Policies

Note: Policies are determined by the PEACH officers in accordance with the By-laws.

PEACH Mission

PEACH exists to provide support, encouragement and fellowship to independent Christian homeschooling families and to provide information about homeschooling.

PEACH Definition of Home Education

Homeschooling or home education is defined as a parent/guardian providing annual notification of homeschooling to the appropriate superintendent, directs 50% or more of the education at home and is personally responsible for funding the education. Another acceptable definition is if the parent administers an “08” school, has a bachelor’s degree and opposes government controlled education because of religious beliefs.

Statement of Faith

At least one parent must indicate by signature on the membership application that they are in agreement with the PEACH Statement of Faith. No changes (additions or subtractions), notes or comments are permitted regarding the Statement of Faith.

Membership Effective Date

Families shall not be considered members until membership application is completed (either paper copy or on-line registration) and dues have been received.

Payments

PEACH will not accept post dated checks. See treasurer to make alternative arrangements if necessary.

Newsletter

The newsletter editor(s) and leadership of PEACH reserve the right to edit or refuse publication of anything submitted to the newsletter at their discretion.

PEACH members may submit personal classified ads at no charge as often as they wish to do so. PEACH newsletter will not accept any paid advertisements.

Reimbursement of PEACH Expenses

Any expenses incurred for PEACH, except monthly newsletter expenses, above the amount of $25.00 must be approved by the treasurer. All receipts must be turned in, signed, and may be original or handwritten.

Endorsement of Events

In order for the PEACH name to be used for an event, activity or organization, a written request must be submitted for approval by the PEACH officers.

Announcements

Events/Opportunities offered by local Christian schools or other organizations to home educators should be made known through the newsletter or PEACH online forum. Making such announcements at meetings takes up valuable time and could be perceived as something that PEACH endorses. Our policy should be one of neutrality.

Child Care

PEACH does not provide child care at the monthly meetings. However you are welcome to bring your children and keep them with you. There is a nursery where moms can sit with their young children. In most cases, sound is transmitted to the room and you will still be able to hear the meeting.

Electronic Communications

PEACH is using a safe, secure online community where we can conduct all of our PEACH business.  All of our electronic communications will be through this online community.  This makes communicating with members, selling or searching for curriculum and general encouragement all available at the same location.

Alternative membership is available for those choosing to not participate online by contacting the Membership VP.

When posting, please keep these things in mind:

Be respectful to others and honoring to the Lord.

Responses may be kept private between members or shared for the benefit of all.

Examples of appropriate posts would include:

Prayer Requests

Encouraging remarks and personal testimonies

Items for sale (homeschooling and other items) – in the new Classified section

Opportunities and activities – on the News Page or in the Calendar

Members looking for work or to have work done

Recommendations for services: doctors, mechanics, roofers, etc.

Seeking or giving advice

Legislative updates

Information about political candidates

Services offered (writing teacher, music lessons, painter, etc.)

Examples of inappropriate posts would include:

Debates and arguments

Controversy

Unsupported claims and forwards

Rumors

Negative tones

Rants and diatribes

Care Groups

Care Groups are for PEACH members only.

Field Trips

Reservation deadlines are determined by the field trip coordinator and will vary by event. Please check announcements carefully for detailed information.

Cancellations of a registration will be refunded if possible. If you are registered for a field trip and cannot attend, you must notify the field trip coordinator BEFORE the trip. If you do not attend and do not notify, you will be charged a $5.00 “no-show” fee and forfeit any refunds due you. You may pay the fee by the honor system to the PEACH treasurer.

Parents are responsible for their children’s behavior. Children are expected to be polite, respectful, attentive, and courteous. During a field trip, children should have an attitude of learning. Remember, our children’s behavior will not only reflect on us as parents, but on home education as a whole. Therefore, try to keep your children grouped with you during tours to help uphold this behavior policy. If there is a behavior problem during a field trip, the field trip coordinator has the authority to ask you to leave the tour.

Teens attending teen field trips must be accountable to an adult present on the trip, someone other than the trip coordinator. There will be no public display of affection (PDA) between non-family members on teen trips. (This has not been a problem. It’s just a policy.)

Non-member families may attend a PEACH field trip if all of the following criteria are met:

1. They are a guest of a member family.
2. A fee of $2.00 per family is paid to the field trip coordinator. This is over and above the cost of the field trip itself. An exception is made for special helpers such as grandparents. They may attend for no additional fee. Special helpers bringing non-member children will be assessed for the $2.00 fee.
3. Space must be available. PEACH member families are given priority when space is limited.

Non-homeschooled siblings of PEACH families may attend PEACH field trips.

Field trips are not drop-off activities. A responsible adult must accompany all children.

Skates are covered under field trip policies.

PEACH Bees and Fairs

Participation in: Spelling Bee, Geography Bee, History Fair, Science Fair, etc.

1. Children must be part of a PEACH member family.
2. Non-homeschooled children of PEACH member families may not participate in PEACH Bees and Fairs.

Graduation

1. The PEACH President shall appoint the Graduation Coordinator, per PEACH By-laws, Article VI—Duties of Officers. “The president shall: appoint committee heads.”
2. All participating families must have been members of PEACH by January 1 of the previous school year (graduating student’s junior year of high school.)
3. All participating seniors must be home schooled as defined in the PEACH By-laws. The PEACH leadership team will consider any special circumstances on an individual basis.
4. All graduates, parents/guardians, junior representatives and anyone closely associated with the ceremony must attend a mandatory rehearsal.
5. Parent(s)/guardian(s) and graduates must make every effort to attend and participate in planning meetings. Each family will be expected to have at least one parent/guardian participate in planning by volunteering for a committee.
6. All participating families must be willing to contribute to the cost of graduation operational expenses (i.e. monetary gifts for speakers, musicians, emcee, decorating expenses, etc.) Amount will be determined by the coordinator at the first planning meeting after membership deadline.
7. Each family will be responsible for their own personal expenses due (i.e. rental of cap and gown, personal open house/parties, any cost pertaining to any graduate activities organized by the activity committee, senior pictures and announcements, gifts, etc.)
8. Junior class representatives must be graduating or considering graduation the subsequent year with PEACH. Siblings of the current senior class will be considered first in representing the junior class before the general PEACH membership.
9. All parents and graduates will be supportive and respectful of each family’s God directed plans for each individual home school, while striving to have a Christ-like attitude during all meetings, activities, rehearsals, etc.

Testing

Non-homeschooled children of PEACH families MAY NOT participate in PEACH testing. We want to afford our children the best atmosphere for testing to provide the opportunity to concentrate and to allow them to demonstrate their knowledge. Therefore, the test administrator will maintain a high degree of discipline in the classroom. This includes: total quiet during each test period—no whispering, eating, playing, or any other distracting activities will be allowed. As each child enters the room, food and toys will be deposited in the designated place. Students may only take needed testing materials and items such as books or seat work with them to their seat. Also no parent may be a test administrator or helper in his/her child’s class.

Each family participating in testing must be available the week of testing and the week following testing. If a student misses any section of the test due to an unforeseen circumstances (sickness, emergency, etc.), the parent will be required to pay a PEACH certified tester to administer the remainder of the test for your child. Make-up tests must be scheduled at the administrator’s convenience in the week following the PEACH test dates in order to assure timely results for the entire group. If you are unable to do the above, other options would include negotiating with BJU for a partial refund, having a narrative assessment done by a certified teacher or IOWA testing. (Updated February 2009)

Change Notice

Unlike the PEACH By-laws, which have to be voted on by the membership, policies are determined by PEACH officers and can be changed at any time without notice. Please check the website www.peachhomeschool.org for the most recent version.

Updated July 2010