Buxmont Christian Educational Institute (BCEI) was the second of now several state recognized diploma programs in the Commonwealth of PA. It is important for homescholing families with high school students to be a part of one of the recognized groups. The Dept. of Education does not recognize correspondence schools and video schools. As a member of BCEI your high school student can be enrolled in our diploma program by paying your yearly family membership and by completing a high school registration form and paying the one time non-refundable recording fee of $25.00 to the director. Academic records (grades, evaluations, objectives, etc) are sent to BCEI on a yearly basis by the parent or evaluator.
BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP
BCEI membership payment is due on or before August 1st of each school year and is non-refundable. It covers membership through July 31st of that school year. Simply remember that you should pay your membership the same time you submit your affidavit. Early Bird membership dues are currently $30.00 per family. After August 31st the membership fee is $35.00. First year members may join at any time throughout the first year at $30.00. Some of the benefits of BCEI membership are as follows:
Involvement with a state recognized diploma program
Four issues of Nehemiah’s Leadership, our quarterly newsletter plus the school year calendar
Freedom to participate in any or all BCEI related activities and events
Discounted rates to various tutors, teachers and other resource individuals
15% discount to Home School Legal Defense Association each year
Free teacher training programs, seminars and inservices
Free educational consultant services
Student I.D. cards for high school students allowing them into games, museums, and other places of interest as student rates rather than adult rates they can also be used when taking SAT/ACAT tests.
Membership cards which identify parents as educators which enables them to receive teacher discounts at various stores
Discount on evaluations from various evaluators
Up to date information on issues involving our rights and freedoms as home educators and citizens
Involvement with a group that is well-known by the PA Department of Education in Harrisburg as well as many school districts
Knowing that there is support and help for you when needed
Involvement with other homeschool families
Your annual non-refundable membership dues should be made payable to BCEI and sent to 146 West Broad Street Telford, PA 18969. Include a self addressed stamped envelope. (Membership cards will not be sent unless a s.a.s.e is enclosed). A $5.00 late fee is added to payments after August 31st for returning members.
EXPECTATIONS OF MEMBERS
As a member of BCEI you are expected to be familiar with the homeschool law and to abide by the law in providing a quality education for your children.
As a member you are to notify BCEI when you are no longer home schooling or if you decide that you no longer wish to be a part of the organization. It is required that a withdrawal form be completed when disenrolling high school students.
As a member you are invited to participate in some of the BCEI sponsored activities if you live within a one-hour distance from BCEI. If you live further than an hour away we encourage you to become involved with a good support group in your area. We feel that it is important that our families have interaction with other homeschool families to some extent.
If you move, change your address, phone number or e-mail address you need to notify BCEI.
As a member you are to abide by the policies set forth by the BCEI Board as found in the BCEI handbook.
It is highly recommended but not required that all members of BCEI be a member of Home School Legal Defense Association. There is a special discount for current members. We do not force you to join but highly recommend it.
We ask members to keep the BCEI calendar handy for quick reference and to follow the guidelines and sign up deadlines as set forth in the handbook and Nehemiah’s Leadership. You must sign up at least 2 weeks in advance of an activity (unless otherwise announced) and there is a $5.00 per student sign up fee (with a $20.00 per family maximum). This deposit is refunded if you keep your commitment and if there is no fee involved. As members we encourage participation in BCEI events but ask you to realize that we are setting an example before a ”watching world” so our attitudes and behavior and that of our children should be an example in all areas.
As a member we would ask that you abide by the BCEI hours of 9:30 to 3:00 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. We welcome your calls during these hours, you are not bothering us but we are here to serve you during this time period. We do however ask that you allow us our evenings and weekends for our family and work schedule. All BCEI calls are taken at (215) 723-7226. If you get the voice mail please leave a clear and complete message including your phone number after pressing # 1. You may leave any length of message as this is a voice mail not an answering machine. If this is an emergency or time sensitive please indicate this in your message. During BCEI hours our phones often become tied up but we will get back to you as soon as we can. If you have not received a return call within two to three BCEI business days please call again.
We ask our members to check the BCEI website at least once each month, preferably twice a month at www.BuxmontChristianEd.org
FEES RELATED TO BCEI
(Fees are subject to change)
YEARLY FAMILY MEMBERSHIP DUES (August 1-July 31st) Due by August 1st $30.00 per family and are non-refundable once payment has been made. Please include your completed membership renewal form which can be found on the web or in the Spring and Summer issues of Nehemiah’s Leadership also enclose, a self addressed stamped envelope for your membership cards.
RECORDING FEE: One time non-refundable $25.00 fee per student for grades 9-12 due upon enrollment in the diploma program. Check made payable to Terry Johns.
The Homeschool Handbook (102 page manual) which contains the A. B. C’s and 1-2-3’s of Homeschooling, a detailed instruction booklet on how to get started.
Contains a sample on how to do objectives
Contains a listing of popular home school curriculum phone numbers
Contains a sample affidavit
Contains all medical forms, sample lesson plans, sample objectives, affidavit, home school law
Contains testing information
Contains the BCEI Standards and Procedures (requirements for graduation)
and much more!!! A valuable aide for any new homeschooler! $15.00 plus$3.00 shipping and handling
BCEI STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES MANUAL: $5.00 (please add $1.50 postage) This manual
defines and outlines the requirements of the BCEI diploma program as recognized by the
Department of Education Check made payable to Terry Johns
SENIOR GRADUATION FEE: $115.00 per graduate due no later than Nov. 1st of the senior year. After Nov. 1st a $10.00 late fee will be added. An additional $10.00 is accessed the first of each month thereafter. The graduation fee pays for cap, gown, diploma, diploma cover, printing of diploma, awards, yearbook, postage, flowers, rental of facilities for graduation, etc. This fee is non-refundable.
TRANSCRIPT FEE: $5.00 per transcript requested, checks made payable to Terry Johns. Request must be made in writing with a signature of parent or student. Please allow a full two weeks upon request. If less than a two week notice is given please add $5.00 rush fee with no guarantees made.. Requests made after June 15 must include a $5.00 rush fee and no guarantees can be made.
RECOMMENDATION/COLLEGE FORM FEE: Due to the increasing number of required forms to be completed by BCEI there will be a $5.00 fee per request for letter of recommendation or school report forms to be completed by BCEI and students must allow a full two weeks once request has been made.
STUDENT RECORD RELEASES: There is a $15.00 fee for a transfer of records to be released to other schools by BCEI and records can be released only by written permission.
SENIOR EVALUATION FEE: $60.00 per graduate. ALL seniors are evaluated personally by the Director/Administrator no later than the first week of May of the senior year.
STANDARDIZED TESTING FEE: $25.00 per student for group testing and $30.00 for private-individual testing. (parents pay individually to purchase the tests)
INDIVIDUAL PROGRAMS AND TRIPS: Fees involved for various trips and activities are the responsibility of each member. A $5.00 deposit per student is required at time of sign up to hold the commitment. If there is no fee involved with the activity the deposit will be returned when the commitment is fulfilled.
There will be a $20.00 fee for any returned checks written to BCEI to cover bank charges.
FOR FUTHER QUESTIONS CONTACT BCEI AT (215) 723-7226 or bceione@fast.net, or bceione@verizon.net or visit our website at www.buxmontchristianed.org, or fax us at (215) 723-6409. BCEI Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday 9:30 to 3:00. BCEI is closed holidays, weekends and the entire month of July. Save your UPC Codes from: Montco, Best Yet, TV Time, Rainbow & Landis brands Big “G” Box Tops, Campbell’s Soup Labels & Acme and Redner’s register receipts. Order Alpha Omega Curriculum via our website.
146 West Broad Street - Telford, PA 18969 - (215) 723-7226