Frequently Asked Questions about the CMA Experience

About The Christa McAuliffe Experience

1. Who does CMA serve?
2. Why was CMA established?
3. How is CMA funded?
4. What is the annual enrollment cost?
5. Is CMA accredited?
6. What is the enrollment procedure?
7. Does CMA ever partner with public schools?
8. Is CMA accountable to anyone?
9. Where is the CMA physical office located?
10. What are the Computer Requirements for CMA?

The CMA Learning Model

1. Is CMA for everybody?
2. Why would parents choose online education for their children?
3. What role do parents play in the CMA model?
4. What courses are offered at CMA?
5. Are books required?
6. Do I need a special Internet connection or eMail provider?
7. Who determines lesson assignments and sequence?
8. Who grades lessons and provides documentation of progress?
9. How do I choose a Mentor?
10. How is a student's time divided between online and offline?
11. How many hours per day do I need to study?
12. Can I make up classes at CMA that I failed at my school?
13. How well do CMA graduates adjust to college or the work environment?
14. How much contact do parents and students have with CMA staff?
15. What kind of assessments are used to measure academic progress?
16. What academic standards must CMA students achieve?
17. What happens when a student does not meet these standards?
18. How do we know that students are doing their own work?
19. Does CMA meet the needs of special education students?
20. How does learning at CMA differ from correspondence programs or other home-school programs?
21. How do CMA students satisfy state requirements for physical education?

Enrollment

1. What are the special requirements for a student to enroll at CMA?
2. What is the process for parents and students to enroll at CMA?
3. Does CMA notify the student's previous school of the enrollment?

Operations

1. What constitutes an academic year at CMA?
2. How are credits documented?
3. Does CMA provide any computer hardware for the student?
4. Does CMA provide training in the operation of a computer for students or parents?
5. Does CMA pay for the cost of internet access for each student?
6. Are CMA students eligible to participate in extra-curricular activities (such as interscholastic athletics or clubs) in the school district in which they reside?

Tech Support

1. Click here if you need Technical Support.

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General Questions

Who does CMA serve?

CMA seeks to serve English-speaking students world-wide who desire a high school diploma or who need independent study courses to fulfill requirements at their current school. There is no age limit for enrollment. Current enrollment is predominantly in grades 9-12 but a growing number of students are enrolling in our K-8 Program. We contract with public schools, charter schools, and other agencies such as the Casey Family Foundation to offer greater options to students.

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Why was CMA established?

CMA began in 1985 as a small local academy whose mission was to make sure that the needs of individual students were addressed and nurtured. That same philosophy remains central to our operation today. We know that all students can learn if given the right opportunity, so we implement programs in a variety of learning styles and modalities to maximize educational success.

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How is CMA funded?

CMA is funded primarily from private sources, including tuition, fees, grants, donations, and proceeds from business ventures. We also partner with school districts and charter schools, who pass on a portion of the state per-pupil allotment to CMA for contracted services. CMA is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.

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What is the annual enrollment cost?

Please see our tuition page for a list of all offered programs and their respective costs: CMA Tuition
CMA accepts Visa, MasterCard, and personal or company checks. Cash payments are accepted in person only, at our Yakima office.

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Is CMA accredited?

Yes. Christa McAuliffe Academy is accredited by the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools. Also, CMA has been approved annually as a private school by the Washington State Board of Education since 1985.

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What is the enrollment procedure?

After carefully reviewing our website, we encourage you, as a prospective student, to consider the fact that enrolling in CMA means you are personally accepting the primary responsibility for your academic success. There will be no weekly deadlines, no teachers lecturing, no friends to support or distract you-its just you making the decision every day to do what is necessary to progress and meet your goal. If that is a commitment you are willing to make and keep, you are likely a good match for the CMA learning experience. We welcome you!

It is very important that you carefully review our faculty page and select a Mentor with whom you can relate well and who has a eClass session scheduled at a time that works for you. You will need to do this before submitting your enrollment form.

The easiest way to enroll is to use our online enrollment form. Just fill out the form and submit it electronically. You may also enroll using the printable form and fax it to (509) 575-4976 or mail it to our office at 402 E. Yakima Ave.,  Suite 1100, Yakima, WA, 98901.

We normally are able to process your paperwork and have you "launched" within 24 to 48 hours from the time we receive your enrollment form. If we have to wait for a check to arrive or there is a problem with your credit card payment, the process will take longer. We do all of our communication by eMail, so it is IMPERATIVE that we have a correct, current email address for both the student and the parents that you check frequently. (see Internet/eMail section for more details on this).

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Does CMA ever partner with public schools?

CMA contracts with public schools to provide alternative learning programs, specialized classes, credit retrieval classes, electives, and technology courses. Some schools conduct the CMA classes in their own onsite "labs" and some use them as outreach programs to students at home. Contracting with CMA is a way to offer a greater variety of classes and more scheduling options without adversely impacting staffing, classroom space, or current programs. Also, the CMA program can be immediately implemented without a large upfront cost because the participating school only pays a set amount per student per credit. This allows schools to easily manage operating costs by simply designating how many students will take classes from CMA.

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Is CMA accountable to anyone?

Yes, CMA is accountable to a Board of Directors and must meet the strict standards of the Northwest Association of Accredited Schools in order to maintain accreditation. It must also be reviewed annually by the Washington State Board of Education to maintain approved private school status.

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Where is the CMA physical office located?

CMA offices are located at 402 E. Yakima Ave.,  Suite 1100, Yakima, WA, 98901.

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What are the computer requirements for CMA?

Click here - computer_requirements.

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CMA Learning Model

Is CMA for everybody?

No- only self-motivated students who thrive on working independently are apt to enjoy CMA. After carefully reviewing our website, we encourage you, as a prospective student, to consider the fact that enrolling in CMA means you are personally accepting the primary responsibility for your academic success. There will be no weekly deadlines, no teachers lecturing, no friends to support or distract you-it's just you making the decision every day to do what is necessary to progress and meet your goal. If that is a commitment you are willing to make and keep, you are likely a good match for the CMA learning experience.

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Why would parents choose online education for their children?

Parents who want a better idea of what is going on with their children's schooling may choose online education. Some are looking for a safe environment for their kids. Others realize that online schools offer great flexibility and convenience-they allow more time for family activities, part-time jobs, and even professional careers. Many find that their children learn better in an environment that lets them learn at their own pace. Individual attention is a prime motivator for many students. Please see our Testimonial Page for comments from parents about our school.

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What role do parents play in the CMA model?

Parents are an essential part of our educational team. They are responsible for providing an appropriate learning environment, helping to set up and maintain a suitable daily study routine, and making sure that adequate communication takes place among all members of the learning team-student, mentor, parent, and school administrative staff. Parents are also in charge of hugs and high-fives!

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What courses are offered at CMA?

CMA offers a full range of courses from kindergarten through high school. We use "PlatoWeb" and "Anywhere Learning System" as core curricula for grades 7-12. They are self-paced online tutorial-type programs using rigorous instructional content. We use "The Learning Odyssey" by Compass Learning as the core curriculum for the elementary grades. It offers a comprehensive, individualized curriculum for grades 1-8 delivered entirely over the Internet. All of the learning activities are based on national and state standards and are enhanced by powerful, grade appropriate Web links, animations, and audio and video clips. "The Learning Odyssey" includes courses in Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies.

To complement the online courses, CMA has developed practical application components, which we refer to as offline coursework, that the students must complete to earn credit for each course.

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Are books required?

No. Except for specialized classes like global languages, all required curriculum materials are available online or at the public library and are included in the basic tuition fee. Supplemental materials may be purchased to enhance or enrich the learning but are not required to earn credit or pass a course. Learning kits are required for global languages and our Kindergarten Program.

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Do I need a special Internet connection or eMail provider?

Yes and no. It is always preferable to have the highest speed Internet connection you can get. Having said that, you can do all of our coursework on a 56k dialup connection but you must be willing to accept the slower response times and delays the will occur. The Internet is a great source of information and a marvelous tool for learning but you must realize that it is also sometimes frustrating and confusing, especially to those who are new to the Web. We are accustomed to helping people get through the initial learning curve with technical assistance but we are not prepared to teach you basic computer skills or give Internet navigation lessons. If you aren't at least somewhat familiar with the basics, you are better served by doing your schoolwork in a more traditional school environment.

A direct connection to the Internet through a reliable local ASP is preferable to a comprehensive service provider like AOL or MSN. Free eMail accounts like Hotmail are particularly troublesome because they tend to get filled quickly with personal messages and then reject important messages from us and we don't know that you have not received the information.

As a benefit with your CMA enrollment, you get a free personal eMail account on our server at cmacademy.org. We strongly encourage all students to activate their free CMA account.

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Who supervises and manages the learning process?

Skilled, certified teachers, who we call Mentors, conduct learning activities using a combination of computer-based lessons and technology, directed offline work, and personal interaction. The mentor serves as the student's primary contact with Christa McAuliffe Academy. They determine the appropriate learning plan and sequence, assign the lessons, grade and report the work and facilitate learning. The mentor's goal is to create a supportive environment where students with diverse skills and capabilities can successfully meet educational requirements and complete their education with a sense of self-worth and accomplishment. We want students to think of their mentor as a personal coach, who will lead, inspire, guide, and direct them toward success in their academic pursuits.

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How is a student's time divided between online and offline?

CMA students focus on completing one course at a time, but may switch to a second course temporarily for variety or when waiting for assistance from the mentor. In addition to each online course, students must complete a practical application component which we refer to as offline coursework. Students are expected to complete the online and offline work concurrently to receive credit for the course. Most students spend about half of their study time with each component. Each semester course should take about a month to complete. At that rate, a student will earn the normal six credits in a calendar year. Motivated students who spend more hours of study per day can expect to advance faster.

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How many hours per day do I need to study?

Since our students focus on one subject at a time and all instruction is individualized, three hours of study per day is generally adequate to achieve "normal" progress in the core subjects. Additional time is needed to complete supplemental courses and other activities required for graduation. Parents are expected to provide onsite help and any supplemental resources needed to clarify difficult concepts. Students who want to accelerate their learning will need to spend four to six hours per day in concentrated study.

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Can I make up classes at CMA that I failed at my school?

Yes. We offer an Independent Study Program for students currently enrolled in a traditional school. Typically, our Independent Study program is used by students needing to make up credits or to take courses that can't be worked into their regular school schedule. Students are required to coordinate with their school counselors to gain pre-approval for each course before signing up with CMA. Refer to our curriculum section for a partial list of courses available. A special Independent Study Program, called the Summer Advantage Program, is designed to help students make up credits, or earn extra credits toward graduation during the summer months. Students should work closely with their counselors to make sure that the courses they take at CMA will fulfill the requirements of their school. Students have 90 days to complete as many courses as possible, working on only one course at a time. Mentor support and technical help is available when needed.

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How well do CMA graduates adjust to college or the work environment?

It is an easy step from CMA to college because our students are already accustomed to setting goals and working independently. They are self-disciplined and capable of taking the initiative to study appropriately. The same skills are readily applied to the work environment-CMA grads are in high demand with employers because they know how to work and take responsibility.

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How much contact do parents and students have with CMA staff?

Parents and students have easy access to CMA staff. We encourage frequent contact by eMail and phone, especially in the beginning to assure a proper start. Later on, most contact should be with the Mentor, who will establish guidelines for maintaining good communication. We have found that good consistent communication is the key to your student's success at CMA.

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What kind of assessments are used to measure academic progress?

Assessments are built into the PlatoWeb and ALS courseware. Mastery levels are set at 80% and students are not allowed to progress until those levels are achieved. CMA also uses a sophisticated series of criterion-referenced assessments for student placement and benchmarking progress. These assessments are administered to selected students three times per year to gauge improvement levels and verify accurate placement in the curriculum.

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What academic standards must CMA students achieve?

Student success is measured by demonstrating competence at 80% or better in each subject at every level. Each student determines his/her own pace and learning style but mastery of each lesson is required to progress.

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What happens when a student does not meet these standards?

It is a fact of life that some students will have difficulty with the courses offered. CMA offers courses with high academic standards and expects that some students will struggle to succeed.

When a mentor determines that a student is having trouble, the parents are notified and an attempt is made to identify and remedy the problem. The vast majority of cases are handled in this way. However, there are some cases where a change in curriculum or mentor is warranted. This is accomplished in a cooperative fashion with the parent. In extreme cases where school policy violations have occurred and a suitable solution cannot be reached, the student may be expelled.

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How do we know that students are doing their own work?

This is a common question because, fortunately, "accountability" in education has become an important issue in the minds of education consumers-- parents, taxpayers and their elected representatives.

Some have suggested that, in online learning, a parent or sibling or friend could more easily submit work on a student's behalf. Certainly, in isolated cases, this is possible, as it would be in a regular classroom. We all know of science projects or history papers or math problems that have arrived in class with help from family and friends. Of course, these practices-- whether they involve online school students or other students-- only cheat the student of a portion of his or her education, a result we believe most every parent would seek to prevent.

To put it bluntly, the CMA education model affords more accountability and integrity than traditional types of learning. Daily lessons and assignments are logged by the computer and verified by the Mentor. There is a record of almost every step of the educational process. Our eClass sessions are automatically recorded and can be printed out or played back at any time for review.

Parents are involved in every step of the process and can monitor a student's work. Our experience is that our parents choose CMA to provide them with a first class education in a way that meets their child's needs. The idea that a parent would perform course work for their child is counter to the vision our parents have for their children.

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Does CMA meet the needs of special education students?

We do not have all the specially certificated staff to meet federal guidelines for Special Ed. However, we have had great success in overcoming many of the common learning difficulties associated with Special Ed. The fact that our students focus on only one subject at a time is a major factor in this success. The self-paced concept of learning and the tutorial method of presenting content also contribute to success with special needs students.

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How does learning at CMA differ from correspondence programs or other home-school programs?

We provide instant feedback to the student. Lessons are customized for each learner. We have a very effective way of providing socialization and group interaction in real time which includes voice over IP. We have all certified teachers managing the learning process. Students get to pick their mentors. We have organized scheduled "world-class" CMA Adventures. We have students from widely varying cultures and backgrounds working together on a weekly basis, using the latest technology.

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How do CMA students satisfy state requirements for physical education?

We believe that one of the main goals of a PE course is to start a lifelong habit of fitness. We therefore encourage our students to participate in a wide range of activities until they find those that match their personalities and needs. Physical fitness should be part of our daily lives, not just a course to complete.

Each CMA PE class focuses on one aspect of fitness for students to research and write about (healthy hearts, saturated fats, etc.). In each semester, students complete flexibility, aerobic and strength training. During their exercise, students incorporate that semester's focus into their routines.

CMA requires every student to take a PE course each semester that he/she attends CMA.

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Enrollment

What are the special requirements for a student to enroll at CMA?

You need to be highly motivated, a good reader, willing to set personal goals and work independently. You should be prepared to find a "social life" with family, church, civic, and community activities. Many students find fulfillment in volunteering in the community. We will assess your current learning level and place you appropriately in our academic program. Their are no arbitrary pre-requisites.

It is very important that you carefully review our faculty page and select a Mentor with whom you can relate well and who has eClass sessions scheduled at a time that works for you. You will need to do this before submitting your enrollment form.

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What is the process for parents and students to enroll at CMA?

The easiest way to enroll is to use our online enrollment form. Just fill out the form and submit it electronically. You may also enroll using the printable form and fax it to (509) 575-4976 or mail it to our office at 402 E. Yakima Ave.,  Suite 1100, Yakima, WA, 98901.

We normally are able to process your paperwork and have you "launched" within 24 to 48 hours from the time we receive your enrollment form. If we have to wait for a check to arrive or there is a problem with your credit card payment, the process will take longer. We do all of our communication by email, so it is IMPERATIVE that we have a correct, current email address for both the student and the parents that you check frequently. (See Internet/eMail section for more details).

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Does CMA notify the student's previous school of the enrollment?

Yes, we will send for your official transcript and notify your previous school that you are now enrolled in CMA. All you need to do is properly withdraw from your current school and make sure all books are turned in and all fines are paid. We recommend that you simply let your school know that you are transferring to a private school.

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Operations

What constitutes an academic year at CMA?

CMA is a year-round school. We start in September and go through August. Our school year is 225 days in length. Please refer to our school calendar for details.

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How are credits documented?

We document credits on official Washington State Transcripts which we store both electronically and in hard copy. We have a sophisticated computer system with redundant backups stored in separate places.

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Does CMA provide any computer hardware for the student?

No.

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Does CMA provide training in the operation of a computer for students or parents?

Yes and no. We do not provide free training for parents and students. We expect families to be computer literate prior to enrolling at CMA. We do offer computer/technology courses for credit at additional cost.

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Does CMA pay for the cost of internet access for each student?

No.

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Are CMA students eligible to participate in extra-curricular activities (such as interscholastic athletics or clubs) in the school district in which they reside?

Yes, in some states, including Washington. Contact our office to confirm whether your state allows this.  CMA offers several clubs you can join as well.

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