Application Writing for Families using ACE or Enrolled with HSNZ or Accelerate
I have particular expertise in writing applications for families planning to use the Christian programmes offered by ACE or through Homeschooling NZ and Accelerate; I used them myself for at least some of my children for over 2 decades, and have been heavily involved in working with such families for the last 10+ years.
I believe that the process of researching, thinking through, and compiling your exemption application is a valuable one, as it forces you to make decisions and be familiar enough with what you intend to do to be able to articulate it. However, in the case of families who will be using a prescribed curriculum such as ACE, most of the decisions for core subjects are made for them; it's a matter of knowing how to interpret the diagnostic tests and compile the information as to what will be contained in the prescribed course of study. This can be daunting for a new ACE home educator, who will be in the process of completing parent training. Plus those families who enroll with a support agency will be receiving ongoing support and guidance from their chosen support provider.
If you are (or plan to be) an enrolled ACE user, and would like me to guide you through the process of getting started with ACE, and to prepare your application, I can do so. It will be a co-operative effort in that you will need to provide me with information about your family, the resources you have available, and your plans for the non-ACE subjects of your curriculum, as well as copies of the diagnostic test results your children have completed, and additional learning ideas you have for the core subjects. I will use this information to prepare a completely personalised application, which will also provide you with a clearly laid out plan for your first year of homeschooling.
I believe that the process of researching, thinking through, and compiling your exemption application is a valuable one, as it forces you to make decisions and be familiar enough with what you intend to do to be able to articulate it. However, in the case of families who will be using a prescribed curriculum such as ACE, most of the decisions for core subjects are made for them; it's a matter of knowing how to interpret the diagnostic tests and compile the information as to what will be contained in the prescribed course of study. This can be daunting for a new ACE home educator, who will be in the process of completing parent training. Plus those families who enroll with a support agency will be receiving ongoing support and guidance from their chosen support provider.
If you are (or plan to be) an enrolled ACE user, and would like me to guide you through the process of getting started with ACE, and to prepare your application, I can do so. It will be a co-operative effort in that you will need to provide me with information about your family, the resources you have available, and your plans for the non-ACE subjects of your curriculum, as well as copies of the diagnostic test results your children have completed, and additional learning ideas you have for the core subjects. I will use this information to prepare a completely personalised application, which will also provide you with a clearly laid out plan for your first year of homeschooling.
Costs
My charges are:
$200 for the first child's application (minus $10 discount for purchasing my guide which I ask you to do first, as you will need it to refer to)
$150 for each additional child's application completed simultaneously
Payment is made via my bank account.
To discuss this service, Contact Me
To get started, continue below.
Refund Policy:
If a family requests and pays for my application writing service, then changes their mind, a full refund will be given only if work has not yet commenced. Otherwise, fees will be deducted for time spent @$60/hour (including time spent on phone calls, emails, collecting and reviewing information etc in preparation for writing), and a partial refund offered if applicable.
$200 for the first child's application (minus $10 discount for purchasing my guide which I ask you to do first, as you will need it to refer to)
$150 for each additional child's application completed simultaneously
Payment is made via my bank account.
To discuss this service, Contact Me
To get started, continue below.
Refund Policy:
If a family requests and pays for my application writing service, then changes their mind, a full refund will be given only if work has not yet commenced. Otherwise, fees will be deducted for time spent @$60/hour (including time spent on phone calls, emails, collecting and reviewing information etc in preparation for writing), and a partial refund offered if applicable.
Let's get started
Note: for each of the documents linked below, if you left click on the links, they will open in a new tab, and you can save them from there. Or right click, and select Save Target As or Save Link As and navigate to a chosen location/folder on your device - save then open and use.
Step 1: Purchase my exemption guide pack
Why? It contains a lot of useful information for you to know, and you will want to refer to parts of it as you answer the questions in my information-needed document, particular around the non-core subject areas.
Purchasing the guide gives you a $10 discount on my fees to write the application, and also means that if you read it then decide to go ahead and write your own application, that's totally fine.
Note: There are now two exemption guide packs available - Success with Exemption Applications is the 2023 edition with lots of additional information and advice. I recommend this one. For those with limited resources, my 2021 Basic Exemption Guide Pack is also an option.
Why? It contains a lot of useful information for you to know, and you will want to refer to parts of it as you answer the questions in my information-needed document, particular around the non-core subject areas.
Purchasing the guide gives you a $10 discount on my fees to write the application, and also means that if you read it then decide to go ahead and write your own application, that's totally fine.
Note: There are now two exemption guide packs available - Success with Exemption Applications is the 2023 edition with lots of additional information and advice. I recommend this one. For those with limited resources, my 2021 Basic Exemption Guide Pack is also an option.
NOTE: when you complete the check out for the guide pack, you will be automatically sent an email containing a download link, which expires after 9 attempts or 240 hours, whichever comes first. If you don't see the email, please check your spam folder. Remember to download and save the files right away. If you have any difficulties, email me.
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Step 2: Begin diagnostic testing
Download my guide to accessing and using the ACE diagnostic testing HERE (See purple note above). Please read carefully before you begin. The testing process is an important, once off opportunity to discover any "gaps" in your child's skills and knowledge, and are used to formulate a personalised program of learning.
Download my guide to accessing and using the ACE diagnostic testing HERE (See purple note above). Please read carefully before you begin. The testing process is an important, once off opportunity to discover any "gaps" in your child's skills and knowledge, and are used to formulate a personalised program of learning.
Step 3: Complete the document which outlines the information I need in order to write the application for you. Download and save it, fill in, then save and send it to me via email as an attachment. If you need an alternative version, please let me know. This file is in Word but should open for most users in other applications. Download the document HERE (See purple note above). If you need more information about the support agencies, email me.
Step 4: Email the completed documentation and test results to me and make payment as per the instructions in the above document. I will review all the information, and let you know if I have any further questions. Once I have everything, I write the draft application/s, and send them to you to review, after which I make any needed amendments and then send you the final documents and instructions on submitting them. The draft is usually completed within 2-3 weeks, unless demand is high. For current availability Contact me.
Who are Homeschooling NZ (HSNZ) and Accelerate?
They are support agencies. Both provide parent training, help plan learning programmes, moderate completed work and keep records, and provide on going support. Children start with diagnostic tests, and then personalised learning programmes are prescribed based on the results, together with any additional insights you have.
Homeschooling NZ is a Christian registered charitable trust. Based in NZ, they have been serving Christian homeschooling families for over 35 years. They support not only those using the ACE programme, but also offer a wide range of other excellent recommended curriculum options for all ages. In the high school years, they offer the CENZ Academic Certificate programme - Level 3 is recognised for University Entrance in NZ - with a smorgasboard of programme options from which you can build a very personalised programme and qualification, while still meeting the essential requirements. I highly recommend HSNZ.
Accelerate is a division of SCEE (Southern Cross Educational Enterprises) in Australia. They're main focus it the ACE programme, and their high school qualification is called the ACE Certificate. With the retirement of the couple who used to run Home Education NZ (HENZ), they have taken over supporting those families. 75% of all credit programmes for the certificates must be ACE.
You do not have to be a member of either agency to use the ACE (or any other Christian curriculum) programme - you can just purchase and use it independantly. However, there are a number of benefits to have that support, and your child cannot earn the recognised qualifications unless you are a member and have completed parent training before the child begins work on courses for credit.
Whether or not you will be joining an agency affects the way in which your application is worded and the options available to your child, so that's something you need to decide.
Homeschooling NZ is a Christian registered charitable trust. Based in NZ, they have been serving Christian homeschooling families for over 35 years. They support not only those using the ACE programme, but also offer a wide range of other excellent recommended curriculum options for all ages. In the high school years, they offer the CENZ Academic Certificate programme - Level 3 is recognised for University Entrance in NZ - with a smorgasboard of programme options from which you can build a very personalised programme and qualification, while still meeting the essential requirements. I highly recommend HSNZ.
Accelerate is a division of SCEE (Southern Cross Educational Enterprises) in Australia. They're main focus it the ACE programme, and their high school qualification is called the ACE Certificate. With the retirement of the couple who used to run Home Education NZ (HENZ), they have taken over supporting those families. 75% of all credit programmes for the certificates must be ACE.
You do not have to be a member of either agency to use the ACE (or any other Christian curriculum) programme - you can just purchase and use it independantly. However, there are a number of benefits to have that support, and your child cannot earn the recognised qualifications unless you are a member and have completed parent training before the child begins work on courses for credit.
Whether or not you will be joining an agency affects the way in which your application is worded and the options available to your child, so that's something you need to decide.