C.H.A.T.
Handbook & Policies
(Updated 6-28-11)
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C.H.A.T. Handbook & Policies (Updated 6-28-11) |
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 Note:
To download the Handbook & Policies in pdf format, click here. |
| Mailing address: | CHAT |
| 3430 Robinwood Terrace | |
| Minnetonka, MN 55305 |
| Class site address: | City Hill Fellowship |
| 12901 Roberts Drive | |
| Eden Prairie, MN 55346 |
| Emergency and On-site Phone: | 952-484-6273 (on-site overseer) |
| Email: | laura@mcg.net |
| kim@mcg.net |
| Website: | www.CHATclasses.com |
| Co-Director and On-site Overseer: | Laura Johnson |
| 952-906-1969 (home) | |
| 952-484-6273 (cell) | |
| laura@mcg.net |
| Co-Director and Registrar: | Kim Nelson |
| 952-932-9536 (home) | |
| 952-451-9901 (cell) | |
| kim@mcg.net |
The Christian Homeschool Academy of Tutoring (CHAT) seeks to be an enhancement
to the home education of Middle School and High School students by offering
classroom instruction in a variety of core and supplemental classes, all of
which reflect a Christian worldview and offer the opportunity to learn in a
positive and dynamic environment.
We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, infallible, inerrant, the
supreme and final authority for all faith and life.
We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His atoning death, His bodily resurrection and His imminent bodily return in power and glory.
We believe man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and is therefore lost; only those who put their faith in Jesus Christ alone can be saved.
We believe salvation is the gift of God brought to man by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose substitutionary death on the cross paid the penalty for man's sin.
We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict man, indwell, guide, instruct and empower the believer for godly living and service.
We believe in the spiritual unity
of believers through our common faith in Jesus Christ and that individual doctrinal
differences which may exist should not hinder the unity of Christian home educators.
CHAT tutors have been chosen because they have an expertise in the subject that they teach, a love for teaching students, and a commitment to teach from a Christian worldview. Tutors may assign homework and give tests necessary for the completion of the course. Tutors will keep parents apprised of material to be covered, assignments given, and the dates that assignments are due. They will keep attendance records and communicate with parents concerning absences and tardies.
Parents are responsible for encouraging and supervising their students in their CHAT coursework and for assigning grades and/or credits. This is necessary in order to qualify as a home school under state guidelines. Parents and students are responsible to work with the tutor regarding any missed work or tests. Parents must see that the students arrive on time and are picked up promptly. There is a fee for late pickups. (See Student Code of Conduct: Departures.)
Students should expect daily homework to be assigned for each class they are enrolled in. It is the student's responsibility to arrive promptly, complete assignments on time, and be ready to participate in class. Student attendance and completion of assigned work is not optional. Failure to attend class or to complete homework assignments jeopardizes the student's future enrollment in CHAT classes. Students are to be respectful of all students, tutors, adults, and the church property. All students are required to sign and maintain the CHAT code of conduct and to follow the dress code.
Students may enter the front door or the Fellowship Hall entrance when coming to City Hill Fellowship (CHF) for CHAT classes. The students' presence should be limited to CHAT's rented space. This includes the Fellowship Hall (classrooms), foyer, and the restrooms. The worship center and two rooms downstairs will be used for a few classes, but students are not to be in these areas unless they are enrolled in and attending one of those classes. All other areas of the church are off limits unless accompanied by CHAT staff or tutors.
In order to keep costs down and communicate in the most timely manner, our primary mode of communication will be email. You must have an email address in order to register. If you don't have email, you can use someone else's email address but you must check it regularly.
In addition, all forms, policies, and other information will be posted on the Internet. It is each individual family's responsibility to download and print all necessary files. The address is www.CHATclasses.com.
You may purchase a packet of the five forms needed for registration at the Open House for $1.00.
Class sizes will be determined by
the tutors and CHAT leadership. The size of a class will depend on the nature
of the class itself and classroom space. For the average class, we expect enrollment
to range from 10-20 students.
Grade levels for a class are determined
by the tutor. A student outside the grade level for a class may still enroll
for the class, but tutor approval is required before the student can actually
register for the class. (If this is the case, please make a note on your class
registration form stating that you have received prior approval from the tutor
to enroll in the class.)
Minnesota allows a subtraction or credit on your state taxes for certain educational expenses. (See "Take Credit for Education" in your Minnesota Department of Revenue booklet) If your student meets Minnesota's requirements, and depending on your family's income level, the tutoring expenses you pay at CHAT may qualify for a credit or subtraction on your Minnesota Return.
The tutor must be a qualified instructor, by Minnesota Department of Revenue definition. That would include a licensed teacher or person with any baccalaureate degree. Check the biographies to see if your tutor qualifies. Even if the class qualifies as an educational expense, the actual deductibility or eligibility for credit will depend on your individual tax circumstances.
[Please note: This general information does not constitute tax or legal advice. If you have any further questions, please contact the Minnesota Department of Revenue or your personal CPA.]
Tuition Receipts: An electronic receipt is issued at the time of registration. This receipt along with your canceled checks should be sufficient for tax purposes. If you want individual class receipts that are signed by the tutor, you will need to fill in the blanks on the receipt form . Then print the form and either bring it to CHAT for signatures or contact the tutor by email for a mailing address. Please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Note: If you do not save your email receipt and request another be sent, there will be a $5 charge.
Lunches may be brought from home or purchased at CHAT. Students may eat in any of the Fellowship Hall classrooms or in designated areas outside. Food is not to be taken out of the classroom area (Fellowship Hall) to other areas inside the church. The lunch break will be from 12:00 to 12:30 pm.
Students who will be driving themselves
to CHAT classes need to register their vehicles. The purpose of this is to help
in monitoring the parking lot.
A monitored student lounge will be
provided at no charge for CHAT students during the times that there are classes
in session. Students who will be remaining on church property between classes
must be in the student lounge or in designated outdoor areas. Students are not
allowed in the student lounge on days on which they do not have classes. If
a student needs to be in the student lounge for more than one period in a day,
permission must be received from the onsite overseer. There is no student lounge
on make-up days.
In the case of illness, or other circumstances, the tutor may hire a substitute for their classes. In the event that a substitute cannot be found, an email will be sent out by 8:00 am on the day of class announcing the class as being cancelled. The tutor will then offer a make-up class the week following the final class of the semester or refund $9 to each student for the class missed.
CHAT is not a school, thus cannot hire teachers. Tutors are hired by parents to enhance their student's educational experience at home. They are not employees of CHAT. Tutors are chosen based on their credentials, experience, references, and their interviews with the CHAT staff. Though CHAT endeavors to find tutors of highest quality, standards, and integrity, we cannot guarantee their performance.
In case of bad weather, the decision whether to hold classes or not will be made by 8:00 am on class day. An email will be sent out as soon as possible.
If classes are cancelled due to the weather, the teachers will email their students with assignments for the next week. That class will not be made up. However, if it happens that a second week of classes is cancelled due to weather, it will be made up by extending the semester one week. Due to scheduling, the maximum number of weeks that a semester can be extended is one.
Registration Fee: The registration fee is $40 per family per year ($25 for families joining CHAT for 2nd semester only). This fee helps cover registrar and administrative costs. This fee is non-refundable and is to be included with the Family Registration Form. Make checks payable to CHAT.
Enrollment Fees: $170/$180 fee (except where noted) per class per student per semester. This fee helps cover the cost of the tutor, facility rental, insurance, and the on-site overseer.
Tuition Payment 3-Tier Format:
Fall Payment Options
for Enrollment Fees: After filling out each day's class enrollment form,
you have the following payment options:
| A. Down payment: | OPTION 1: | $50 per class per student per semester, plus supply fees. This holds your place in class, and is non-refundable unless the class is full or canceled by CHAT. |
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Note: If a student needs tutor approval (because their age disqualifies them from taking a class or they do not meet the prerequisites), this must be done prior to registration. Make a note on your registration form if you have received tutor approval. These students risk losing their $50 if they enroll in a class without tutor approval. |
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| OPTION 2: | Enrollment paid in full at time of registration. | |
| B. Final payment: | Tuition balance (unless paid in full) is due two weeks prior to the start of classes. (See dates above.) | |
| C. Late Payment Fee: | There will be a late fee of $10 per student per class (max of $30 per family) assessed for payments or new registrations received after the registration deadline (two weeks prior to the start of classes). (See dates above.) | |
Spring Payment for Enrollment Fees: Tuition and supply fees for spring semester classes must be paid in full at the time of registration.(See dates above to determine whether the full tuition is $170 or $180.)
**NOTE: Tuition checks
are to be payable to the tutors but mailed to CHAT. Late fees
are to be made payable to CHAT. Tuition checks will be held until two
weeks prior to the beginning of classes.
Supplies: Please see each individual class description for instructions regarding any necessary supplies. Payments for supply fees (if any) should be included in the tuition check made out to the tutor, unless the fee is over $25. (These separate supply fee checks may be cashed before the tuition checks in order to buy supplies.)
Withdrawing from a class:
The $50 tuition down payment is non-refundable. If a student withdraws from
a class within the first 2 class periods, all but $50 of the tuition paid will
be refunded if CHAT is notified within 24 hours after the end of the 2nd day
of class. The student/parent must contact the tutor for any supply fee refund.
Late enrollment: New students will be accepted up to the third week of class if space is available and with the tutor's approval. Tuition will not be prorated for students that register late for classes.