Homeschoolers East Friday Co-op Class Policies
Vision
The goal of Friday Co-op classes is transcript and/or enrichment-worthy classes in the arts, sciences, history, language arts and PE.The classes are designed to reach a spectrum of interests each semester and to give HSE’s students the opportunity to master the skills of learning in a structured environment.
Mission
HSE’s Friday Co-op Classes are designed to give families a time to learn together in a structured, supportive, curriculum-based environment. The goal is to create a stable, predictable environment in which to be creative learners. No rule or policy is made for the benefit of only one child. Each policy takes into consideration each group of people that would be affected by a decision. Classes are taught by parent volunteers who have a desire to teach a subject in an area of their interest, degree or expertise.
Age Tracks
Learning can be collaborative across a large age span; however, regular Friday Co-op classes cannot span more than two “touching” age tracks. This is, approximately, a 6-year age range when two touching tracks are combined. Age tracking allows teachers to better focus on a developmental age and assists the Teacher Coordinator in creating a balanced class grid with offerings for each age group. An unbalanced class grid can inadvertently draw students from other age tracks, making some classes too full and others unable to meet their minimums. Age tracking also allows children an opportunity to connect with peers in their age group. The exception to the two touching tracks limit is a “Group Class” which is a class that cannot effectively be accomplished without a much broader age span.
Careful planning is required to make sure that any dual age track class or Group Class meets the following criteria:
1) Such a class does not disrupt the overall schedule,
2) Each age track still has class offerings that are enriching,
3) The wider age span is purposeful, serves the needs of the class to function and does not hinder the effectiveness of the class due to a wide range of ages,
4) The age span does not make classroom management difficult because the teacher must attend to vastly different age abilities.
Students with learning differences are encouraged to track with their age, if possible. Parents may ask the Steering Committee to track a child down if the child has significant learning differences that make the correctly aged class unsuitable. The Steering Committee, in private consultation with the teacher, will make the decision whether or not a child is allowed to track down upon the request of a parent. A separate request to track down must be made for each individual class. Students, no matter how precocious, are never allowed to track up, and parents are specifically requested not to approach a teacher on this matter. It can be very difficult for a teacher to explain to a parent that a child is not up to the demands of a higher-level class and teachers should not be put in the awkward position of doing so.
Preschool Classes
Friday Co-op classes are primarily created to serve school-age children (those who are, or will be, at least 6 years old at any time during the upcoming semester). There is no guarantee of class offerings for younger siblings from semester to semester. Since parents are required to be with their preschoolers at all times (unless they are in a class), we encourage those parents to offer to teach “pre-school” classes. If classrooms are available for them, pre-school classes will make it onto the schedule. However, if there is a shortage of classrooms during any given class period, “school-age” classes will be given priority over pre-school classes. For example, when membership is high or there are an inordinate number of students in a particular age track, there may be the need to schedule more classes in each class period to accommodate the number of school-age children.
Visitors at Co-op
Teachers at the Friday Co-op are non-paid volunteers and every effort is made to make planning easier and interaction with parents positive. Prospective members are encouraged to visit the Friday Co-op as part of the joining process, and lunch hour is open to planned visitors, non-registered members and alumni. Students or guests may visit a class once during a semester. Such visits must be organized through the Teacher Coordinator with the understanding that the teacher has the option of allowing visitors or not and the level to which those visitors may participate in the class. This policy is a courtesy to the teacher and students. It allows teachers to properly provide for the students who have paid for and enrolled in the class, and to not detract from planned lessons or activities that might be disrupted with participation of a guest. Parents with enrolled students are always welcome to sit in on a class.
If an adult who is a non-member has temporary guardianship of children at Co-op for more than one Friday per semester, the member family must inform the Steering Committee prior to the 2nd Friday that the adult will be attending and acting as guardian of the child(ren). The guardian will then be subject to a background check.
Dropping or Dismissal from Class
Children are asked to carefully consider their class choices with parental guidance. Changing classes is not allowed after registration closes.
Children may drop classes with the permission of their parents. In the case of a disruptive child, the parent may be asked to attend classes with the child to help guide their behavior and ensure a successful experience. Children may be dropped from a class if they continue to be disruptive after multiple attempts to correct the behavior. This is in keeping with the CPSC Policy (separate document). In either case, no refund will be issued.
Students are expected to be punctual, attend class regularly, show up prepared, and complete homework assignments. This is a demonstration of respect for the teachers and other students and fosters a learning environment. A student who fails to attend class twice without contacting the teacher beforehand to arrange for makeup work may be dropped from a class. No refunds are given in these cases.
Teaching Classes
Teaching is a large commitment and Friday Co-op Classes rely on parent-teachers to create rich classes and that is ultimately what animates the group and Friday Co-op as a whole. Teaching is a large commitment as HSE does not use paid teachers. This is done to keep class costs down, paperwork minimal and to support a volunteer/service culture, which is at the core value of our group. From time to time, family members or friends of HSE Members will volunteer to teach a class in their area of expertise or interest. Likewise, these are unpaid volunteers. If a student teacher wishes to offer a class, the student teacher must be at least 15 years of age and have two adult assistants for his or her class.
Class maximums are an aid to planning and done in the spirit of fairness. Teachers declare, in advance, the maximum number of students they will accept in their class (based upon their lesson plans and own comfort level). This number is to be respected.
In an effort to ensure there are as many offerings for as many students as possible, teachers are asked to set their class maximums to at least ten. No regular class shall be larger than 14 students in order to maintain a low student-to-teacher ratio.
Class minimum is the smallest number of students that a teacher is able to effectively teach. If fewer than the minimum register for the class, the teacher is given the option to either cancel the class (in which case, registered students will receive a full refund) or to hold the class anyway, with fewer students.
Every effort is made to accommodate approximately 30 families as this is conducive to what our facility space will allow. However, there is no guarantee, from semester to semester, that there will be enough classes offered to do so. Having a full grid of class offerings relies completely upon how many parents offer to teach classes. The fewer classes offered, the higher the possibility that some students will not get into classes during one or more class periods.
The Steering Committee strives to honor and support the efforts of its teachers and to provide a stable platform for classes to exist. In return, teachers are asked to respect the Co-op and follow through on their commitment to teach through careful planning, covering classes when absent (honoring the C.Y.A Policy which is a separate document) and maintaining communication with parents, students and the Teacher Coordinator alike.
New members may not teach or assist for classes until they have participated in HSE’s Friday Co-op for a full semester. New members may, however, fill in as needed as a substitute during their first semester and are encouraged to sit in on classes to see how they operate. The first semester is a time for new members to learn how Friday Co-op works and how HSE can add to their homeschool experience. New members are asked to use this time to observe classes and envision themselves adding new subjects, classes or activities.
Parents may be an Assistant in as many classes as they wish; however, teaching is limited to 2 classes maximum, per semester.
Dallas Baha’i Center (DBC)
Use of the Baha’i Center is a privilege. The Dallas Baha’i Center is under no contractual obligation to host HSE. Each parent and child is expected to act at all times in a manner that demonstrates they respect this privilege. This includes dressing appropriately for a place of worship, using language suitable for a place of worship and refraining from any physically destructive actions. Any questions regarding the DBC should be relayed to HSE’s DBC Liaison.
Returning and New Members
For Friday Co-op purposes, a Returning Member is defined as having been a member in good standing for 12 months regardless of whether or not that members has participated in Friday Co-op Classes. A New Member is defined as having been a member in good standing for less than 12 months, regardless of whether or not that member has participated in Friday Co-op Classes.
Friday Co-op Class Policies
Each of the policies below was enacted to solve a problem. The collection of policies was resolved upon after multiple years of trial and error. These rules are the foundation that support the Mission of HSE’s Friday Co-op. Members are requested not to petition the Steering Committee for exceptions and to only suggest changes to the rules if those suggestions meet all three of the following conditions:
1. The change would enhance the experience of a significant number of families, and
2. The change aligns with and supports the Vision and Mission of HSE’s Friday Co-op, and
3. There is evidence that the change would solve a problem that has presented itself across multiple semesters.
Policy Foundations
1) SAFETY
a) A parent or guardian is required to be on site for all children at all times. These are NOT drop-off classes.
b) Background checks for sexual offenses will be performed on all HSE members, teachers, assistants and any other adults who regularly attend Friday Co-op classes. Anyone listed on the public Registry of Sex Offenders is prohibited from attending any HSE event.
c) Parents are responsible for informing teachers and anyone responsible for their child of environmental and/or food allergies.
d) Weapons are prohibited on the premises of the DALLAS BAHAI CENTER, as defined by Penal Code. Title 10. Offenses Against Public Health, Safety, and Morals. Chapter 46. Weapons. Sec. 46.01. Definitions.
2) AGE TRACKS
a) Classes are offered to specific age ranges and these age limits are firm. Children may be enrolled in a particular class if they are within the age range specified by the class at the time of registration or will turn that age at any time during that semester.
b) Children with specific learning differences may age down one track if they have significant learning differences that make a correctly-aged class unsuitable. The parent must make the request directly of the Steering Committee before registration. If the teacher and Steering Committee both feel that the class will not be diminished by the exception and that it is in the best interest of the student, the student may be permitted to register for that class. A separate request to track down must be made for each individual class.
c) Children under the age of 6 must be under their parent’s supervision at all times unless one of the following applies:
i) They are enrolled in a class
ii) Their parent has designated another adult to be solely in charge of that child. For the safety of all children, an adult serving as a Playground/Room Monitor cannot accept the additional responsibility of supervising a child under the age of 6.
3) CLASS REGISTRATION
a) Registration order: Teachers register on Day 1, Assistants on Day 2, Returning Members on Day 3, and New Members on Day 4.
b) Students are registered for classes in the order in which their payment is received. Class registration payments are time/date stamped via PayPal. Students who register past the class limit will be dropped from the class and payment refunded.
c) Teachers’ and Assistants’ children are required to register and pay for all classes, including those that are taught by their parents.
d) Teachers’ own children are guaranteed a spot in the class they are teaching regardless of whether or not the class limit has been met by the time they register their child. This means that if the class limit has been met and the teacher’s own child has been waitlisted, the child that was last to register for the class will be refunded and removed from the roster to make room in that class for the teacher’s child. Class limits will not be raised to accommodate this situation.