Terms & Conditions (2025-26)

Porter Academy of Arts and Sciences
Effective Date: February 16, 2025

The following terms and conditions govern the enrollment, participation, and responsibilities of students and families at Porter Academy of Arts and Sciences (the "Academy") to ensure an effective and structured online learning environment.

1. Parental Responsibility

  • Parents are the primary facilitators of their student’s education and are expected to monitor their student’s progress, ensuring timely completion of assignments, quizzes, and assessments.

  • Parents must obtain and maintain all required learning materials and equipment necessary for enrolled courses.

  • Each student must have direct access to the required textbooks and materials, in the versions specified by the Academy.

  • If multiple students from the same family are enrolled in a course, each student must have their own device (computer, headset, microphone, and stable internet connection).

  • The Academy is not responsible for students' technology use or internet access.

  • Parents are responsible for supervising their child’s internet activities, especially when engaging in online coursework, class discussions, and extracurricular activities.

  • Parents must ensure they receive and review all official electronic communications from the Academy. Emails sent to the address provided during registration will be considered received and read within 24 hours of being sent.

  • Parents are responsible for securing all answer keys and ensuring their student does not use unauthorized assistance, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools, to complete assignments.

2. Enrollment

How to Register

  • New families must register online during open enrollment by selecting courses and submitting a 20% non-refundable deposit per class.

  • Parents must review course descriptions and prerequisites before enrollment.

  • If there is uncertainty regarding course placement, an Academy administrator will reach out to discuss appropriate options.

  • Students pursuing a diploma through the Academy must provide transcripts of prior coursework.

  • Returning families receive early enrollment privileges and discounts before open enrollment for new families.

Late Enrollment

  • Late enrollment requests will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Tuition adjustments and credit eligibility will be determined based on the date of enrollment.

  • For inquiries, contact registar@porterhillacademy.com.

3. Tuition & Discounts

  • Regular tuition: $[Insert Amount] per course.

  • A 20% deposit is required per course to secure a seat. This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable.

  • Full-Time Student Discount: Enrollment in four or more courses qualifies for a 10% discount on the remaining tuition balance.

  • Books and materials are not included in tuition fees and must be purchased separately.

  • Parents must electronically sign a financial agreement before tuition payments begin.

  • Monthly payment plans are available, with the first payment due in June and the final in May.

Withdrawal Policy

Students withdrawing before June 15

  • Full tuition payments (excluding the 20% deposit) will be refunded.

Students withdrawing after June 15 but before the first two weeks of class

  • Refunds will be provided on a sliding scale:

    • After June 15: 90% refund.

    • After July 15: 80% refund.

    • After August 15: 70% refund.

  • Families on a payment plan will not receive refunds, but their remaining tuition obligation will be canceled.

Students withdrawing after the first two weeks of class

  • No refunds will be issued.

  • Tuition credit may be applied toward the next academic year for an immediate family member.

4. Academic Standards & Expectations

Attendance

  • Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes.

  • If a class is missed, students must review recorded lessons and complete assigned work.

English Proficiency & Writing Quality

  • Students must have a strong command of spoken and written English appropriate for their grade level.

  • Assignments must reflect correct grammar, structure, and clarity of expression.

Computer Literacy

  • Students must be comfortable using a keyboard and navigating an online learning environment.

Assignment Deadlines

  • All coursework must be submitted according to deadlines specified by instructors, using Pacific Standard Time (PST) as the default time zone.

Grade Reports

  • Parents and students can access grades via the Academy’s learning management system.

  • Final semester grades will be available one week after the semester ends.

Cheating & Plagiarism

  • Any instance of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism or using unauthorized assistance, will be addressed promptly.

  • Parents, instructors, and administrators will work together to ensure confession, repentance, and academic integrity.

Honor Roll Recognition

  • All A’s: Gold Honor Cord (for students maintaining an A Honor Roll throughout high school).

  • All A’s & B’s: Silver Honor Cord (for students achieving A/B Honor Roll in high school).

5. Accommodations for Learning Differences

  • At Porter Academy of Arts and Sciences, we provide Individualized Support Plans (ISPs) instead of IEPs to accommodate and support learners with diverse educational needs. Our ISPs are designed to offer personalized academic and developmental support while aligning with our classical and career-focused educational model.

6. Classroom Policies

  • Students must keep their video cameras on during class to ensure engagement.

  • Classroom behavior must promote a focused and scholarly atmosphere.

  • The student’s environment, attire, and background should not be distracting.

  • Students must participate only when instructed and limit chatbox use to class-related discussions.

  • Background noise should be minimized, and no music or distractions should be present.

7. Technology Requirements

The Academy uses Zoom for live video instruction.

Required Equipment

  • Computer (Laptop or Desktop).

  • Webcam (Must be turned on during class).

  • Microphone (Built-in or headset).

  • Stable Internet Connection (Minimum of 10 Mbps recommended).

Recommended Equipment

  • Printer with scanning capability (for submitting assignments).

8. External Links & Third-Party Services

  • The Academy may provide links to third-party resources. We are not responsible for the privacy policies or content of these external sites.

9. Contact Information

For questions regarding these Terms & Conditions, please contact:

Porter Academy of Arts and Sciences