1. How much does school tuition cost for the Homeschool with School Support program, Independent Study program, and Promises Academy? 

Homeschool with School Support Program

K-8th $85 per month , 9th-12th $150per Month 

Independent Study Program

K-8th $2,800 per year , 9th-12th $3,400 per year

(Monthly payment plans are available) 

Promises Academy

K-8th $2,400 per year , 9th-12th $2,999 per year   

(Monthly payment plans are available) 

2. What are my options for curriculum?

We believe in parent choice when it comes to educating your child(ren). For the Home School with Support and Independent Study programs there are infinite options for parents to choose from whether they want secular based, biblically based, or a mixture of both. We assist parents in determining the best courses for their student(s). 

For Promises Academy, we have a set biblically based curriculum for the program that provides a structured and well-rounded foundation for students. 

3. Can I homeschool when I work full time?

The easiest way is through independent study and promises academy. These two options allow for parents to be less hands on with their children’s schooling due to the type of curriculum used (I.e videos and DVD instruction). 

4. How many hours a day do we need to be doing schooling? 

California students –the amount of hours needed to complete a day of schooling depends on the curriculum the parents chose and how your child learns. Average is 2-4 hours for Kinder-2nd, 3-5 hours for 3rd-5th grade, 5-7 hours for 6th-12th grades. Again, it depends on your child. These are averages. 

Montana students –According to Montana law, children are required to complete the following amount of hours per school year: grades 1-3: 720 hours, grades 4-12: 1,080 hours.

5. Do I have to follow a traditional school year schedule? 

No, in the homeschool program you can choose your schedule; as long as it contains 36 weeks of school in total. You must inform us of your chosen school year schedule during the enrollment process. The Independent Study program and Promises Academy follow the traditional school schedule selected by the Promises School Administration.

6. What does Promises School do for me? 

1. No PSA required, parents are not required to file any paper work with the state.

2. We protect your privacy and your child’s privacy. 

3. We are a legal private school.

4. We handle all record keeping for your child.

5. Highschool transcripts are official and sent to colleges the same way public school system issues transcripts

6. We provide as much guidance as the parent needs or wants.

7. We assist you in ensuring your children are not behind in their education and if your children are behind, we assist you in getting them to where they should be academically.

7. What kind of support do I receive? Regardless of what program your children are enrolled in, you will have monthly meetings with your education specialist and the support of the administration. We truly care about families and students. We are available any time. See the response for “what does Promises do for me” question for more information about how we provide support. 

8. What areas do you serve?

We serve students residing anywhere in the states of California and Montana. We are actively working to bring Promises School to other states. We are prioritizing our focus on states where we have interest. If you would like to bring Promises School to your state, please let us know.

9. Do my children or I have to be Christian to join your school? No. All children and families are welcome at our school. Biblical based curriculum is available but not required.

10. Does Promises School require vaccines for Enrollment? 

California-Promises School is exempt under SB 277 from requiring vaccines to be administered for enrollment because we are a home based private school. 

Montana- Certain vaccines are required by law but you have the option to file a religious or medical exemption.

11. Why do you request proof of vaccination if Promises is exempt from vaccines in the state of California? California law requires that schools request proof of vaccination even if they are exempt. If you have a vaccination card whether up to date or not, you can submit it. If you don’t have a vaccination card at all, it is no problem.

12. Do I have to file my own PSA if I live in California? 

No, All that is required is the Promises School enrollment form and your child will be legally enrolled in private school.

13. What is the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA)?  The Homeschool Legal Defense Association is the trusted movement leader that makes homeschooling possible by caring for member families and protecting and securing the future of homeschooling. Learn more about them at HSLDA.org 

14. What is a Co-Op? Do you have Co-ops? 

A Co-Op is short for cooperation and refers to a group of students and parents that meet weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly to allow for face to face interaction and fellowship. Parents provide activities or lessons for students based on a predetermined list of subjects. At this time, Promises School is working to develop Co-Ops in our local communities. 

15. Are there State testing requirements? 

No, it is not required, but if a parent wants to have testing done, we can refer you. 

16. Do you give us transcripts? 

Yes, for highschool only. 

17. What are the requirements for P.E.? There are Physical Education requirements, but it depends on the grade of the student and the program requirements. This will be discussed during your school consultation with our administration. 

18. Do colleges recognize a high school diploma from Promises? Yes, we issue transcripts and diplomas the same as any other high school. 

19. What happens if I decide to put my high schooler back in public high school? Current law allows public schools to decide whether or not they want to accept credits issued from private schools. Each public school operates differently regarding accepting credits. Our best advice is if you begin high school with Promises, any other private high school, or even homeschooling on your own, plan on staying there until graduation.

20. What are the requirements for Work Experience? We issue a work permit if requested. 

21. Can my high schooler participate in a dual / concurrent enrollment program ? Yes, Promises school partners with any college or university. 

22. Do you take funding from the government? No! Just no! With government funding comes additional government control. We are completely funded by our families and we promise to never take any funding from the government. 

23. What are the state's requirements for graduation? 

California– there are subject requirements, but no set credit amount. We at Promises School have a goal of 220 credits for graduation. We target classes based on the college of choice for the student. If the student does not want to attend college then we select classes based on a generalized plan. 

Montana– A minimum of 20 credits is required by Montana law.

24. Can I customize my child's education plan based on their needs? Yes, the homeschool and independent study programs are tailored to personalize the education plan for each student. Promises Academy is a set curriculum and cannot be altered. 

25. What is the difference between the homeschool program, the independent study program, and Promises Academy?  

Homeschool with Support: A homeschool program that includes support for parents and school discounts on curriculum. Promises School K-12 will provide an education specialist to support the family and provide guidance when needed. We keep records and handle all administrative duties for each student so you can focus your time and energy on what is most important, your child. More information available on our website. 

Independent Study Program: Students learn through supervised independent study instruction. The student's assigned teacher grades their work and ensures the student is making adequate progress. We work with parents to create a personalized education plan to meet your child's unique needs and support their interests. We offer both, secular curriculum and a curriculum based on a biblical worldview. Students have the option to attend in person courses through community organizations. To find out more, view the information available on our website. 

Promises Academy: Give your children the gift of a biblical worldview foundation and an education that encourages critical thinking. Your children will gain wisdom through knowledge and understanding of history and biblical principles. Promises Academy encompasses a structured, well-rounded, complete curriculum, specifically designed for each grade level and in tune with the way children naturally learn. Your child will graduate Promises Academy well prepared for college or the career of their choice. Students learn at home through a mixture of online, video, and book based instruction. An assigned teacher supervises the student’s education, facilitates all grading and offers additional coaching support as needed.

26. How will I know if my child is behind and how does Promises help with that? Your child’s teacher monitors for that throughout the school year and will touch base with you. We meet the students where they are at and move them forward at their own pace. In our experience, students are able to move forward at a quicker pace and catch up. 

27. Is the school tuition I pay Promises tax deductible? It can be, it depends on your tax situation. Consult with your tax professional. We do provide the necessary documentation if you need it.

28. Can I homeschool with Promises and have my child attend classes at a private learning center or participate in a private program not affiliated with Promises such as Classical Conversations, etc.?  Yes! We can discuss these options with you during your consultation with school administration. 

29. What is a personalized education and does that mean my child will sit in front of the computer all day?

Personalized education means to teach a student based on their individual needs. There are many online programs promoting that they offer a personalized education for students and that is where the confusion is. Generally a personalized education has nothing to do with online education. It is purely teaching a student based on their needs and interests. With our school, we do offer online courses but parents decide what their children need and online education is completely optional.