Do high school students need to take the diagnostic tests?
Yes, high school students should take the diagnostic test to determine if there are academic weaknesses that need to be addressed prior to assigning high school courses. However, we do not force the test on any student.
 
What if I have questions about how to use the materials or I can’t answer my children’s questions about their assignments?
If you enroll your child/children in Gateway Christian Academy you will have an academic advisor who can answer your questions or give academic assistance by phone. 
 
Will Gateway Christian Academy help me manage my child/children’s grades and school records?
Upon enrollment we will provide Master Record Sheets for recording all grades throughout the school year. Gateway Christian Academy also maintains all official academic records at our office.
 
How do I get started home schooling my own child/children?
Obtain a copy of the home school laws for your state. This is the first step in deciding whether or not to enroll your student in Gateway Christian Academy. If you choose to enroll your child/children in Gateway Christian Academy, complete the registration form and mail it, along with the requested information and fees, to Gateway Christian Academy P.O. Box 246 Bethel Springs, TN 38315. You will receive detailed instructions, grading materials, Books, Tests, Score Keys & Test Keys. If you plan to enroll your student(s) in Gateway Christian Academy, diagnostic testing is the first step (upon request). If the student is entering school for the first time, you will want to order the Reading Readiness Test to determine if you need to obtain the Preschool With Ace and Christi program or the ABC’s with Ace and Christi program. When the test has been administered and scored, you will know which program to order. If your student has already been in school, you will want to purchase the Quick Start Kit to obtain the training materials and a set of diagnostic tests. Additional diagnostic tests can be purchased for additional students. Based upon the results of the diagnostic tests you will then place an order for the curriculum and materials you need to educate your children.
Christian Education software contains four programs. They are Typemaster, Readmaster, Word Builder, and Math Builder. Typemaster teaches keyboarding skills to young children. There are several levels of proficiency from introducing the keyboard to timed drills to build speed and accuracy. Word Builder is used with the Word Building (spelling) curriculum in levels 2 - 8. All of the levels are contained on the CD and the student can choose the Word Builder level the same as Word Building PACEs. There are mastery tests over each set of words. Math Builder contains drills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, and time, money and measurement. There are activities to help students master these skills and mastery tests to measure advancement. Readmaster is a vocabulary and comprehension building speed-reading program for grades 1-12. There are 36 stories for each grade level. The first 18 stores in the first level each have 5 vocabulary words. The last 18 stories for level one, and the remainder of the grade levels, have 10 vocabulary words for each story. Students study the vocabulary words for a new story, read the story, and take comprehension tests over the words and the story. When student score at least 80% on the comprehension questions, the computer moves the student to the next story and increases the speed. There is a system of rewards built into the programs. When students pass the mastery tests, they earn "merits". Merits can be printed and used to purchase rewards or they can also earn time playing the games that are also part of the program.
I want to use the G.C.A. program for my children. Do you have any training materials to help me use the program effectively?
You can order the Parent Orientation Guide. It will provide training to use the program and curriculum effectively. It also contains one set of diagnostic tests, a record-keeping set, and a complete Scope and Sequence of the curriculum.
Do students need to start using the G.C.A. curriculum in August or September of the year or can a student start any time?
A student can begin using the G.C.A. curriculum any time of the year. Once the diagnostic tests have been administered, curriculum can be ordered. Because the student can advance at an individual rate, the student can complete more pages per day than is normally completed or the student can work through the summer months to complete a year's worth of curriculum.
What subjects are tested in the Stanford 10 test?
In the category of reading, students are tested in Word Study Skills, Vocabulary, and Reading Comprehension.  In Math, the students are tested in Problem Solving and Procedures.  In language, students are tested in Language Mechanics and Language Expression.  Students are also tested in spelling, science, social science, listening, and thinking skills.
How do I order Stanford 10 testing materials?
The Stanford 10 Achievement tests and the OLSAT 8 (aptitude test) tests are the new tests that Christian Education will be making available to our school.  The new tests are produced by Harcourt and will be ordered from G.C.A. and will be shipped from our warehouse.
How do I know what test to order for my students?
G.C.A. recommends that students be tested at their chronological grade level or no more than one level below their chronological grade level.  A student's test is scored at his/her chronological level.  The OLSAT8 is an age-driven test that expects a student to be tested within a specific age range when the test is administer in order to give an accurate analysis of the student's academic potential.
When should the test be administered?
End-of-year testing should be administered in April each year with the scoreable answer documents returned to Harcourt no later than May 15.
Can my child test at home?
You have two options for testing: Option 1 is to make an appt at our office for your child to come in and test. Option 2 is phoning ahead of time to your local Public School system and asking them for permission to have your child tested with local county students, usually in December & May.