Lower School FAQs

1. How are your teachers selected?
Teachers are selected based on their testimony of personal faith in Jesus Christ, their Christian experience, and educational credentials and experience. All teachers are required to be state certified or presently engaging in the process of certification. In addition, teachers are certified through ACSI, (Association of Christian Schools International). Teacher applications are screened against specific standards and benchmarks with interviews conducted by the assistant superintendent.

2. What are the qualifications for admission?
Harvest Christian Academy has designed a three-step admissions process. First, a parent submits an application with enrollment fee. Second, the student's file is completed through gathering of existing records and HCA testing. Finally, parents and students meet with the principal for an enrollment interview. We want to make the process welcoming and affirming for children and their parents. The admissions criteria consider these three areas: spiritual compatibility, grade level academic achievement, and personal character and behavior.

3. How is tuition handled?
The tuition scale is published prior to each school year. The school budget is supported through tuition payments and standard fees. The application fee is due at the time of enrollment and is non-refundable. The school tuition payment options include annual, semi-annual or monthly payment schedules. All payment options are implemented through automatic withdrawal using FACTS, our tuition management system. The annual tuition chart provides information and policies regarding tuition payments.

4. Why are there two tuition scales?
The rationale for this distinction relates to the financial support that church members provide through their special gifts, tithes, and offerings. Recently, members of Harvest Bible Chapel provided millions of dollars via special pledges and gifts for the cost of the build out of existing facilities, new construction, and equipping the buildings. As such, members receive a lower tuition rate.

5. What is your governance policy?
The school operates under the legal corporate status of Harvest Bible Chapel and the authority of the Board of Elders. The Elders have empowered the School Leadership Team to oversee policy and to serve as the direct authority for the school’s administrative staff. The Elders and School Leadership Team have assigned the chairman (who is on both boards) to serve as the liaison between church and school as well as oversee the appointments of qualified administrators for the everyday operations of the school.

6. What is the dress code?
Believing that the maturation process involves the need for increased decision-making, HCA believes in a modest, developmentally appropriate dress code. Lower School students are required to dress according to a defined dress code. The school has identified a variety of standard dress choices for parent purchase. For specific dress code information, visit the Parents tab of this site.

7. How can I get involved?
There are three distinct ways that parents can get involved. The first is to volunteer with the Parent Teacher Fellowship (PTF). PTF is an organization designed to help meet the needs of the school. The next opportunity is to work through the school office to meet a variety of short-term needs. Finally, parents can help financially support the school by donating towards special projects and the general needs of the budget. 

8. What are the current plans for the expansion of the school?
The growth and expansion plans for the school represent a combination of a walk of faith and a carefully designed enrollment projection analysis. The overall plan includes the eventual creation of a full preschool through grade 6 program at the Rolling Meadows Campus. The proposed expansion of the Rolling Meadows Campus is as follows:

• Fall 2010 add grade 6 in a combined 5/6 class 

Please note that the aforementioned plan is a “best estimate.” Influencing factors include costs and interest in enrollment.

Harvest Christian Academy admits students of any gender, race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, athletic and other school-administered programs.