| 1.
What is ABCD? |
ABCD
is a legal, private Christian school that is incorporated
as a "not for profit" organization in the
State of Florida. It is composed of individual Christian
families who have been called out by God to home
educate their children in the private sector.
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| 2.
Is ABCD accredited? |
ABCD
is registered as a private school with the State of
Florida and is listed in the Florida Education Directory.
ABCD is accredited with the Florida Council of Private
Schools (FCPS).
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| 3.
What is the physical jurisdiction of ABCD? |
ABCD
operates within Marion County only (in the State of
Florida).
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| 4.
How is ABCD a Home School? |
ABCD
is not a traditional day school. Our teachers are
our parents and our classrooms are our homes. In
a real
sense, ABCD is a single educational institution with
multiple campuses. Parents/teachers work together
to provide one another with services and guidance
to make
the school's educational endeavors of the highest quality.
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| 5.
What do the letters "A-B-C-D" mean? |
ABCD
is an acronym for the Academy of Biblical Character
Development. Our name is a large part of what we are
about. It is the desire of the school's members not
only to teach academics, but also to pass on a biblical
heritage by imparting biblical character to our children.
Knowledge without character results in arrogance and
pride. The heart of the organization is parents teaching
their children.
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| 6.
When did ABCD begin? |
ABCD
began with a handful of families committed to the godly
upbringing and teaching of their children. The school
was incorporated in 1984 in accordance with Florida
Statute Section 623 and operates solely in Marion County.
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| 7.
How large of an organization is ABCD? |
Since
its inception, in 1984, ABCD has grown to an organization
of more than 120 students, representing approximately
75 families from a broad spectrum of evangelical Christian
churches.
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| 8.
What grade levels does ABCD cover? |
ABCD
enrolls students from Kindergarten through grade 12
and has graduated many students who have continued
their education at both public and private colleges
and universities.
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| 9.
How is ABCD governed? |
The
families enrolled in ABCD are under the authority of
the ABCD Board of Directors. Board members are elected
annually by the general membership to serve and govern
ABCD. Day to day administra- tion and functions
of the school are handled through the office of ABCD.
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| 10.
What services are provided by ABCD? |
1)
Support: God has given parents the awesome
mandate to direct the education of their children.
Teaching our children at home is a big responsibility
and can at times be tiring and difficult. The school
supports its parents/teachers by providing a variety
of meaningful avenues for interaction and encouragement.
These include: seminars, parents' meetings, grade
level support groups, social gatherings.
2) Accountability/Testing: In the interest of giving
parents maximum credibility, ABCD maintains academic accountability.
In order to provide a record of student achievement, we maintain attendance
records and student transcripts in a central location. Standardized
testing by the school is mandatory for all students in grades two through
twelve.
3) Resource Room: ABCD maintains a media center and
library at the central office location. Books, videotapes, audiotapes,
and a variety of other educational and teaching aids are made available
to members without charge.
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| 11.
What kind of social interaction is provided for the
students? |
All
students may participate in regularly scheduled field
trips and special activities. This helps to supplement
their academic work and to provide social interaction
for parents and students alike. Activities may include:
- Bible
Brain Bowl
- Book
Sale
- Fine
Arts & Crafts Fair
- Geography
Bee
- Graduation
(K-5, High School)
- Monthly
Newsletter
- Olympic
Day
- School
Yearbook
- Science
Fair
- Scoail
Studies Fair
- Spelling
Bee
- Student
Council (H.S.)
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| 12.
What are the general policy requirements for all involved
in ABCD? |
The
following numerical paragraphs set forth certain
minimal plicies and/or standards of participation,
adherence to which is required of all member families
in ABCD:
1) Agreement with the Statement of Faith of the Academy of Biblical Character
Development.
2)
Submission of an Initial Student Application/Registration
Form or Re-Enrollment Form.
3)
Provision to the ABCD office copies of:
- Complete
and current immunization records
- Birth
certificate
- Family
Photo for each newly enrolled child
- Physical
Examination
(this last item means evidence of a school-entry health examination performed
within one year prior to enrollment for all first year Kindergarten or any
other student whose admission to ABCD constitutes that child's initial entrance
into a public or non-public school in the State of Florida.)
4)
Attendance at the initial applicatn interview by
both parents (where applicable) and the child or
children being enrolled.
5)
Attendance and/or participation by parents and/or
students in those meetings, seminars, or other school
activities which may be designated as "mandatory." [A
listing of mandatory activities shall be published
in the ABCD Newsletter at the beginning of the school
year, and shall also be provided in writing at the
annual business meeting of the organization.]
6)
Each family shall be responsible to serve in at least
one event open to ABCD families-at-large.
7)
Each family shall maintain a monthly Official Attendance
Report for each child enrolled, and shall make certain
a completed Report is turned in to the ABCD office
no later than the tenth (10th) day of the next month.
[Families whose Official Attendance Reports are not
received in the ABCD office by the 10th of the month
shall be assessed a late charge.]
8)
With the understanding that the parents are the primary
teachers, each family shall maintain for each student
a lesson plan or activity log book maintained on
a daily basis and setting forthe the subject matter
covered and/or learning activities in which the student
was engaged each day.
9)
Each family shall maintain for each student a notebook
or portfolio of a representative sampling of that
sutdent's work throughout the school year. This portfolio
shall be considered a part of the permanent student
file for each student and shall be maintained by
the child's parents throughout the school career
of that child. [While it is not required that parents
retain all work done by each student, parents are
encouraged to maintain the most complete portfolio
possible.]
10)
Submission to the ABCD off ice of an official annual
student report card (to be obtained from the ABCD
office) which is due in the office not later than
July 15th.
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| 13.
Can I obtain any of the required forms by downloading
them from this website? |
Yes.
Please click on the FORMS link and
you will find a listing of the forms. These are all
available in PDF format. If you do not have an Adobe
Acrobat Reader, just follow the directions to download
one for free.
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| 14.
Where can I find the Statement of Faith for ABCD? |
The
Statement of Faith is listed on the ABOUT US link.
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| 15.
Who are the current Board of Directors? |
Information
regarding the current Board of Directors may be found
on the ABOUT US link.
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| 16.
Where can I get additional help in regard to curriculum,
text books, and activities? |
You
will find a growing list of helpful tools and websites
on the RESOURCES link.
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| 17.
Does ABCD provide curriculum? |
ABCD
does not provide curriculum. As the instructor you
may choose your own curriculum.
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| 18.
Does ABCD accept incoming Seniors? |
Yes, and No. Each senior must fulfill
every graduation requirement required by the State of
Florida prior to graduation. After a thorough evaluation
by the
ABCD guidance counselor, homeschooling seniors moving into the area or former
ABCD students returning back into the school might be accepted.
This acceptance will be at the discretion of the ABCD high school counselor and
the board of directors. The September 1st enrollment deadline will continue to
be observed.
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| 19.
How do I enroll? |
Those
families desiring to enroll students in ABCD shall
submit an approved Initial Student Application/Registration
Form. These forms are available at the ABCD office,
or may be obtained online from our website under FORMS.
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| 20.
Where is the ABCD office located? |
The
physical address is:850 NE 36th Terrace, Suite E./
Ocala, Florida 34470. For further contact information
click on the link: CONTACT US.
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| 21.
What do I need to do to re-enroll in ABCD? |
Families
already enrolled in ABCD and desiring to re-enroll
for the next school year shall submit an approved Family
Re-Application Form. Applications for re-enrollment
with ABCD shall be postmarked prior to July 1st.
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| 22.
What are the registration fees? |
A
non-refundable, annual Family Registration Fee shall
be charged to cover the costs associated with enrollment.
Payment of this fee is due at the time of application
for new families, and by August 1st for re-enrolling
families.
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| 23.
Are there any other costs involved? |
A "per
annum tuition fee" is charged. Tuition is due
in the office of ABCD not later than the first day
of August. Any exceptions must be approved by the
Board prior to approval of the family's enrollment
application.
A payment plan is available. Tuition is charged for
up to three children from each family, with tuition
waived as to any additional children. For details
concerning fees, consult the ABCD Tuition Schedule
(see FORMS).
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| 24.
How are students tested? |
ABCD
requires that each student enrolled in grades two through
eleven be tested through standardized tests during
the year. Testing for students in first grade and twelfth
grade is optional. Participation in the testing is
mandatory for all other students. All students will
be tested together, the date and time to be announced.
Only those enrolled in ABCD will be admitted to the
testing. Those students who fail to participate in
the required testing are not eligible for re-enrollment
in ABCD for the next succeeding year.
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| 25.
Does ABCD require the FCAT? |
No. ABCD does not require the FCAT. However,
an annual achievement score is required for our accreditation
and is provided as part of our membership. It is covered
in the tuition so there is no further testing cost.
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| 26. Which achievement test does
ABCD require? |
We administer the Stanford Achievement
Test and the Otis Lennon Test.
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| 27.
Is it mandatory to test with ABCD? |
No. We also accept other achievement tests.
These would need to be procured by the parent and administered
by a professional. The results would need to be submitted
to the office and placed in the student's cumulative
folder. For a list of tests accepted by our accrediting
agency, contact the school office.
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| 28.
How is a student's progress and conduct evaluated? |
In
keeping with the spirit of the laws of the state of
Florida, ABCD reserves the right to review, on occasion,
evidence of a student's progress. Failure of the parents
to be actively engaged in the instruction of their
children will result in dismissal from ABCD. ABCD families
and students shall conduct themselves in a manner consistent
with biblical principles and practices and shall demonstrate
responsible Christian conduct while enrolled in ABCD.
In keeping with the founding principles of ABCD, it
is the policy of this educational institution that,
at the discretion of the Board of Directors, any student
currently enrolled who is found by the Board of ABCD
to have demonstrated biblically immoral, illegal, or
unethical conduct may be dismissed from enrollment.
Upon Board approval, the student may be allowed to
finish out the current school year. The Board may require,
however, that the subject student refrain from public
activity with the Academy of Biblical Character Development.
Thereafter, the student will not be eligible for re-enrollment
with this institution. The Board of Directors reserves
the right to terminate enrollment (or refuse re-enrollment)
for just cause as the Board, in its sole and absolute
discretion, deems necessary.
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| 29.
Does ABCD accept teacher evaluations instead of standardized
testing? |
No,
our accrediting agency must have standardized test
scores.
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| 30.
How
does ABCD record attendance? |
ABCD
requires monthly attendance forms to be submitted by
the 10th of each month.
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