The vision of the ministry is to provide a Christ-centered, accredited program of excellence for independent study students. The goal of the ministry is to serve as a partner with independent study students by monitoring study habits, overseeing individual academic achievement, providing professional evaluation and program development, and developing a transcript for successful independent study students.  Students enrolled in ISJF are expected to attend all prescribed classes, i.e. parents and/or students may not choose which or how many classes to attend.  Students follow a consecutive course of study to ensure they meet both graduation and college admissions requirements.

Although we would like to be able to provide academic studies for all students, we are unable to accommodate learning disabled students, including ADD and ADHD.  Independent Studies is a college-preparatory program.  Students begin high school level of courses in the 8th grade.

Our program follows a modified classical approach offering Latin, logic and rhetoric.  Students need to be academically prepared and motivated to accomplish high school level courses; beginning Latin in 7th grade and Algebra 1 (honors option) and H Physical Science in 8th grade.

Independent Studies is a program of independent learning.  Classroom instruction coupled with diligent work on the part of the student at home will provide your student with an excellent education.  Students that cannot work independently or have poor work habits will not be successful in our program.

Independent Studies at Johnson Ferry is governed by a church-appointed Board of Directors.  The ISJF Board of Directors is responsible for general policies, operations, and guiding philosophy of the School.

Students may apply as early as their 4th grade year or as late as the beginning of their 11th grade year by:

• Completing application requirements;
• Completing the interviewing process; and
• Paying required fees.

Applications will be accepted from new applicants in January of each year.

• One parent must attend the 1st day of school activities.
• Parent must attend Parent Meetings as required.
• Parents with 8th–12th grade students will review Graduation Requirements and determine appropriate course of study yearly.
• Parent and Student will sign the Academic Performance Contract document.
• Parent and Student will sign the School Policies Parent/Student Contract document (located at the end of the Student Handbook).
• Parent and Student will sign the Statement of Faith document.
• Parent will complete the annual Medical Consent Form.
• Parent commits to attend consultation appointments as necessary.
• Parent commits to testing requirements as determined through consultation.
• Completion of pre-testing is required.
• Parent commits to ITBS Testing conducted annually through ISJF (additional cost outside of annual tuition).
• Parent and Student must have access to the Internet and email.
• Student must have access to Microsoft programs including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

General Fee Information

• 2009-2010 Application Fee for all students is $250.00 and is non-refundable even if applicant is not accepted to the program.   See current Student Application for details.
• Program cost includes textbook use fees, literature book fees, lab fees, and consumable book fees (all hardback texts, many softback texts, all teacher answer keys and literature books are owned by the school).  Please note, some courses may require supplies that are outside of tuition cost.

2009-2010 Total annual program cost -
	$2,150 - 5th - 8th grade
	$2,550 - 9th–12th grade

Discounts

Total annual program cost is discounted by 5% for all fees paid in full by the April payment date each year. An additional discount of 5% is given for each additional sibling.

Scholarships

The completion of a Financial Need Assessment Form (FNAF) is required.  You will also be required to provide a Statement of Net Worth and a copy of your most recent Federal Tax Form 1040 and Schedules A, B, C, CEZ, D, E and/or F.  If you have income or loss due to an S Corporation or Partnership from line 17, you will also need to include a copy of your S Corporation or Partnership Tax Form.  To obtain a copy of the Financial Need Assessment Form, please email independenstudies@jfbc.org prior to submitting your Student Application.

Clubs and Activities

 There may be additional fees for participation in school clubs and activities.

Graduation

Additional fees for graduating seniors are required.

Independent Studies at Johnson Ferry uses a semester system. Each semester consists of approximately 18 weeks.

Effective September 2007, Georgia has a new graduation requirement.  This new requirement effects students enrolling in the ninth grade for the first time in the 2008-2009 school year. 

Course Descriptions are available on the Independent Studies homepage.

Education counselors are available through Independent Studies at Johnson Ferry. Recommendations for tutoring and additional programs that meet the requirements for Independent Studies at Johnson Ferry are also available. Counseling appointments are available most Tuesday afternoons and Friday afternoons.

Independent Studies students are expected to be purposeful and attentive in receiving and apply instruction.  Students are to be motivated to follow through on assignments independently.  Students must exhibit resourcefulness to get help when help is needed.  Students are to be efficient and effective in using their time, both in class and out of class.  Students are to be organized with their time and materials.  Students must be willing to be a productive member of the independent study environment and have a serious academic attitude.

Independent Studies utilizes an on-line parent-teacher-student communication tool.  Parents and students have instant access to homework, grades, assignments, school calendar, school news and more.

Students are evaluated for homework completion at the 4, 9, 13 and 18 weeks weeks each semester.  Students are expected to maintain a 90% or better homework grade completion average for each class.

Students are required to maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average each semester.

Student who do not demonstrate proficiency in a course, especially a foundational high school course (core subject) may be required to repeat that course regardless of the grade received.

An accumulative transcript is available at the end of each semester. If an ISJF student needs a transcript sent for college admission purposes, please use the Transcript Request Form located in your student’s Graduation Requirements Notebook. There is no charge to ISJF graduates and active students for this service, otherwise a $5.00 transcript request fee is required.

90–100  A 80–89  B 75–79  C 70–74  D BELOW 70  F

Independent Studies at Johnson Ferry:

• Develops a transcript of your student’s academic credits as well as holds copies of his/her test results, monthly attendance records, and Achievement Testing results and safeguards these documents. This includes but is not limited to the maintenance of your student’s academic transcript, hours spent on each course and grades from tests administered through the center as well as grades assigned for independent course work by the parent or tutor;
• Provides consultation and development of an academic program that meets your student’s individual needs as related to graduation requirements and college admissions;
• Provides exposure to curriculum materials and books to be used in your student’s independent study program;
• Provides group enrichment and socialization activities including competitive opportunities in academic subjects as well as recreation;
• Provides over 8 hours of informational seminars for parents each year;
• Provides Standardized Testing using ITBS.

Lastly, during your student’s time in our program, if needed, we will assist with your student’s transfer to other schools and help in the evaluation for grade placement of your student.

Our center is managed by Kimberly Maiocco and Renea Schunk. Kimberly holds a B.A. in Accounting and a Masters in Business Administration. Renea holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education.

Can a student who graduates from an accredited center be assured of admission to a college?
No accrediting agency can assure the student that he/she will be admitted to college. However, your student will be able to follow the path of a “private school student” in their admissions processes instead of a “homeschooler”.

What if my student is in 10th grade or higher?
If your student is beginning at their 10th or 11th grade year, they are required to complete their current grade. At the end of the year, the center can review previous course work and administer an exam to ensure the student’s comprehension of each subject taken prior to entrance in the program. There is an additional charge for this review, testing, grade assessment and transcript documentation for previous courses taken. We will not accept students entering the 12th grade unless they are coming from a private or public school or another GAC accredited program.

What if I enroll my student during the semester?
Students enrolling after a semester has started will still be required to test during the testing weeks as assigned. If your student misses the 1st semester testing, he/she will need to take this testing as soon as possible.