The Hope Academy Umbrella Program aims to meet a need within Hope Bible Church and the Hope Academy Tutorial by offering a supervised home education program (umbrella) that complies with current Maryland state regulations. The program is designed to give parents as much flexibility as possible in shaping their children's education.
The Elders of Hope Bible Church believe that parents are responsible for their children's education, and that belief extends to Hope Academy. Parents are tasked with selecting and purchasing the curricula and teaching materials that best fit their child's needs. They may also enroll their child in the Hope Academy Tutorial Program, which uses a pre-selected curriculum.
The Hope Academy Umbrella Administration can assist parents by showing them (1) how to maintain a portfolio, (2) how to monitor each child's progress, and (3) how to keep all necessary student records.
The fee for the K-8th-grade Umbrella Program includes a pre-enrollment conference for new families, monthly lesson summary reviews, and two portfolio reviews per school year—one at the end of each semester. The pre-enrollment conference may be held virtually or in person. Portfolio reviews will be primarily conducted by experienced homeschool parents or, if necessary, by professional educators.
The fee for the High School Umbrella Program for students entering 9th-12th grades includes a pre-enrollment conference, monthly lesson summary reviews, guidance on high school credit requirements and curricula, two portfolio reviews per school year, transcript preparation and management, sending official transcripts to the institutions chosen by the student, and awarding the student's diploma upon meeting the high school requirements as outlined by the Hope Academy Umbrella. A parent orientation may be held as needed to prepare parents for the High School Umbrella Program.
Currently, the Hope Academy Umbrella Program is available only for students who are either children of Hope Bible Church members or are enrolled in one or more Hope Academy Tutorial classes.