Information Regarding BCEI Membership

STATE RECOGNIZED DIPLOMA PROGRAM

Buxmont Christian Educational Institute (BCEI) was the second of now several state recognized diploma programs in the Commonwealth of PA. It is important for homeschooling 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 recording fee of $25.00 to the director. Academic records (grades, evaluations, objectives, etc.) are sent to BCEI on a yearly basis.

BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP

BCEI membership payment is due on or before August 1st of each school year. It covers membership through July31st of that school year. Simply remember that you should pay your membership the same time you submit your affidavit. Membership dues are currently $40.00 per family. After August 31st a $5.00 late fee is added. 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
Freedom to participate in any or all of BCEI's related activities and events
Discounted rates to various tutors, teachers and othre resource individuals
15% discount to Home School Legal Defense Association each year
Free teacher training programs, seminars and inservices
Free educational consultant services
Membership cards for high school students allowing them into games, museums, and other places of interest as student rates rather than adult rates
Membership cards which identify parent educators which enable 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 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

You are expected to be familiar with the homeschool law and the abide by the law in providing a quality education for your children.
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.
You are expected to participate in a couple of BCEI sponsored activities per year 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.
You are expected to be a part of our tree of information (this is not optional)
If you move, change your address, phone number, or e-mail address you need to notify BCEI at once.
You are to abide by the policies set forth by the BCEI Board as found in the BCEI handbook.
It is highly recommended that all members of BCEI be a member of Home School Legal Defense Association. There is a special discount for current members. We cannot force you to join HSLDA but we highly recommend membership.
As a BCEI member you are expected to keep the BCEI calendar of events 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 a member we want you to feel welcome to participate in any activities and events but ask you to realize that we are setting an example to others so our attitudes and behavior parents as well as that of our children should be an example before "a watching world".
As a member we would ask that you abide by the BCEI hours of 9:30am to 3:00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. We welcome your calls during these hours, you are not bothering us but 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 or three days, please call again.

FEES RELATED TO BCEI (Fees are subject to change)

YEARLY FAMILY MEMBERSHIP DUES (August 1st - July 31st) Due by August 1st $40.00 per family
RECORDING FEE: One time $25.00 fee per student for grades 9-12 due upon enrollment in the diploma program. Check made payable to Terry Johns
BCEI Standards and Procedures Manual: $5.00 plus $1.50 shipping and handling. 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
BCEI Handbook $15.00 plus $3.00 shipping and handling charges. The Homeschool Handbook is contains over 100 pages and is a combination of the A-B-C's and 1-2-3's of Homeschooling and the BCEI Standards and Procedures Manual. It contains a step-by-step guide on how to begin homeschooling and includes sample affidavit, objectives, sample log, how to keep your portfolio, resource lists, curriculum addresses and phone numbers, health requirements, evaluation issues, testing information, and any sample forms that you will need in homeschooling. A must for new homeschool families. This Handbook also contains the BCEI guidelines for graduation.
SENIOR GRADUATION FEE: $100.00 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 feee pays for cap, gown, diploma, diploma cover, printing of diploma, awards, postage, etc.
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.
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 (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.

FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS CONTACT THE DIRECTOR/ADMINISTRATOR AT (215)723-7226 or bceione@verizon.net, visit our website at www.buxmontchristianed.org, or fax us at (215)723-6409. BCEI Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday 9:30am to 3:00pm. Closed holidays, weekends and the month of July. Your assistance in collecting the following is appreciated: UPC Codes from the following store brands: Montco, Best Yet, TV Time, Rainbow & Landis Big "G" Box Tops & Campbell's Soup labels, and joining Genuardi's Community Cash Back and Redner's Save-A-Tape programs.

146 West Broad Street - Telford, PA 18969 - (215) 723-7226