|
 Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQs):
Where
is the school located?
Heritage
Preparatory Academy is located in Westminster
Presbyterian Church in Paxton. The address
is 312 E. Center St., Paxton, IL 60957. Click
here for
directions.
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What
is the difference between homeschool co-ops and
University-Model Schools (UMS)?
UMS
and homeschool co-ops should not be equated.
Homeschool co-ops are a good way for homeschooling
families to pool their resources and expertise for
specific and usually short-tem study projects. One
parent, for instance, may be especially proficient in
math or science and teach a group of students that
subject for a period of time. Generally speaking,
homeschool co-ops are age-integrated, specialized,
parent-run and do not stimulate a college structure.
In some cases, co-ops also take over the primary
responsibility of teaching certain courses instead of
integrating the teacher and parent effectively for
each course as is done in the University Model. UMS is
also different by virtue of having specific grade
levels, consistent accountability from semester to
semester, a full spectrum of courses complete with
prerequisites and diploma plans, and a professional
administration and faculty (much like a traditional
school would have) partnering with the parents.
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Who
teaches the students?
We
employ professionally qualified Christian teachers on
a part-time basis to teach classes. Teachers must meet
a defined set of criteria, first and foremost of which
is a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ,
and also a love for teaching children.
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What
if parents aren't teachers? How can they teach their
children if they have never homeschooled?
Parents
need not have teaching experience. Heritage
Preparatory Academy will take the lead in the area
of academics. All new concepts will be introduced and
taught at school by paid professionals while the
application of the concept will take place at home,
much like that of college studies. Heritage
Preparatory Academy teachers will provide detailed
assignment sheets each week and will maintain open
lines of communication. Parents will act as
co-instructors under the guidance of the classroom
teacher. In addition, Heritage Preparatory Academy
will offer training to parents in various areas
including academics and character development.
Finally, bear in mind that as a child progresses to
higher grade levels, the academic role of the parent
gradually migrates from that of co-instructor to
proctor/mentor so that by the time a student
graduates, he is prepared (trained and experienced) to
assume the individual responsibility required for
success at the collegiate level.
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My
wife and I both work full time outside our home. Would
UMS work for us?
One
of the most important ingredients in the success of
the University Model is an available parent who can
assist and properly work with the student. For a
family in which both parents work outside the home on
a full-time basis, a more traditional 35-40 hours/week
school is probably a better choice.
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Will
there be an entrance exam for admission to Heritage
Prep?
Yes,
as part of the Admission process, an entrance exam
will be required to assess the likelihood of success
in the school and to determine the appropriate
placement of incoming students.
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Can
students transfer into Heritage Prep after being in
other schools?
Yes,
students who transfer will be subject to an
entrance/placement examination.
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I
have children in several different grade levels. How
much time will each need to spend doing schoolwork on
their days at home?
A
rule of thumb at university-model schools is that for
every hour spent in the classroom, the student will
need to spend an additional thirty minutes to an hour
on that subject in the "satellite classroom"
at home. This rule, of course, varies according to the
need. If a student is academically strong in a
particular area, perhaps less time will be needed. If
a student is weak in a subject or the subject is
particularly challenging, then more time will be
needed. Parents need to be alert to each of their
children's individual needs and lead them accordingly
in the structuring of their time.
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Since
parents are team teaching with the teachers at school,
how does communication take place between the two?
Communication
between teachers and parents plays a large role in a
UMS, and there are several ways that clear
communication can take place. First, each course is
described, along with its prerequisite and parent
role, in the school catalog. The parent role is
defined for each course so that parents understand the
required level of assistance for their children.
Vitally important are the printed weekly assignment
sheets that are prepared by the teacher to be taken
home and reviewed by the parent with the student.
Instructions to parents are included as part of these
assignment sheets as are long-term study projects that
are forthcoming. Parents are also invited to
communicate any of their questions back to the teacher
as needed.
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Will
Heritage Preparatory Academy teach Latin? Why?
Yes,
Heritage Preparatory Academy students will be
encouraged to take both Spanish and Latin. The ability
to speak Spanish is invaluable. It is a tool not only
for daily living but also for ministry and witness.
The study of a foreign language at an early age
enhances brain development and improves one's ability
to correctly pronounce the foreign language. The study
of both Latin and Spanish also tends to expand
students' vocabularies through an understanding of
Latin root words, suffixes and prefixes and it also
enhances their grammar skills as they begin to
understand parts of speech and linguistic patterns. In
addition, contrary to popular belief, the study of a
foreign language, including Latin, guards against
arrogance. In his studies, a child begins to recognize
that his world, his language, his vocabulary and his
way of expressing himself are only one way of living
and thinking in a big, complicated world. Finally, the
very process of learning a foreign language requires
mental gymnastics that strengthen the mind.
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Will
there be uniforms at Heritage Preparatory Academy?
Yes.
For more information, please see our
Dress
Code.
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When
will we apply for acceptance to Heritage Preparatory
Academy?
Applications
for the Second Semester of 2005 will be accepted
through the first week of school, provided that space
is available. Enrollment is made on a semester basis.
Students may continue to be admitted throughout the
year. Enrollment, however, can only be made at the
beginning of each semester. For more information,
please see
Admissions.
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What
is the cost of tuition?
Because
of the nature of the university-model, the cost of
tuition for a full time student will be less than a
typical 5-day-a-week school. However, our desire to
attract and retain the very best teachers will be
reflected in our tuition as well.
Tuition
will be between $200-$300 per course per semester.
Certain core courses, such as math and language arts,
may be longer than one hour and will be priced higher.
Affordability
for all families is maintained by allowing students to
enroll in as few as one course per semester. Further,
we hope to establish a tuition assistance program in
the future so that this type of education is
accessible on a full time basis by any family.
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Is
your school governed by a church?
No,
a board of men and women from this community govern
the school.
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Is
your school a non-profit organization?
Yes,
Heritage Preparatory Academy is a non-profit
corporation formed in the state of Illinois and
governed by a board of trustees. We are in the process
of filing an application with the Internal Revenue
Service to be recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization,
charitable contributions to which are tax deductible.
This application is still in process at this time.
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Is
this type of education elitist or exclusive by nature?
how will you reach out across cultures?
Classical
education is not about exclusivity, but is about
excellence. We believe that classical education, by
means of the university-model, will, in fact, have the
opposite effect of elitism by making an excellent
quality of schooling available for a fraction of the
cost of traditional prep schools. Affordability
increases accessibility by a broader spectrum of
people.
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Will
this type of schooling fulfill "state
requirements"?
Yes,
it will parallel requirements in the core subjects,
and should exceed the requirements for grade levels.
We will consider accreditation through the Association
of Classical and Christian Schools (ACCS), and /or
other accreditation organizations in the future.
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Are
colleges accepting students from University Model
schools? What makes them attractive to college over
other students?
Students
from the original University-Model School in
Arlington, Texas, which has been in operation since
1993, have had no difficulty in gaining entrance to
colleges and universities nationwide. In fact, the
majority of graduates have been awarded scholarships
for academic achievement, student leadership, and
athletic or artistic ability. UM schools stay informed
on the current and projected entrance requirements of
the major four-year universities. This allows school
officials to be sure that the course offerings are
meeting or exceeding college standards. In addition,
UMS students are attractive to colleges because of
their strong work ethic, successful study habits,
leadership skills, and character as demonstrated
through various student activities - academic,
athletic, artistic, and governmental.
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How
are UMS students doing on college entrance tests?
Despite
admission policies aimed at average students, the UMS
students score much higher on college entrance tests
than the average scores nationwide.
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What
do UMS graduates who are in college say about how
well-prepared they were in high school?
Graduates
from the original University-Model School in
Arlington, Texas report overwhelmingly that they were
extremely well-prepared for their freshman college
classes. First, they were prepared by the
University-Model system itself. The schedule, work
ethic, and necessary study skills were dynamics to
which they were already accustomed. Second, they were
prepared academically: the UMS course content was
consistently more than adequate to get students ready
for college. It also has not been uncommon for many
UMS graduates to begin college with several college
credits already on their transcript, having placed out
of certain courses by virtue of their high school
preparation.
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The
above excerpts were taken from Character Driven
College Preparation by Dr. John W. Turner, Jr.
This book is available through the National
Association of University Model Schools. |
