Frequently asked questions

What is the Blue Tent payment and refund policy?

REGISTRATION

  • A student will be added to a class roster once we receive both a registration form and registration fee.
  • Links can be found at the top of the Registration | Tuition page.
REGISTRATION FEE
  • The $75 registration fee is charged once per student per school year and is non-refundable.
  • The registration fee can be paid in several ways:
  • If a future purchase order (charter/scholarship program) covers this fee, you will receive a refund.
TUITION PAYMENTS
  • Tuition is due following your receipt of an email confirmation from the Blue Tent Director that your student is fully registered for a class.
  • Tuition can be paid in several ways:
    • By check: mail to Blue Tent Online, 7228 Mt. Pleasant Rd., Willow Spring, NC 27592.
    • By PayPal or credit card: use the Blue Tent payment portal and pay through your PayPal account or as a "guest."
    • By purchase order (PO through CA charters or scholarship programs): arrange for a purchase order to be sent to Blue Tent Online by August 1.
  • If you need to make alternate payment arrangements, please contact us at bluetentonline@gmail.com.
WITHDRAWALS/TUITION REFUNDS
  • A $25 withdrawal fee per class will be deducted from each tuition refund.
    • This is strictly to cover PayPal/credit card fees that are not refunded to us when we issue your refund.
  • 100% of your class tuition (less the withdrawal fee) will be refunded for a withdrawal by July 31, 2021.
  • 75% of your class tuition (less the withdrawal fee) will be refunded for a withdrawal between August 1 through the end of the first week of the class.
  • No tuition refunds will be issued after the end of the first week of a class.
  • Families paying by purchase order (PO) commit to fully pay the balance due regardless of whether their charter/program will pay the remaining tuition due following a withdrawal.
LAB KITS AND DIGITAL PROGRAMS
  • Ordered lab kits and digital programs cannot be returned or refunded.
Please contact bluetentonline@gmail.com with withdrawal/refund requests.



CA Charters: Which CA homeschool charters have approved Blue Tent Online as a vendor?

For the 2020-21 school year, Blue Tent is an approved vendor for the California homeschool charters listed below. We expect to be renewed each summer when charters send out vendor renewals, but this list could change. Some charters have designated some of our math, science, and English classes as a-g. There is a separate FAQ question with more information.

  • Blue Ridge Academy
  • Clarksville Charter School
  • Cottonwood School
  • Excel
  • Feather River Charter School
  • Granite Mountain Charter School
  • Heartland Charter School
  • iLEAD
  • Lake View Charter School
  • Monarch River Academy
  • Ocean Grove
  • Pacific Charter Institute
  • Rio Valley Charter School
  • Sage Oak
  • Sky Mountain
  • South Sutter
  • Summit Academy
  • Winship Community School
  • Yosemite Valley Charter School
If you would like us to apply to become a vendor for your California charter, please send us a note!



Where are the class reading and resource lists?

You can find the reading list and resources for each class by clicking on the "Course Materials" button at the top of each class information page.



Are Blue Tent AP classes approved by the College Board?

Yes, all Blue Tent Online Advanced Placement® classes comply with the College Board's AP Audit process and are renewed annually: AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP English Language & Composition, and AP English Literature & Composition, and AP Statistics. Additionally, Blue Tent is a College Board-approved AP Online Provider. In each of the past eight years, over 80% of the students taking Blue Tent's AP English classes have earned scores of 4 or 5 on their exams.



Does Blue Tent issue transcripts?

We will be happy to provide an official record of Blue Tent Online classes taken by any student. Upon request, we will send that document to a student, parent, college, or program. Just fill out this Record Request form.

  • There is no charge to email or snail mail this documentation.
  • If you would like us to expedite the shipping of this documentation, we just ask you to defray our Priority Mail or Fed Ex costs.



How do wait lists work?

If a class is full, we will publish that at the top of the class information page and on the tuition page of our website.

  • We update the number of students on the wait list daily.
If you would like to be added to a wait list, complete the registration process by sending us a registration form and registration fee.
  • We will email a wait list confirmation to you, providing your number on the wait list.
  • We will update you periodically to let you know your students status on the roster.
  • Once a seat opens up, we'll email you right away.
In the past, students on wait lists have gotten into classes during the summer. We know wait lists are stressful. We will do all we can to provide you with timely information about changes in those lists and your student's status. Feel free to contact us if you have questions.



Where are Blue Tent classes held? And are your classes religious?

Where are Blue Tent classes held?

  • Blue Tent instructors live in California, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Ohio, but we teach 100% online--so our classes are held everywhere.
  • We use the Moodle learning management system (LMS) on our own dedicated server, and we use ZOOM for live instruction and discussion.
  • Students access their web classrooms at our password-protected class site-- www.bluetentclasses.com--for instruction, assignments, quizzes, and peer interaction.
Are Blue Tent classes religious?
  • No. We use secular curricula and teach in a secular manner.



FAQ Archive: When were Blue Tent Online class days, times, and breaks for 2018-20?

2019-2020 BLUE TENT BREAKS

  • Fall Break | Oct 7-13
  • Thanksgiving | A light work-week
  • Winter Break | Dec 16-Jan 5
  • Spring Break | Mar 9-15
CLASS FORMATS
  • Synchronous = Live classes. Days/times listed below. Also recorded.
  • Asynchronous = Text-based. Active/interactive classes. No live meeting days/times.
  • Preview Week = Online classrooms open for "preview" one week prior to start dates listed below. Year-long classes only. Semester-long classes open on dates indicated.
Math English Science ••••••••••••••••••• 2018-2019 BLUE TENT BREAKS
  • Fall Break | Oct 8-14
  • Thanksgiving | A light work-week
  • Winter Break | Dec 17-Jan 6
  • Spring Break | Mar 11-17
CLASS SCHEDULES English
  • Creative Writing (fall 2018) | Fri 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Eastern | Sept 4-Dec 14
  • Creative Writing (spring 2019) | Frid 12-1 p.m. Eastern | Jan 14-May 10
  • Intro to Lit & Comp | Aug 27-May 10
  • Honors English 1 | Honors English 2 | Aug 27-May 10
  • AP Lang & Comp | Aug 20-May 15 (AP exam)
  • AP Lit & Comp | Aug 20-May 8 (AP exam)
  • Advanced Senior English | Aug 27-May 3
Science
  • Honors Biology | Honors Chemistry | Anatomy & Physiology: Aug 20-May 10



Can I borrow my textbooks for free through Blue Tent OnLoan?

We offer students the option to borrow gently used textbooks that they will be using in their Blue Tent math and science classes. The only cost is $7.50 per book to cover postage and packaging. For more information, see Blue Tent OnLoan.



What distinguishes an honors class from a non-honors class?

Classes taught at an honors level generally proceed at a faster pace and cover more material than regular classes. Blue Tent honors math classes will cover topics in more depth, and problems will often be more challenging. Students may be asked to expand on the concepts learned with open-ended problems that promote independence and critical thinking.

  • The math instructors intend to complete their entire textbooks.
  • The math instructors plan to supplement their texts with new concepts and approaches that are finding their way into the SAT and ACT to provide a firm foundation for standardized testing.



CA a-g: Are Blue Tent classes a-g approved in CA?

MATH Our math classes-- Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Geometry, and Precalculus--are a-g approved as regular math classes when taken through these California homeschool charters:

  • Blue Ridge Academy | Clarksville Charter School | Cottonwood School | Feather River Charter School | Granite Mountain Charter School | Heartland Charter School | Lake View Charter School | Monarch River Academy | Pacific Coast Academy | Yosemite Valley Charter School
  • All IEM charters: Ocean Grove | Sky Mountain | South Sutter
Our math classes are a-g approved as regular or honors classes when taken through iLEAD. SCIENCE Our Biology, Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry, and Anatomy classes are a-g approved as regular science classes when taken through these California homeschool charters:
  • Blue Ridge Academy | Clarksville Charter School | Cottonwood School | Feather River Charter School | Granite Mountain Charter School | Heartland Charter School | Lake View Charter School | Monarch River Academy | Pacific Coast Academy | Yosemite Valley Charter School
Our science classes are a-g approved as regular or honors classes when taken through iLEAD. Our Biology and Honors Chemistry classes are a-g approved when taken through IEM charters. ENGLISH Our Honors English Literature & Composition 1 and Honors English Literature & Composition 2 classes are a-g approved as regular English 9 and English 10 classes when taken through these California homeschool charters:
  • Blue Ridge Academy | Clarksville Charter School | Cottonwood School | Feather River Charter School | Granite Mountain Charter School | Heartland Charter School | Lake View Charter School | Monarch River Academy | Pacific Coast Academy | Yosemite Valley Charter School
Our Honors English Literature & Composition 1 is a-g approved as regular English 9 and our Honors English Literature & Composition 2 is a-g approved as an honors English 10 class when taken through these California homeschool charters:
  • All IEM charters : Ocean Grove | Sky Mountain | South Sutter
Our English classes are a-g approved as regular or honors classes when taken through iLEAD.



MATH: What calculator should I purchase?

Which calculator to purchase is not an easy question to answer since there are so many options out there with dizzying functionalities and a wide range of price points.

There are many calculator reviews online, but here are some considerations for you to consider in order to make the decision that is best for you.

TI-Nspire CX and TI-Nspire CX CAS Calculators:

The most powerful calculator allowed on the AP and SAT tests right now is the TI-Nspire CX CAS. "CAS" stands for Computer Algebraic System. This means that the TI-Nspire CAS can perform algebra operations such as factoring, expanding, or solving algebraic equations, which can be very helpful on the SAT. This calculator is NOT allowed on the ACT exam, whereas the TI-Nspire CX, which does not have the CAS capabilities, is allowed.

Therefore, if you think you might take the ACT at some point. You might want to give up the CAS capability (which helps on the SAT test) and purchase the TI-Nspire CX, which is still a very powerful calculator and is allowed on all standardized tests.

Comparison of TI-Nspire CX vs. TI-Nspire CS CAS

https://mathclasscalculator.com/index.php/blog/ti-nspire-cx-vs-ti-nspire-cx-cas/

The TI-84 family:

These calculators are also excellent calculators. They will serve you very well through all high school math, but they lack the functionality and ease of use of the TI-Nspire for college level classes such as AP Calculus AB, BC or AP Stats.

Calculator Policies:

SAT:

https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/taking-the-test/calculator-policy

ACT:

http://www.act.org/content/dam/act/unsecured/documents/ACT-calculator-policy.pdf

AP:

https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/ap-coordinators/on-exam-day/calculator-policy



When does registration open? How do I register?

REGISTRATION OPENS:

  • March 1 @ 9 a.m. EST for new families
  • February 22 @ 9 a.m. EST for current Blue Tent students and siblings
GO TO REGISTRATION | TUITION
  1. Submit a registration form.
  2. Submit the $75 registration fee.
  • The registration fee is paid once per student per school year and is due at registration.
FULL/WAIT LIST REGISTRATION
  • Follow the same registration process above.
  • See "How does the wait list work" below on this FAQ page.
QUESTIONS?



When are NEXT year's (2021-22) class days, times, and breaks?

NEXT Year 2021-2022 BLUE TENT BREAKS

  • Fall Break | Oct 4-10
  • Thanksgiving | A light week
  • Winter Break | Dec 13-Jan 2
  • Spring Break | Mar 7-13
CLASS FORMATS
  • Synchronous = Live classes (also recorded)
  • Asynchronous = NO regular live meetings | Text-Based classes w/active student discussion & collaboration |
BLUE TENT ORIENTATION
  • Opens August 2
  • Self Paced
  • To be completed by start of first class
Math
  • Honors Algebra 1 | Aug 23-May 13
    • Section 1 | Th 12-1:30 Eastern
    • Section 2 | F 2-3:30 Eastern
  • Geometry | Honors Option | Aug 16-May 13
    • Section 1 | W 2-3:30 Eastern
    • Section 2 | W 4-5:30 Eastern
    • Section 3 | Self paced (avail Aug 1, 2021 through Aug 1 2022)
  • Honors Algebra 2 | Aug 23-May 13
    • Section 1 | Th 2-3:30 Eastern
    • Section 2 | F 12-1:30 Eastern
  • Precalculus | Honors Precalculus | Aug 16-May 13
    • Section 1 | Regular | Th 2-3:30 Eastern
    • Section 2 | Honors | Th 4-5:30 Eastern
  • AP Statistics | Aug 16-May (ends on date of AP exam)
    • Section 1 | Every other T | 2-3:00 and F | 2-3:30 Eastern
    • Section 2 | Self paced (avail Aug 1 to AP exam)
  • AP Calculus AB | Aug 16-May (ends on date of AP exam)
    • Section 1 | Calculus AB | F 2-3 Eastern
  • AP Calculus BC | Aug 16-May (ends on date of AP exam)
    • Section 1 | Calculus BC | Traditional | F 12-1 Eastern
    • Section 2 | Calculus BC | Extended | Th 1-2 Eastern
English
  • Creative Writing | Fall 2021 | Aug 30-Dec 12
    • Section 1 | Fantasy to Farce | Every other F | 11-12 Eastern
    • Section 2 | Short Stories to Tall Tales | Every other F | 12:30-1:30 Eastern
  • Creative Writing | Spring 2022 | Jan 10-May 1
    • Section 1 | Fantasy to Farce | Every other F | 11-12 Eastern
    • Section 2 | Short Stories to Tall Tales | Every other F | 12:30-1:30 Eastern
  • Intro to Lit & Comp | Aug 23-May 7 (Asynchronous)
  • Honors English 1 | Aug 23-May 7 (Asynchronous)
  • Honors English 2 | Aug 23-May 7 (Asynchronous)
  • AP Lang & Comp | Aug 16-May (ends on date of AP exam) (Asynchronous)
  • AP Lit & Comp | Aug 16-May (ends on date of AP exam) (Asynchronous)
  • Advanced Senior English | Aug 23-May 7 (Asynchronous)
Science



SCIENCE: What are the differences in Biology, Honors Biology, and AP Biology?

What are some differences between Biology, Honors Biology, and AP Biology?

MATH: What math sequence should I choose?

Blue Tent does not recommend or require students to complete Geometry and Algebra 2 in a particular order. We have found there to be no significant difference in the performance or preparedness of students who take Algebra 1/Geometry/Algebra 2 versus Algebra 1/Algebra 2/Geometry. Some points you may wish to consider:

  • Geometry uses a lot of Algebra I skills, applying them to concepts with figures and shapes, so it might be beneficial for a student to practice and reinforce foundational Algebra 1 skills before diving into Algebra 2.
  • Precalculus depends quite a bit on skills learned in Algebra 2, so by taking Algebra 2 immediately prior to Precalculus, students may benefit from having those skills fresh in their minds.
  • A student's SAT plans may be a factor in choosing the sequence. Students will need to have completed Algebra 1 and Geometry before taking the SAT in math.
There are pros and cons to either sequence. There is no single "best" sequence, and a committed student will enjoy success taking Geometry and Algebra 2 in either order.



Questions about ZOOM?

We've chosen to use ZOOM and have found it to be reliable and secure. RELIABILITY

  • As with any live platform used by a variety of users connecting up with an array of internet speeds and computer devices, no platform is going to be 100% perfect 100% of the time.
  • ZOOM has been reliable for us. In the few times that there have been reported connection or vidoeo/audio issues, we've found that those were not due to the ZOOM platform itself. We take reliability very seriously, and we work quickly to troubleshoot and solve any issue.
HOST LICENSES
  • In the current COVID-19 environment, schools and businesses have looked to video platforms such as ZOOM as they've pivoted to online learning and video conferencing.
  • A large number of new online educators are utilizing ZOOM's free basic platform.
  • Blue Tent has always purchased host licenses for all our teachers, and that upgrade offers us access to additional settings that enhance the security of our classes and provide features that enrich the interactivity and enjoyment of our classes.
SECURITY
  • Passwords
    • All of our ZOOM classes require passwords.
    • Passwords are either embedded in our session links or students are given passwords to enter before classes can be joined.
  • Waiting Rooms
    • All of our ZOOM classes begin with waiting rooms. No student can interact with the teacher or other students until a teacher "lets them in" to a class.
    • When students log in to join a class, they are placed in a virtual waiting room so that our teachers can see exactly who is waiting and ensure that only our students have access to any class.
  • Audio/Video Controls
    • Teachers can mute and/or disable video access if that should ever become necessary.
    • Students cannot "chat" anonymously with any other student.
  • Screen Sharing
    • Screen sharing requires teacher permission.
    • No students can automatically "share" any images on their own personal computer.
If you have questions about our live classes, please let us know.



SCIENCE: What microscope should I purchase?

Our science teachers have some suggestions HERE to help you choose a microscope. If you have additional questions, please feel free to contact us at bluetentonline@gmail.com.



When are 2020-21 class days, times, and breaks?

CURRENT Year 2020-2021 BLUE TENT BREAKS

  • Fall Break | Oct 5-11
  • Thanksgiving | A light work-week
  • Winter Break | Dec 14-Jan 3
  • Spring Break | Mar 8-14
CLASS FORMATS
  • Synchronous = Live classes. (Also recorded) Days/times listed (in Eastern) below.
  • Asynchronous = Text-based classes. Active and interactive, but no regular live meetings.
Math
  • Algebra 1 | Aug 24-May 14
    • 1 | M/W 9-10 a.m. Eastern
    • 2 | M/W 1-2 p.m. Eastern
    • 3 | T/Th 10-11 a.m. Eastern
    • 4 | T/Th 2-3 p.m. Eastern
  • Algebra 2 | Aug 24-May 14
    • 1 | M/W 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Eastern
    • 2 | M/W 3-4 p.m. Eastern
    • 3 | T/Th 8-9 a.m. Eastern
    • 4 | T/Th 12-1 p.m. Eastern
  • Geometry | Aug 17-May 14
    • 1 | M/W 4-5:15 p.m. Eastern
    • 2 | T/Th 2-3:15 p.m. Eastern
  • Precalculus | T/Th 4-5:15 p.m. Eastern | Aug 17-May 14
  • AP Statistics | W 2-3:30 p.m. Eastern | Aug 17-May 13 (AP exam)
  • AP Calculus AB | F 2-3 p.m. Eastern | Aug 17-May 4 (AP exam)
  • AP Calculus BC | F 12-1 p.m. Eastern | Aug 17-May 4 (AP exam)
English
  • Creative Writing Fall 2020 | Aug 31-Dec 11
    • Fantasy to Farce | every other F @ 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Eastern
    • Short Stories to Tall Tales | every other F @ 12:30-1:30 p.m. Eastern
  • Creative Writing Spring 2021 | Jan 11-May 2 (note updated end date)
    • Fantasy to Farce | every other F @ 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Eastern
    • Short Stories to Tall Tales | every other F @ 12:30-1:30 p.m. Eastern
  • Intro to Lit & Comp | Aug 24-May 7
  • Honors English 1 | Aug 24-May 7
  • Honors English 2 | Aug 24-May 7
  • AP Lang & Comp | Aug 17-May 12 (AP exam)
  • AP Lit & Comp | Aug 17-May 5 (AP exam)
  • Advanced Senior English | Aug 24-May 5
Science
  • Biology | W 7-8:30 p.m. Eastern | Aug 24-May 7
  • Honors Biology | Th 1:30-3 p.m. Eastern | Aug 24-May 7
  • Honors Chemistry | T 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. Eastern | Aug 24-May 7
  • Anatomy & Physiology | Aug 24-May 7 ​



MATH: Are there age/grade prerequisites for your math classes?

Setting students up for success is always a priority at Blue Tent! We've found that younger students are still learning the organizational skills and developing the discipline required for our online courses. While this is a generalization and we are happy to consider students at any age, our recommended minimum ages and grades are:

We welcome parent questions. Please reach out to us at bluetentonline@gmail.com and we'll put you in touch with one or more of our instructors. If students. are younger than these recommend guidelines and we haven't heard from you in advance, instructors may request a Zoom meeting with students and their parents before a registration is confirmed.



Age | Grade Guidelines and Prerequisites for 2021-22 classes



 

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AP and Advancement Placement are registered trademarks of the College Board. Used with permission.

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