossroads to our address. In order to receive the group discount, the check and form will need to be mailed to us, and the check must be made payable to Crossroads. The best time to join FPEA is during the summer. Membership ends in September of the next year. Contact us or FPEA for more information.

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      We Will Never
  Unlike other schools and organizations, Crossroads will never sell your family's personal and private information.  We do not and will not participate in any mailing list swap.  We respect our families' right to privacy.

 

 

      Say What?
   
This is my second year home-educating my 7 year-old daughter, and my second year with Dorothy and Crossroads.
 I have had nothing but positive remarks to make about the way that she runs the school. She is very timely with paperwork, and a true friend to all that choose to take their children's education into their own hands.
 I, for one, have "bothered" Dorothy a time or two with questions about my daughter's education... wondering if she is on track, needing help with teaching her to count money and loads of other things.
 During these conversations, Dorothy is ALWAYS willing to put whatever she is doing on the back burner to help me and guide me with whatever I need. She is a truly unselfish person.

-Mrs. Amanda M., FL

 

You guys have been a tremendous blessing to our family.

-Mrs. Vicki M., ND

 

As you know I have been and continue to be very pleased to be a part of Crossroads...Thank you.

-Mrs. Beverly G., FL

 

We are very grateful to you and the Lord for
all you have done for us. 

-Mr. Gary C., FL

 

...thank you
for everything! You have truly been a blessing to me.  I'm looking forward
to graduation.

-Miss Misty D., TX
 

Praise the Lord!  You will never know the sigh of relief that I felt when
that diploma came today...Again thank you so much for all your help and the beautiful presentation. We never expected it to be in a beautiful cover like
that. God bless and keep up the great work. 

-Mrs. Ruth B., FL

 

We really like your program.  Thank you.

-Mrs. Anne S., Thailand

 

You all have been so friendly and helpful. Thank you very much for your ministry.

-Mr. James B., NY

 

I received my acceptance letter today.  I can't believe I actually get to go there.  Crossroads transcripts were so helpful.  I know they made a huge difference...Thank you. I'm proud to say I graduated from your school.

-Mr. Shane R., MA

 

You were extremely helpful on the phone today.  I can tolerate short phone hours for this kind of service. Thanks!

-Mrs. Aura M., OK

 

I appreciate all the time you have put in to help me and my son.  Most schools wouldn't accept a child with autism.  You have been wonderful.

-Mr. Allan W., OH

 

My diploma came! My diploma came! I am so happy. Thank you for four great years!

-Miss Shelby K., NV

 

High School has been a joy this time around since we've been a part of Crossroads.  Doing it alone with my first son was fine, but it is so much better to have someone else figure out the credits and do the transcript.  Thank you for easing my mind.  Now I can sit back and enjoy teaching my son.

-Mrs. Betty S., SC

 

Miss Dorothy, thank you for the report cards. We get to go out to eat to celebrate.  We like being in Crossroads.

-Miss Julia & Abby R., IL

The transfer into public school went well.  Being able to do it as a school transfer was better than trying to do it as a homeschooler.  They didn't question anything.  Thank you for your help.  It was a blessing.  We are grateful for your school.

-Mrs. Lee W., UT

 

Thank you for allowing us to use our own curriculum. We appreciate the freedom.

-Genevieve A., MS

 

You answered all our questions.  Thank you for taking time and catering to our needs.  We couldn't ask for more.

-Mr. & Mrs. Tom G., FL

 

My son was thrilled that his participation in the church music ministry could earn a high school credit.  He enjoys helping others, and it is a blessing for him to receive recognition when it was least expected.

-Mr. Lorna P., MI

 

We received the High School Plan.  We are very thankful to you for accepting his ninth and tenth grade credits.  The service you provide is worth five times what you charge.  Thank you for the ministry.

-Mrs. W. W., Canada

 

High school is over, and we will miss being part of Crossroads.  Thank you for a wonderful four years.

-Mr. Rob T., KS

 

Crossroads is such a blessing to our family! Dorothy is incredibly
supportive and helpful. We so appreciate being able to have the
accountability we desire without unnecessary restrictions that would
interfere with our freedom to home-educate in the manner we believe
appropriate.

-Mrs. Lisa S., FL

 

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Copyright © 2008 Crossroads Christian Ministries, Inc.