"Helping families to home school in knowledge and confidence."

Dear Maryland Homeschool Families:

Thank you for your interest in The Excelsior Academy. TEA is a highly respected home education oversight program registered with the Maryland State Department of Education to provide legal oversight to Maryland home school families. TEA Director Wendy Bush, a long-time home school parent/advocate and former teacher, founded one of the first Maryland umbrella programs. TEA gives families freedom to conduct their homeschool in the way that  best meets their children's needs while fully complying with all State regulations. TEA is highly supportive of all homeschool methods, from traditional to unschooling and has no religious affiliation requirements.

The Excelsior Academy offers three enrollment options (listed below) with family rates starting at $150 per year. In addition, support groups may offer umbrella services to their members through TEA.

Open to all Maryland Residents regardless of homeschool philosophy or religious affiliation. Relaxed homeschoolers and "Unschoolers" are welcome to participate in TEA's oversight program.

Year Round Enrollment and Family Rates:  New enrollments are accepted until March of each school year depending on availability. Fees are per family, not child.

High School: High school support is our specialty! Member of Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling. TEA's Annual College and Career Conference -- open only to TEA families -- is on the cutting edge of the issues surrounding the high school-to-college and career transition for homeschool students. TEA has spoken at college admission professionals' conferences and is actively involved in creating an even more favorable relationship between homeschoolers and college and career school admission professionals. For its graduates, TEA offers its professional services in providing college admission counseling, diplomas, transcripts, PSAT/ACT test settings, extra-curricular resumes, letters of recommendation, etc.

TEA also provides expert advice and consultation on high school, career exploration, military enlistment,  SAT/ACT preparation, standardized testing, financial aid, and all other aspects of the college and career transition.

Resources: Newsletter; bimonthly TEA Time Drop-In Days; curriculum consultants; special needs reviewers; website; and parent workshops. TEA also hosts teen events, including a spring prom.

Enrollment Options and Fees: All Fees are Per Family:  High school students may be enrolled in Option III, but in order to receive TEA diploma and transcript, they must be enrolled in Option I or II during high school, and must meet all of TEA's graduation requirements. 

OPTION I: Fee $350. TEA's original enrollment option is for those who want access to in-depth, on-going support and consultation with one of TEA's professional reviewers. This comprehensive service includes the enrollment conference, the annual review, and two telephone consultations throughout the year. For high school students, it also includes credit review and certification, along with college and career counseling.

OPTION II: Fee $250. Under this option, the enrollment conference is conducted by the TEA Director and the annual review is conducted by one of TEA's professional reviewers. In-depth, personalized consultation can be provided at an extra charge. For high school students, it also includes credit review and certification, along with college and career counseling.

OPTION III: Fee $150. Under this option, the enrollment conference is conducted by TEA Director. The annual review is conducted by one of these: (1) The group offering TEA umbrella services to its members, OR (2) If the family is not participating through such a group, the review is conducted by another family or group of families enrolled in TEA. TEA assigns each family to a small group for the review. Materials will be provided to ensure that reviews are conducted in accordance with the Maryland homeschool regulations. Personalized consultation can be provided at an extra charge.
High school students enrolled in this option cannot receive a diploma or transcript from TEA, but can have their legal compliance with Maryland's home instruction regulations verified with any interested agencies. 

NEW FAMILIES: How NEW Families Enroll: Enrollment is on a rolling basis, however, enrollment reports are submitted to the counties in August, so August 1st is the preferred enrollment postmark date. Enrollments received after that date are still reported to the counties, but enrolling by August 1st allows your county to have your enrollment information at the begining of the school year to avoid county reviews as well as to take full advantage of your TEA membership. Enrollment may close after February of the school year.

Please contact TEA by email or telephone to request a New Family Enrollment Form.
Please include the following information when requesting enrollment information:

--Your name and county of residence
--Telephone number and/or email address
--Childrens' ages and/or grades
--Number of years of homeschooling
--Primary homeschool method (i.e., traditional, child-centered, unit study, classical, etc.)
--Name of person or other source of referral
--Prior reviewers if applicable (county, name of umbrella, etc.)
--Which enrollment option you are considering if you know that at this point

We look forward to serving your homeschooling needs!
Email: connect@pobox.com. Telephone: 410-552-5004.


FAMILIES RENEWING FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR:
All renewals must be postmarked by June 15, 2009 to avoid a late fee.
Renewals are not accepted if postmarked after July 15, 2009.

Withdrawal Form: Families not renewing for the next school year must complete this
form and return it to TEA by July 15th.