How does the school year run for this program? Do we have to follow the typical school year of August-May/June? Can we adjust this to fit our needs? One reason homeschooling is attractive to us is the flexibility.
Yes, you can adjust your school calendar to fit with your family's schedule. We recommend developing a school year calendar with 180 school days, but whether that calendar is a "traditional" calendar, year-round, or alternative is very much your choice.
The sample academic calendar we publish each year starts early August and ends late-May. Instructions and an academic calendar year template are made available to member families so they can create their own school calendar. The recommended format consists of 180 school days: two school weeks of first-semester preparation, sixteen academic weeks, two school weeks of second-semester preparation, and sixteen academic weeks (36 total school weeks).
No matter what academic calendar you put in place in your home, just keep in mind that student enrollment must be renewed for the next academic year by June 30th of each year to renew access to advisor support services and the STAA Student Zone resources.
Member Families
The STAA Student Zone courses reset every July. Let your advisor know in July if your junior high or high school student needs a course extension because of your family's unique schedule. Course extensions are free for students with active enrollment and $35.00 per month for students whose enrollment has expired.