"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 umbrella 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. TEA is highly supportive of all homeschool methods, from traditional to unschooling; has no religious affiliation requirements; and does not impose requirements beyond the Maryland regulations.

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 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 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 optional parent workshops.

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.

OPTION I: Fee $350. TEA's original enrollment option is for those who want access to 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.

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. Personalized consultation can be provided at an extra charge.

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.

NEW FAMILIES: How NEW Families Enroll: Please contact TEA by email or telephone to request a New Family Enrollment Form. Email: connect@pobox.com. Telephone: 410-628-1528.

FAMILIES RENEWING FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR:
Contact TEA for the 2008-2009 Family Renewal Form if you no longer have the form sent to you earlier by email.

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  NOTE: NEW FAMILY Enrollments postmarked after March 1, 2009 are accepted on a case-by-case basis depending on space. Please contact our office to see if your new enrollment can be accepted after this date.

  • To Initiate a TEA Participating Group: Established groups, such as support groups and co-ops, as well as individual families who informally support each other in their homeschool endeavor, need to complete the TEA Group Participation Form and return it to TEA. There is no charge for a group to participate and no special requirements to become a group. All families in a group do not have to participate. Once the form is approved, the group may begin offering oversight services through Option III as an TEA participant. TEA will provide materials, support, and oversight to groups in order to help them understand and be in compliance with the Maryland regulations.
     
     

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    For more information about New Family Enrollment, Family Renewal or TEA Group Participation, please contact Wendy Bush at 410-628-1528 or connect@pobox.com.