HARMONY OFFSITE PROGRAM (HOP)

Harmony Offsite Program (HOP)

Since 1974, Harmony School has been dedicated to the development of the whole student. As a natural extension of Harmony’s philosophy, our Offsite Program caters to families who have chosen any number of alternative education paths. HOP pairs its members with their own Education Mentor, as well as a school of record ans transcripts, if needed. HOP is available to K-8 students anywhere inside or outside of the U.S. You can pick your own schedule and your own curriculum with the safety net of Harmony School, an accredited, independent school located in Bloomington, Indiana.

Through HOP, your child’s education is in your hands, and your Mentor is there to support you. Consistent educational support for an inconsistent educational experience is often all you need to pull it all together. Some families choose a structured curriculum while others prefer a more open education that is reactive to the world around them. The highly customizable HOP works well for anyone educating their children through alternative means, such as homeschooling, worldschooling, and unschooling. It is here for anyone who is customizing their child’s education schedule to accommodate travel, to allow for periods of more or less intensity, or to have a flexible vacation schedule. You choose the path, HOP will be there with you.

Move through the additional linked tabs to learn more! If you don’t find the answers you are looking for, please contact our coordinator for more information at [email protected].

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Program Description:

The Harmony Offsite Program (HOP) is open to students grades 1-8 in any country and of any nationality. HOP students are enrolled full-time in Harmony, but there is no specific curriculum provided, nor is one required. As a HOP student, your child is matched with a dedicated education mentor. The mentor works on a regular basis with HOP students, families and/or tutors to help define and reach learning goals.

Understanding that each student is in a unique situation, education mentors can offer support in a variety of possible ways. As your mentor gets to know you and your educational approach, he or she can help you assess progress as well as areas that may need more focus. Your mentor will help you translate your child’s learning experiences into classes on his or her school record. A HOP mentor can also help you with things such as how to evaluate online curriculum or to find a local tutor that is a good fit for you, if that is something you want to do. (It is by no means required if you plan to lead the homeschooling yourself.) Communication with your HOP mentor takes place in English, so either the student or the student’s education guide must have a working use of the language.

Harmony is a fully accredited Pre-K through 12 school with over 40 years of experience. No standardized testing is required for any student, including HOP students. The only requirement is a genuine interest in learning and a commitment to work toward your child’s set education objectives. The primary way of demonstrating this is through maintaining an ongoing relationship with your education mentor and submitting periodic reports of activities. In turn, elementary and middle school students (K -8) receive a traditional report card each semester confirming their successful participation in the program. These records are required in in order to easily transition to any other school.

MORE PROGRAM DETAILS

Is there an official start date?

Students may begin HOP on a rolling basis and are asked to commit to a year of enrollment regardless of actual time spent in the program. Within that year, families have flexibility to schedule their vacation time, as well as periods of more or less intense learning. Education mentors will not work on specified U.S. holidays and they won’t be available during specific planned times of the year, of which you will be notified in advance.

How do I communicate with my education mentor?

HOP mentors are available via email, Zoom and Skype. They are always happy to utilize any reasonable method of communication that makes sense for you in your location. For example, depending on your internet connectivity, Whatsapp or Facebook Messenger may be easiest for quick communication. Your HOP mentor will help make that happen.

Does my child have to speak English?

No, it is not a requirement that your child (children) speak English to enroll in the program. However, the communication with the Harmony staff and mentor will take place in English, so the person guiding the student’s education must have translation skills (to and from English) in order for the program to be effective.

How much time do I spend with my education mentor?

The amount of time will vary by student. At the start of each year, mentors, students and families have an initial planning meeting together where learning objectives and desired outcomes are identified. After this, HOP mentors will touch base with you at least once a month with to check in on your child’s progress. Students are welcome to reach out to their mentor as often as they would like.

Will HOP provide a curriculum?

No, HOP does not include a curriculum, but your mentor can help you select a program that feels like a good fit for you if you would like to use one.

Will we have the same education mentor if we stay with the program for multiple years?

This will depend on a number of factors and you will be part of the decision. You and your HOP mentor may decide to continue year to year, or one of you may decide that someone with a different skill set would be a better fit and a new match will be made. In either case, detailed records and samples of your child’s work will be saved so that a new mentor can quickly begin to work with you on your child’s education goals.

Is the HOP available to students in countries other than the United States?

Yes, any student may participate in HOP and receive an official document to demonstrate full-time enrollment in an accredited U.S. school. Please note that whoever is guiding the student’s education (parent or tutor) must be able to understand English and be able to translate the HOP mentor’s recommendations effectively.

Can my child “fail” if enrolled in HOP?

Harmony does not use terms like pass and fail for any of our students, understanding that each child learns and develops at his or her own pace. Any student who is in the K-8 age range and is actively engaged in learning will progress through the program without needing to worry about passing or failing.

TUITION

What exactly is included in my annual tuition?

The HOP provides:

A full year of academic mentorship
Learning objective planning
Assessment of monthly progress notes
Freedom to customize your learning schedule and style to fit your life
U.S. school enrollment records and transcripts (valid in any country where U.S. transcripts are valid)
Access to Harmony’s Online Learning Management System(HOLMS)
Access to a private online group with others in the HOP program

Tuition and Fees:

HOP is not intended to be a short-term bridge for students between schools, but rather an instrument for students and families to be able to fulfill their alternative education plans. Due to the amount of time invested in each student, the program is set up on an annual basis. We understand that some families have special circumstances. Please contact us if you would like to discuss other arrangements.

REGISTRATION FEE (per academic year – due upon formal registration to hold space):

$200 — First student
$100 — Each additional student in same household

TUITION (per academic year – due two months prior to start of the program):

$1,200 — For each Student in Grades K-8 (or equivalent age/development range)
$1,000 — Each additional student in same household

Additional fees assessed as needed and discussed in advance of cost incurred (postage, Apostille document preparation, language translation etc).

Group rates are available on a case-by-case basis for unrelated students who are working with the same teacher or tutor.

HOPS INTEREST FORM

Register Your Interest:

We’d love to hear from you! The program has limited space and will be filled on a first come rolling basis. Please use Harmony Offsite Program Interest Form to reserve your space. Filling out the form does not commit you to the program. The program director will contact you to discuss details.

A HOP high school program is tentatively planned to be launched, please fill out the Harmony Offsite Program Interest Form to receive information as this program develops.

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Harmony Offsite Program Interest Form

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