Frequently Asked Questions about Raven Correspondence School
What is Raven Correspondence School?
Raven Correspondence School is part of the Yukon Koyukuk School District and we provide statewide home school support for students in grades K-12. Students are assigned to a certified advisory teacher who will work with the homeschooling family to create an individual learning plan. The program is allotment based; each student is allotted funds each year to use for the purchase of curriculum, supplies and services in line with the individual learning plan. Our qualified staff is dedicated to helping you meet the individual needs of your students and providing you with resources to aid you in teaching your children.
What are the requirements for being enrolled in Raven school?
Your student must be age 5 by September 1st of the current school year. Students must also be under age 20 and cannot already have a diploma of graduation when they enroll in Raven. Your student cannot be currently enrolled in any more than four classes with another public school or correspondence program. Your students must attend all state mandated testing. You are required to submit grades and work samples quarterly and keep monthly contact with your advisory teacher.
Will I have to pay to enroll my student with Raven?
Raven Correspondence School is a public school funded by the state. You will receive an allotment that should cover all of the curricular needs of your child.
How can I use my allotment?
You can use your allotment by personally purchasing items and getting reimbursed or you can have your teacher use your allotment directly and order the items you need.
If you want to personally purchase items from a store such as Office Max, Fred Meyer, etc., you can do so as long as all supplies purchased can be matched to the classes on your individual learning plan. Be sure to keep the original receipts so you can bring it in to your advisory teacher and fill out a reimbursement form. A check (or you can use direct deposit) will then be mailed to you in the amount of the teacher approved items you purchased.
You can also have your teacher/admin purchase items for you through our vendors. Curriculum (such as Calvert, BYU, Houghton Mifflin, etc.) is usually purchased directly by your teacher using your allotment, and shipped to you or your Raven office.
How can I get reimbursed for internet?
You can be reimbursed up to $50 per month for your internet access. Be sure to bring in your original bills that show the internet charge separated from phone/cable charges. You will have to fill out a reimbursement form and leave the original bills with your teacher.
When can I enroll my child?
Raven's school year runs from July 1st to June 30th. You can enroll in late April for the next school year but you will not be able to access your allotment funds until July 1st. Enrollment runs all year but if you enroll after September your allotment amount will decrease. Contact your local office for the exact dates of enrollment for the current school year.
How can my child get PE, Art, Music lessons, or tutoring for specific subjects?
Each Raven office can assist you in finding a vendor that can provide you with the lessons/tutoring you need. If the vendor is willing to accept our purchase orders, they can bill us directly using your allotment. If the vendor will not accept purchase orders, you can pay them directly and then get reimbursed from your allotment funds. If you go out and find a lesson/tutoring provider on your own, contact your Raven office to get them set up as a vendor and added to our list.
Does Raven provide for Special Education students?
Raven does have special education teachers on staff who will assess the student's IEP to determine if we can adequately provide for that child. If the special ed teachers determine that we can provide for the student, they are available throughout the year to monitor progress and support the parents and students.
What is Brightways?
Brightways is an online tool for parents to use in planning, implementing and recording their child's learning plan. By logging in to Brightways you can enter your students Individual Learning Plan which will then be submitted for approval by your teacher. You can also enter grades and upload work samples via your Brightways account. Brightways can also link you to state standards for each subject in each grade level.
Does Raven host field trips and workshops?
Yes, each Raven office plans workshops and field trips and these will be posted on our activities calendars. Each office has a family representative who is responsible for planning these events, so if you have input or need more info on upcoming events, contact your local family representative.
What are my options for getting a computer?
You can utilize our computer assistance program or our computer purchase reimbursement program.
Our computer assistance program requires a $250 deposit. Once we have your deposit we will order you a dell laptop or desktop. This computer can be returned if you withdraw after the first year you can get your $250 deposit back. If you withdraw and you want to keep the computer, you may purchase it for another $250.
Our computer purchase reimbursement program allows you to purchase the computer of your choice and we will reimburse you $38 per month (paid quarterly). You must bring in the original receipt for the computer you purchased.
Both of these programs require you to have at least one student who is enrolled full time.
How do I submit grades and work samples?
To submit grades you will need to access your Brightways account. (Contact your office if you do not have your login information.) In Brightways you can select your student and then choose the quarter and subject you want to submit grades for. We require that you enter the amount of time you spend for each subject, the content you covered and what lesson/chapter numbers your student is on out of the total number of lessons/chapters. You will also need to have one work sample from each class you student is taking. For classes like PE and music, a picture of your child participating in the activity (playing soccer, playing the piano) can be used as a work sample. You can upload these onto Brightways or if you do not have scanning capabilities you can mail the work samples to your teacher or drop off them off at your Raven office.
Does Raven have information for my high school student regarding college options and scholarships?
Raven does have a counselor who is available to provide information to high school students concerning scholarship opportunities and choices for continued education after high school.
Can my high school student be enrolled in college classes?
If your high school student wants to enroll in one or more classes at a college we can offer high school credits for the college credits they are earning. Each college will have different requirements for high school students to be enrolled; they will have to complete a test that allows the college to evaluate if they can be placed in a college level class.
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