FAQs

  • No. This is a Homeschool Cooperative where families contribute and can become a part of their child’s educational journey. This is not a private school, Microschool, nor daycare. We are a group of parents, teachers, and professionals who have come together and have organized educational classes for homeschooling students. We run our Montessori homeschool cooperative from a residential home and meet in other locations, as well as partner with educational organizations for experiential learning outside the co-op.

  • We go through a very elaborate interviewing process. Families must be aligned with our beliefs, philosophy, and pedagogy. Families must have availability to volunteer their time as we are a cooperative & is a requirement. This is a private community of like-minded families and educators, who take safety and the protection of our space seriously.

  • You must fill out our application first. We will determine if your family is the right fit for our community.

    School-aged children 6+ need to be registered as a homeschooled student.

    You must submit a Letter or Notice of Intent within 30 days of the establishment of your home education program.  Every student over the age of six to sixteen, or if age six by Feb. 1st,  must be included on NOI.​

    ​If a child is currently attending a Broward/Miami-Dade County Public or Private School, you must:

    First - Withdraw the student from school.

    Next - Submit the Notice of Intent to establish a home education program.  

    Broward County: http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/ets/css/recret/recordsret/pdfs/HomeEducationNoticeofIntent.pdf

    In Broward County the notice of intent can be sent via email to:  Home.Education@BrowardSchools.com​

    Miami-Dade County: https://forms.dadeschools.net/webpdf/4705.pdf

    In Miami-Dade County the notice of intent can be sent via email to: HomeEducation@dadeschools.net

  • At the moment, school-aged homeschoolers are 6 years up to 12 years old. Family participation required.

    Families/Caretakers joining us for our 5 and below group are required to be in attendance the same days as their child.

  • Casa Ranch Montessori is an approved direct vendor for StepUp for Students FES-UA and PEP Scholarships under the Home Education Instructional Program. You can find us in the MarketPlace under Casa Ranch Tutoring, LLC.

  • Step 1: Step Up for Students PEP Application

    ·      Step Up for Students website; https://www.stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/logins/

    ·      Create an account for the Step Up for Students funding on the EMA link: https://t.ly/EqUjb

    ·      Fill out the Step Up for Student PEP Application

    ·      Monitor account to see if the application is approved and funding will be awarded.

    ·      If funds are awarded go to Step 2. 

    ·      You can also call and they will help you fill out the application: #877-735-7877

     

    Step 2: Create Student Learning Plan (SLP) Deadline to submit is July 31, 2024. 

    ·      Create your child’s Student Learning Plan (SLP) 

    ·      Log into your EMA account

    ·      From the EMA Dashboard look for link in red that says Student Learning Plan at the bottom of the screen

    ·      Click here to watch a YouTube video on how to create your child’s SLP - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNE0pX7KG8w&t=137s

    ·      Three areas of the SLP: 

    o   Program and School Information 

    §  Question #1: Yes

    §  Question #2: No (This is very important.)

    o   Select Priorities

    §  Choose 6 from Academic Learning Priorities

    §  Choose 6 from Personal Learning Priorities

    §  Confirm both Academic and Personal Priorities

    o   Evaluation Questions

    §  Rate each of the Academic and Personal Learning Priorities

    o   Submit the Student Learning Plan – It should say COMPLETED.

     

    Step 3: Receive 1st Round of Funds

    ·      1st round of funds should be available in your account on August 15, 2024.

     

    Step 4: Sending funds to Casa Ranch

    ·      Once you receive your funds in your EMA account you can look for the Marketplace link. 

    ·      In the Marketplace link look for Casa Ranch Tutoring, LLC. 

    ·      Send funds directly from your EMA account to Casa Ranch Tutoring, LLC. 

    1. Are parents of PEP students required to register with their school district as a home education program?

    No. The PEP program is distinct from home education programs established in section 1002.41, Florida Statutes. If a home education student receives PEP scholarship funds, parents should file a written notice of termination for the home education program and alert the district to the student’s participation in PEP.


    2. Where do parents submit PEP students’ learning plan?

    Student Learning plans are submitted through StepUp’s website parent portal before the student is approved for participation. 

    3. How does the PEP program compare to home education programs?

    While both categories of students are considered to be homeschoolers, there are key differences.

    • PEP students are registered with StepUp or another Scholarship Funding Organization (SFO); home education students are registered with their school district.

    • Parents of PEP students must prepare and submit a student learning plan to their SFO annually. No similar requirement exists for home education programs.

    • PEP students must take a norm-referenced test annually, and the results must be submitted to the SFO. Home education students must be evaluated annually using one of five approved methods, and the results are submitted to their school district.

    There are significant similarities for students in both programs. Section 1002.01, Florida Statutes, specifies that PEP students are provided the same flexibility and opportunities as home education program students, which includes

    • Participation in interscholastic extracurricular student activities

    • Participation in the Bright Futures Scholarship Program

    • Participation in dual enrollment programs

    • Eligibility for admission to Florida College System institutions and state universities

    1. What can PEP ESA (Education Savings Account) funds be used for? 

    Scholarship program law establishes categories for eligible uses of scholarship funds. Requests for purchases and reimbursements from ESA funds are reviewed by StepUp to verify eligibility under program rules.’

    • Tuition or fees for the following

      • a home education program

      • part-time enrollment in an eligible private school

      • an eligible postsecondary educational institution

      • an approved pre-apprenticeship program

      • part-time tutoring by a certified educator

      • a virtual program offered by a Department-approved private online provider, an approved online course, or the Florida Virtual School as a private paying student

      • norm-referenced achievement tests, Advanced Placement Examinations, industry certification examinations, assessments related to postsecondary education, or other assessments

      • annual evaluation of educational progress by a certified teacher

      • contracted services provided by a public school or school district, including classes

      • services provided by a Choice Navigator

    4. How will Casa Ranch Montessori (Home Education Program) help me with my parental responsibilities as a PEP parent? 

    Casa Ranch Montessori administers “norm-referenced tests” three times a year for students enrolled in our program called Renaissance STAR. StepUp accepts Renaissance Star Assessments in Reading and Math. Results of tests that must be submitted to StepUp through your parent portal.

  • HOW TO SUBMIT REIMBURSEMENTS

    Reimbursements will require parents/guardians to provide certain information to Step Up For Students so funds can be disbursed from the student’s scholarship account for eligible expenses paid out of pocket.

    Information you will need:

     

    1. A custom PEP formatted invoice from Casa Ranch Tutoring, LLC.. (Click here to request your invoice (Please be patient as we process receipts for families). 


    1. Proof of payment will be required for any reimbursement request where the payee is the parent/guardian. Proof of payment can be any of the below:

      • Credit card receipt with the full transaction date (mm/dd/yy), payee name, and amount.

      • Credit card/bank statement with the full transaction date (mm/dd/yy), payee name, and

      • amount.

      • PayPal receipt with the full purchase date (mm/dd/yy), payee name, amount, and funding source.


    1. Description of course - Please include our syllabus which you can download here: https://www.casaranchmontessori.com/stepup

  • Families can pick and choose the days they’d like to join our groups. Due to costs of having Montessori Guides and bringing Enrichment Programs, we do not prorate.

  • Parents must provide an Annual Evaluation for each student on or before each anniversary of the date of registration (the date Notice of Intent was emailed or mailed).

    Casa Ranch Montessori works with a Florida Certified Home School Instructor who reviews our students' portfolios and provides a written letter of progression for a one-time fee. Families can choose to use our evaluator or their own.

    The Annual Evaluation can be emailed as long as there are no signs of any tampering having been done. Email to:  Home.Education@BrowardSchools.com​​

    Parents must preserve each student’s Portfolio for two years and make it available for inspection by the Superintendent’s designee, with a written notice.

  • It is technically the parent's responsibility to do this. However, because we follow the Montessori academic system, we will certainly keep a portfolio of each child as they progress. Families may request their portfolio at any time.