Frequently Asked Questions
Is Braintree Academy a Public Charter/District School or a Private School?
Braintree Academy acts as a bridge between school districts
and families who want to educate at home.
In Indiana, our partner is Cloverdale Community Schools. Students throughout all of Indiana are invited to apply and receive FREE resources and support as they learn from home as full-time enrolled students within Cloverdale Distance Learning Academy.
How much does the Braintree program cost?
An education through Braintree Academy is personalized and FREE.
In addition, parents utilize our points system to have us direct order additional
supplemental learning resources.
Is High School offered?
As of the 24-25 school year, Clover Distance Learning Academy, in partnership with Braintree Academy, is opening up to include 9th graders. The hope is to add a new high school grade level each year moving forward.
Please direct all high school questions to Indiana@BraintreeEd.com.
What does the school calendar and daily schedule look like?
Students follow the Cloverdale Community Schools’ yearly calendar.
We understand that students are learning at home all day, every day.
Parents decide what they want their daily schedule to look like. Families are required to verify five hours of daily instruction for each learning day and to complete 180 days of instruction for the school year.
Does my child's schooling need to be done on a
computer if we are part of this program?
We believe parents should have the flexibility to choose the best format for their student’s learning. Some families prefer technology-based schooling while others want to do learning using textbooks. Others prefer hands-on activities and real-world learning and many choose a mix of all three. It is our goal to support parents as they choose the ways their student learns best.
Families in Braintree Academy are required to have access to a computer/tablet and internet to be able to fulfill the state testing requirements that are part of the program.
Families will also need to upload submissions digitally and may need to join live virtual meetings for classes, clubs, or other school meetings.
What curriculum and learning resources are provided?
Free Online Curriculum
Braintree Academy will provide comprehensive online curriculum resources to all students at no cost to families. Other learning resources are also offered at no cost to families. These include:
Brainpop and Brainpop Jr.
Epic (during school hours)
Generation Genius
Khan Academy
Salsa Spanish
Tangy Tuesday
Teach Your Monster to Read
Current Opt-in Programs* (Optional Homeroom Resources)
Note: Subject to change per year.
Students will have the following additional learning resource options available as opt-in programs. The funds for each program will be deducted from the student’s learning points. Parents can opt into any of these programs. Additional information about each resource can be found in Sign-Up Central.
Math:
-
ALEKS
-
Beast Academy Online
-
CTC Math
-
Dreambox Math
-
Frax Math
-
Mathletics
-
Mathseeds
-
My Math Academy
-
Prodigy Math
-
Reflex Math
-
Sumdog
Language Arts:
-
Adventure Academy
-
Accelerated Reader
-
Exact Path
-
Hairy Reading
-
Headsprout/RAZ Kids
-
Lexia Core5
-
Lexia Power Up
-
MIWrite (grades 3-12)
-
Moby Max
-
Nessy Reading and Spelling
-
Reading Eggs/Eggspress
-
Quill
-
Vooks
-
Waterford
Electives:
-
Adobe Creative Cloud
-
Centervention
-
Code Monkey
-
IXL Spanish
-
Microsoft 365
-
Sign it: ASL!
-
The ULAT
-
Touch-type, Read, Spell
-
Tynker
-
Typing Club
Multi-Subject Resources:
-
Education.com Premium
-
Exact Path
-
IXL
-
Moby Max
-
Study Island
-
Braintree Academy teacher-led online classes
Social Studies and Science:
-
IXL
-
Kids Discover Online
-
Moby Max
-
Mystery Science
What happens if my preferred learning resources are not
part of the provided free curriculum?
We believe parents should have the flexibility to choose the learning resources that fit their student best. Many additional resources are available through direct order.
Can I select religious-based curriculum as part of my approved program?
Parents are free to supplement their child’s education with religious materials using their own private funds. As this program is in partnership with the public education system, only secular materials are approved for direct order.
What if I need help choosing the learning resources that
are best for my child?
We would love to help! Our Homeroom Teachers are qualified to assist you in finding the appropriate learning resources that works for you and your family. Once you are assigned a Homeroom Teacher, you will be able to contact them directly with any questions you may have. Need help before receiving a homeroom teacher? Reach out to your state coordinator and they will make sure your questions get answered. (Indiana@BraintreeEd.com)
What are supplemental learning resource points?
Each student receives supplemental learning credits (points) - equivalent of $1700/yr to be spent on approved educational resources. Using our points system parents can order additional approved educational resources to supplement the free resources that are already provided. Educational items such as learning resources, online subscriptions, computers/tablets, internet fees, extracurricular classes, tutoring, museum passes, tech items and so many more things can be ordered with the supplemental learning points system. A parent gets access to these points through direct orders done through the school.
Do we get to keep the learning resources we receive
through the supplemental learning points system?
Yes, as long as you meet all program requirements for the year and do not withdraw, the learning resources are yours to keep. Program requirements include state testing, bi-weekly reporting, and attendance check-ins. If a family chooses to withdraw from the program before the end of the school year, or does not meet program requirements, all materials and technology must be returned to the program in a timely manner (unless Braintree Academy classifies materials as consumable). Return postage is the responsibility of the parent. Parents may also have the option of purchasing the items from Braintree Academy instead of returning them.
How do I access the supplemental learning points?
Each child is wonderfully unique and with the supplemental learning credit system parents can choose the resources that will benefit their child the most. Half of the student’s points can be used per semester (85,000 points/1st semester (equivalent of $850) and 85,000 points/2nd semester).
Supplemental learning resources are ordered directly by the school
and shipped at no cost to the family’s home.
Braintree Classes & Clubs – Virtual classes and clubs have a points cost associated with them. When parents sign-up their students for these resources, the points are deducted from the students’ supplemental learning points total.
Optional Homeroom Resources – Parents will find a list of optional homeroom resources in Sign-Up Central at greatly discounted group-buy prices once enrolled. The purchase price will be deducted from the student’s supplemental learning points.
Direct Order – Braintree Academy can purchase your approved supplemental learning resources from places like Amazon.com, Lakeshore Learning, Costco, and Rainbow Resource and have the items shipped to you directly. This service is FREE. Parents can find additional information about the supplemental learning points, how to access direct ordering, and a list of items that are NOT approved for reimbursement in the Parent Guidebook after they are enrolled in Braintree Academy.
NOTE: Families are welcome to purchase one device per student every three years. This includes a desktop computer, laptop, chromebooks, or iPad/tablet. Exceptions for extra device purchases can be made if the device become non-functional or if there is an additional family need that is approved.
What subjects are required?
K-8 Students will have the four core subjects: Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies as well as two electives. The electives can be PE, fine arts, foreign language, technology, or anything the student is interested in.
For high school requirements, please contact Indiana@BraintreeEd.com.
How often do students/parents turn in student work?
K-6 families turn in student learning assessments every two weeks for the four core classes. Submissions consist of a learning sample which can be in the form of a worksheet, test, paper, picture of a project, or video of your student explaining what they have learned. Our goal is to keep reporting very simple and easy!
Are students required to participate in State testing?
Yes. All students are required to participate in State tests. Some tests may be offered virtually. If virtual options are not a possibility, families will access testing sites provided throughout the state.
Indiana state required tests:
Dyslexia Screening – grades K-3
IREAD grade 2-3
ILEARN grades 3-8
How will my child be graded?
The grading system is designed to help your child succeed. K-6 students receive a pass/fail grade for their classes and 7th grade and up receive letter grades. Grades are determined as teachers receive student learning assessments. The learning assessment process is designed to showcase your student’s strengths while keeping the reporting very simple and easy!
A certified teacher will review each submission and ensure the student has met requirements. If a student is struggling in daily work and not meeting mastery goals, the homeroom teacher is there to help.
Do you offer field trips?
Yes! We offer FREE field trips EVERY month! These activities are free for our students and at least one parent. Most of the time, additional siblings or parents can attend at a discounted rate. These field trips are such a fun benefit of our program! We provide many activity opportunities throughout the year. Field trips included outdoor activities, educational opportunities, and fun entertainment for the family.
Braintree Academy also offers virtual field trips. A few of the events our families have enjoyed include attending online book clubs and tea parties, viewing exotic reptiles, watercolor classes, storytime, learning about severe weather, exploring the constitution, meeting authors, touring a TV station, and enjoying a virtual tour of Jamestown!
What classes or clubs are offered as electives?
There are SO MANY fun ways for K-8 students to fill elective requirements. Families are welcome to create their own custom elective plan – gathering their own
resources using the supplemental learning points.
Braintree Academy offers virtual clubs that students can participate in. Fees for virtual clubs can come from the student’s supplemental learning points.
Braintree Academy virtual clubs provide opportunities for youth to participate in activities, interact with peers in a positive and supervised setting, as well as pursue interests and develop skills. Many students fulfill elective requirements
while participating in these virtual clubs.
Do you offer teacher-led classes?
Yes, absolutely!
Many parents prefer that some subjects be taught to their student by a certified teacher. Many families also enjoy the virtual clubs which are teacher-led and cover a wide variety of interests.
K8 Virtual teacher-led classes are part of the optional resources parents have access to for their students. There are classes offered in each core subject for each grade level. These classes have fees which will be deducted from the student’s supplemental learning resource points.
If/when my child is accepted, will I receive additional information?
Yes! Once enrollment has been completed, an acceptance email will be provided with additional information, including the Parent Guidebook.
What is the enrollment process?
Click APPLY on this website and fill out the Indiana registration. The registration requires proof of residence, birth certificate, immunization information, and other documents. Parents will need to complete one registration form per student.
After all information is reviewed and approved, you will receive a confirmation email letting you know your student is fully registered.
If you have questions about the process, please reach out to Indiana@BraintreeEd.com for help and support in enrollment.
How can I get connected with fellow Braintree Academy
families and students?
Great Question! We offer a community support group for Indiana Braintree Academy families on Facebook. Additionally there is a Braintree Facebook page and Instagram account that offers weekly educational resources and inspiration for families!
Follow Us @Braintree4Me
I have additional questions. How do I get more answers?
Contact Us with your questions by reaching out to our State Coordinator.
Indiana@braintreeed.com - Linda Rose