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Academics
Is ORU eAcademy accredited?
ORU eAcademy is accredited by the International Christian Accrediting Association (ICAA). ICAA is recognized by Oklahoma Private School Accrediting Commission (OPSAC). ORU eAcademy is also accredited by the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA CASI), which affords the school diploma recognition by colleges and universities nationally and globally.
The ORU School of Education, which has oversight of ORU eAcademy, is state and nationally accredited and has the resources and expertise to provide a quality, online, virtual school education. The ORU eAcademy curriculum consists of the core subjects plus electives all integrated with biblical truths and principles and supported by the "Living Curriculum"--our certified, Spirit-filled Christian teachers. Powered by the nationally recognized and approved Switched-On-Online, the curriculum consists of interactive exercises, movies, animation, and audio clips.
What is the purpose of the diagnostic test?
Due to ORU eAcademy's accreditation with the International Christian Accrediting Association (ICAA) and North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA), spring standardized testing is required for full-time students in grades 3, 5, 8, and 11. ORU eAcademy is pleased to offer our students the Measurement of Academic Progress (MAP) test through the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA). While we only require this test for our students in grades 3, 5, 8, and 11, we strongly encourage all of our students to take advantage of this service. This information may be helpful to show accountability to local school boards or state departments of education. Please note that ORU eAcademy utilizes standardized test data for program development. Test scores do not impact students' grades in any way.
Do you offer achievement testing?
Yes, end of course testing will determine the academic advances made during the year to see if adequate yearly progress (AYP) has been achieved. Parents have the option to test their child one time a year. See Financial Information on page 15 for testing fee price.
Do you know my particular state's homeschooling requirements?
No, parents are responsible for knowing their own state's homeschool laws. You may call your state homeschool organization for this information, or go to www.hslda.org.
Please note ORU eAcademy is an accredited, private, Christian online school.
What is a typical school day like?
Although the yearly academic calendar is preset, you may arrange the school day as you see fit. You may have your student do all the work in one sitting or space it out over the day. Time spent on the computer will vary depending on the number of subjects that have been assigned and the student's understanding level of the course material. Generally, a student taking a full course load will spend three to four hours a day on the computer.
Are electives available for third through eighth grades?
Yes. Academic advisors will assist you with electives.
How does ORU eAcademy accommodate students who are a grade level behind in one or two of their subjects?
Based on the placement test results and transfer credits, our guidance counselors will determine the academic level of your student and customize the program accordingly. If your student is behind and needs to catch up, we can create a customized subject to help. Similarly, if your student is advanced, the appropriate level in each subject will be assigned.
Will my Internet filter cause any problems?
If you have an Internet service provider (e.g., AOL) that allows you to set a filter, you will need to set the filter to the lowest level (i.e., parent level) to synchronize with the school. Third-party filters (software filters) will work satisfactorily with eAcademy's distance learning software.
Does my student have to be connected to the Internet while doing schoolwork?
Yes. Students may access their schoolwork from any Internet connection.
How does eAcademy work with a student who has a learning disability, such as ADD or ADHD?
An expert from the ORU School of Education will review student records to determine compatibility with ORU eAcademy. While every student will have customized plan based on the results of the placement test and/or previous school records, students with learning disabilities may find that working in an online, virtual environment is too challenging or overwhelming. However, with parental supervision, some students with learning challenges such as ADD or ADHD may find that the virtual learning environment will be the means to help them with their learning. Parents and teachers will need to monitor these students closely to determine their success rate. Please note, ORU eAcademy is not prepared to work with students who have been diagnosed with severe learning disabilities.
How does the student communicate with an ORU eAcademy teacher?
The student can communicate with an eAcademy teacher in four ways. The first is through the writing of messages within the curriculum, which are sent through the Internet with the student's work. The second is through email with an onsite teacher. The third way is by phone. The final way is through Elluminate LiveŽ, an online, interactive communication tool.
Does ORU eAcademy periodically send report cards or progress reports?
ORU eAcademy allows immediate viewing for the parent to see the current and cumulative progress of the student. It also furnishes the parent with the capability of printing a "grade summary" at any time. If an official grade report is needed, we will send one upon request. Parents may request a conference call with the teacher or administration.
Do students have a set calendar?
Yes, upon purchasing the curriculum, the administrator sets the school calendar for your student to fit into a 10-month time span for a 1-credit course and 5 months for a half-credit course. Your school calendar is then used to establish the lesson plans and due dates.
How quickly will my student's work be graded?
Our teachers have 24-48 hours (with the exception of weekends and holidays) to review and grade each student's daily assignments. Students who submit an excessive number of questions and/or amount of work may have to wait longer for teacher responses.
Is there any work that is not completed on the computer?
Projects that are accomplished away from the computer include science experiments research papers for language arts, history, and Bible. Also, in grades 7-12, our language arts course includes reading and evalu32 ating printed novels, plays, and biographies.
Do you offer an official transcript for outside courses that are approved for eAcademy credit?
If approved, the credit will show on our transcript as a transfer credit with the school name from which the credit was transferred or as a "homeschool" course.
Note: Outside credit approvals and homeschool credits/courses are recorded as Pass/Fail.
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