Tandem Home Education Handbook

Welcome Letter

Hello everyone!

We're delighted you've welcomed Tandem Home Education on your journey. Our local Christian co-op is specifically designed to support and educate homeschooling parents and families every step of the way. Our name, Tandem, is no coincidence—it symbolizes collaboration.

Like a tandem bike (two forces working together), parents are the drivers, steering and directing their family's learning journey. Tandem Home Education, is merely the extra support, power, and reinforcement in the back when you need it!

Tandem is proudly a Christian co-op, committed to educating students through a Biblical worldview and guiding them toward the Creator of all things… JESUS! Our curriculums cover History, Science, Language, Spanish, and the Art of Communication. Keep an eye on our calendar for upcoming events throughout the year. Thank you for allowing Tandem Home Education to join you on the ride!

In HIS Hands

Tandem Home Education

Tandem Home Education Shirts and photography

Tandem reserves the right to photograph students on campus during class days for marketing and social media purposes. We will provide two Tandem-branded shirts for each student to wear on class days. If you wish to acquire additional shirts, you can do so by using this link: [Shirt Link].

Each age group will have a different color for easy identification: Kindergarteners (Orange), Grades 1-3 (Light Green), Grades 4-6 (Rust), Grades 7-8 (Dark Green), and Grades 9-12 (Dark Blue). This helps ensure safety on our campus and facilitates attendance tracking.

Staff on campus during class days

All Facilitators, Teachers, and Aides are required to complete an application form as part of their onboarding process at Tandem Home Education. Safety is our highest priority. Each adult at Tandem has undergone comprehensive background checks through Protect My Ministry, obtained IVP Fingerprint Clearance Cards, completed CPR and First Aid certifications with AZCSN, and received Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Training from Protect My Ministry. You can rest assured that we are dedicated to ensuring the safety of your children.

The Lead Facilitator serves as the campus director during class days, providing direct oversight of the program and working closely with Tandem administrators. If you have any questions or feedback about the program, the Lead Facilitator is your point of contact!

Our dedicated Teachers cover subjects such as History, Language, Science, Spanish, and The Art of Communication. They are committed to guiding families through the course of study each year.

Aides at Tandem accompany students to each class, becoming familiar with their group's needs and ensuring smooth transitions between classes to minimize disruptions.

Guests are welcome at Tandem, but they must sign into a guest log and obtain a guest lanyard/name tag for the day. This temporary approval can become permanent by completing the teacher application process, including a national background check, fingerprinting, and CPR/First Aid certifications.

Schedule Breaks and Holidays

Tandem Home Education will not meet during the week of Thanksgiving, the last two weeks of December and the first two weeks of March. Tandem will also not meet on any Monday when our facility is closed for the holidays. Families will be notified in advance of these specific dates.

School Year 2024-2025 Calendar

To view our calendar, please click on the following link: [Calendar Link].

What to bring

Please ensure your child brings a backpack with a packed lunch and snack each class day. We do not have refrigeration facilities available so please pack accordingly.

Our campus is NUT-FREE to accommodate students with allergies. Please refrain from including any nuts in your child's lunch.

All students should bring a labeled water bottle.

After the first day when your student receives their curriculum, they will need to bring their student books to class each day.

Curriculum and Educational Standards

Tandem's curriculum program operates on a rotation tailored to each age group. For instance, 1st – 3rd graders follow a 3-year cycle, while 7th – 8th graders have a 2-year cycle, and 9th – 12th graders a 4-year cycle. This ensures students cover diverse topics in each subject over the years.

For example, 1st – 3rd graders' History cycle includes "Our 50 States," "Our Star-Spangled Story," and "Our World Geography" from Notgrass.

Our educational standards are straightforward: we are a Christian co-op using faith-based homeschool curriculum, all taught from a Biblical Worldview. Parents have the opportunity to review materials and ask questions before classes start, and they will receive copies of all materials, including parent guides, for home reference.

Attendance and Punctuality 

Life's unpredictability is something we understand well. At Tandem, we offer a unique benefit: we follow the same curriculum you use at home. We provide all the necessary curriculum for each course, allowing for seamless integration into your homeschooling schedule. While we cover two days a week, you'll continue with the curriculum on the other days. If you can't make it to class and would like to notify your Campus Facilitator you can do so by logging into your member portal and clicking on the "Contact School". This will allow you to email the Facilitator directly.

Sickness Policy 

1. Contagious Illness: If your child displays symptoms of a contagious illness, please keep them home until fully recovered and no longer contagious. We advise waiting at least 24 hours after fever cessation without fever-reducing medication.

2. Communicate Absences: If your child cannot attend, please notify us promptly through the member portal.

3. Cleaning and Disinfection: Tandem will strive to maintain a clean environment by wiping down hard surfaces between classes.

Discipline and Behavior 

At Tandem Home Education, we are committed to working collaboratively with your students in all aspects. Our policy on discipline and behavior is as follows:

1.  We expect all students, parents, and staff to treat each other with respect and kindness. “Love each other with genuine affection and take delight in honoring each other.

” Romans 12:10

2.  Open communication between parents, students and staff is necessary. If any behavioral issues arise, we will address them promptly and involve parents in finding solutions.

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.

” Matthew 18:15-17

4.  If disciplinary issues occur, cooperative consequences will be implemented, focusing on teaching and guiding students towards better choices.

“Train up a child in the way that he should go; when he is old, he will not depart from it.

” Proverbs 22:6

5.  We know that each child and adult is uniquely created, and different approaches are required for different students. We will do our best to meet the needs of all students and families. 

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.

” Psalm 149:14-16

6.  Tandem Home Education was created with parent involvement in the forefront of all that we do. We encourage parents to be actively involved in their child’s education. Our ultimate goal is to help parent disciple their children in the way of the Lord and to see fruits of their labor.  

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…” Galatians 5:22-23

1:1, 1:2 or 1:3 Aides

At Tandem, we understand that families homeschool for various reasons, including the needs of neurotypical learners and the adjustments required to meet those needs. We are dedicated to supporting you and your student every step of the way, striving to create opportunities for success. If an aide is necessary, we will collaborate with you to find the most suitable fit and discuss the necessary arrangements.

Transportation 

Transportation to and from Tandem is not provided.

For student drivers, Tandem requires submission of a Student Driver Form before driving to class. This form will be available upon registration.

Payment Policies 

Cost breakdown for Tandem Home Education:

  1. Annual Student Membership Fee: $100.00

  2. Class Payment Fee:

    • Quarterly Fees: $900.00

    • Semester Fees: $1800.00

  3. Curriculum/Supply Fees are based on grade level, excluding shipping and taxes:

  • Kinder: $550

  • Grades 1-3: $550

  • Grades 4-6: $600

  • Grades 7-8: $550

  • Grades 9-12: $600 plus lab cost*

*Lab costs will vary by subject, with biology and chemistry labs costing more than physics and earth science. Tandem will procure all necessary curriculum for the subjects we teach, along with teacher guides for at-home use. We do not mark up the cost of the curriculum; in fact, we extend any bulk discounts we receive to our members.

Quarterly Payments based on the: Payments are due on May 1st, August 1st, November 1st, and February 1st.

  1. Invoicing and Payment: Tandem will invoice your family through the member portal, where you can pay securely using Stripe. After payment, you can download a paid invoice for your records or reimbursement needs. We accept ESA debit card payments and provide assistance from ESA experts.

  2. Late Payments: Payments made after the 5th of the month will be considered late. A late fee of $50 will be charged to your child’s account unless accommodation has been arranged.

  3. Membership Fee: A nonrefundable Membership Fee of $100.00 per student is required annually.

  4. Enrollment Duration: While Tandem Home Education does not require parents to sign a contract for a specific enrollment duration, contracts are in place for our teachers and aides. To ensure smooth operations, we request your notice in writing if you decide to withdraw your student. Once the semester starts, if a parent chooses to drop classes after the semester begins, any class fees are forfeited, and families remain responsible for the full semester's tuition. However, families will not incur charges for the following semester if a student withdraws in writing before the semester starts. To withdraw your student, please click on the following link: [Withdraw Link]

Conclusion 

We are dedicated to collaborating closely with you to meet your child’s educational needs and ensure their success in our program. Thank you for trusting us with your child’s education, and we eagerly anticipate a fruitful year ahead. Thank you for welcoming us on the ride!