Frequently Asked Questions

Tech Trep Academy acts as a bridge between school districts and families who want to educate at home.

Students throughout all of Wyoming are invited to apply and receive resources and support as they learn from home.

An education through Tech Trep Academy is personalized and comes at no cost to you. In addition, parents also receive access to a supplemental learning fund which can be used to select customized learning resources for their children.

Students follow a traditional school year calendar. Students are not required to login every day or keep track of seat time.  We understand that students are learning at home all day, every day.  Parents decide what they want their daily schedule to look like.  

No, we believe parents should have the flexibility to choose the best format for their student’s learning. Some families prefer a technology-based curriculum while others want to do learning using textbooks. Others prefer hands-on activities and real-world learning and many choose a mix of all three. It is our goal to support parents as they choose the ways their student learns best. It is the parents who will decide how much time the student spends on the computer, if any.

Families in Tech Trep Academy are required to have access to a computer/tablet and internet to be able to fulfill the state testing requirements that are part of the program. Computers, tablets, and internet access can all be purchased using the student’s supplemental learning fund.

Free Online Curriculum

Tech Trep Academy will provide comprehensive online curriculum resources to all students at no cost to families. These include:

• Learn 360 
• Brainpop and Brainpop Jr.
• Epic (during school hours)
• Generation Genius
• Khan Academy
• Salsa Spanish
• Tangy Tuesday
• Teach Your Monster to Read

Opt-in Programs for 2023-24 (Optional Homeroom Resources)

Students will have the following additional direct curriculum options available as opt-in programs. The funds for each program will be deducted from the student’s learning funds. Parents can opt into any of these programs. Additional information about each resource can be found in Infocenter. 

 

Multi-Subject Resources:

• Education.com Premium
• Exact Path
• IXL 
• Moby Max
• Study Island
• Tech Trep Academy teacher-led online classes

Language Arts:

• Adventure Academy
• Accelerated Reader
• Exact Path
• Hairy Reading 
• Headsprout/RAZ Kids
• Lexia Core5
• Lexia Power Up
• MIWrite (grades 3-12)
• Moby Max 
• Nessy Reading and Spelling
• Reading Eggs/Eggspress
• Quill
• Vooks
• Waterford

Math:

• ALEKS
• Beast Academy Online
• CTC Math
• Dreambox Math
• Frax Math
• Mathletics
• Mathseeds
• My Math Academy
• Prodigy Math
• Reflex Math
• Sumdog

Social Studies and Science:

• IXL
• Kids Discover Online
• Moby Max
• Mystery Science

Electives:

• Adobe Creative Cloud
• Centervention
• Code Monkey
• IXL Spanish
• Microsoft 365
• Sign it: ASL!
• Tech Trep Direct Elective Courses (computer programming, photography, google ninja, engineering, etc.)
• The ULAT
• Touch-type, Read, Spell
• Tynker
• Typing Club

We believe parents should have the flexibility to choose the learning resources that fit their student best.  Many additional resources are available through direct order or through reimbursement. As Tech Trep Academy is in partnership with the public education system, only secular materials are approved for reimbursement or direct orders.

Parents are free to supplement their child’s education with religious materials using their own private funds. As this program is in partnership with the public education system, only secular materials are approved for reimbursement or direct orders.

We would love to help!  We have several curriculum specialists who meet with parents to help them navigate through the curriculum options.  They are both seasoned educating-at-home moms and certified teachers.

Each student will receive a supplemental learning fund. These funds can be used to supplement the provided resources.  Educational items such as curriculum,  online subscriptions, computers/tablets, internet fees, extracurricular classes, tutoring, museum passes, tech items and so many more things can be purchased with the supplemental learning funds.  Parents gets access to these funds through direct purchases and/or reimbursements. Additional information on access the supplemental learning fund will be provided in Parent Link after enrollment.

Yes, as long as you meet all program requirements for the year and do not withdraw, the learning resources are yours to keep. Program requirements include state testing and bi-weekly reporting.  If a family chooses to withdraw from the program before the end of the school year, or does not meet program requirements, all materials, curriculum, and technology must be returned (and all reimbursements repaid).

Each child is wonderfully unique and with the supplemental learning funds parents can choose the resources that will benefit their child the most. Half the amount of the supplemental learning fund is accessed during 1st Semester and the next half during 2nd Semester. The supplemental learning funds are accessed in multiple ways:

Direct Tech Trep Courses – Tech electives, virtual clubs, and some online courses have fees associated with them. When parents sign-up their students for these resources the fees will be deducted from the students’ supplemental learning fund.

Optional Homeroom Resources – Parents will find a list of optional homeroom resources at greatly discounted group-buy prices in InfoCenter, once enrolled. Through InfoCenter, these resources can be requested at greatly discounted rates. The purchase price will be deducted from the student’s 2nd-semester supplemental learning fund.

Reimbursements – Beginning in May, of the upcoming school year, parents can begin purchasing learning resources and classes. Receipts can be submitted for reimbursement at the appropriate time. Reimbursements for 1st-semester begin in September and reimbursements for 2nd-semester, in February. All reimbursements must be requested by April 30th of the current school year.

Direct Order – Tech Trep Academy can purchase your approved supplemental learning resources from either Amazon.com and/or Rainbow Resource and have the items shipped to you directly, bypassing the reimbursement process. This service is provided at no cost to the family.

Close to the beginning of the school year, direct orders will become available. Parents can create a wishlist on Amazon.com or RainbowResource.com and then set up an appointment with the direct ordering team to have the school purchase learning resources. 

Parents can find additional information about the supplemental learning fund, how to access direct ordering, and a list of items that are NOT approved for reimbursement in the InfoCenter Parent Link after they are enrolled in Tech Trep.

NOTE: Families are welcome to purchase one device per student every three years. This includes a desktop computer, laptop, chromebooks, or iPad/tablet. If an extra device is desired, such as a device that is mobile and can be accessed while traveling on top of one that stays at home, exceptions can be made. Exceptions can also be made if the device become non-functional for any reason.

Students will have the four core classes:  Math, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies as well as two electives.  The electives can be PE, fine arts, foreign language, technology, or anything the student is interested in. 

Families turn in student learning assessments every two weeks for the four core classes. There are also work samples/reporting on electives twice a year. Submissions consist of a learning sample which can be in the form of a worksheet, test, paper, picture of a project, or video of your student explaining what they have learned. Our goal is to keep reporting very simple and easy!

Yes.  All students are required to participate in state tests. 

Yes!  We offer field trips EVERY month!  These activities are usually provided at no-cost for our students and at least one parent.  Most of the time, additional siblings or parents can attend at a discounted rate.  These field trips are such a fun benefit of our program! We provide many activity opportunities throughout the year.  Field trips included outdoor activities, educational opportunities, and fun entertainment for the family.

Tech Trep Academy also offers virtual field trips. This year a few of the events our families have enjoyed include attending online book clubs and tea parties, viewing exotic reptiles, learning about severe weather and the constitution, meeting authors, touring a TV station, and enjoying a virtual tour of Jamestown!

There are SO MANY fun ways to fill elective requirements. Families are welcome to create their own custom elective plan – gathering their own resources using the supplemental learning fund.

Tech Trep Academy offers virtual teacher-led clubs that students can participate in. There are also many virtual tech elective classes offered through Tech Trep Academy. Fees for virtual clubs and Tech electives can come from the student’s supplemental learning fund.

Tech Trep Academy virtual clubs provide opportunities for youth to participate in activities, interact with peers in a positive and supervised setting, as well as pursue interests and develop skills. Many students fulfill elective requirements while participating in these virtual clubs.

More information on Virtual Clubs

View the many fun Tech Electives offered through Tech Trep Academy.

 

Yes, absolutely! Many parents prefer that some subjects be taught to their student by a certified teacher.

Virtual teacher-led classes are part of the optional resources parents have access to for their students. There are classes offered in science and social studies for many grades. Some courses are free while others include a minimal fee which can come from the student’s supplemental learning fund.

Another fun opportunity many Tech Trep families enjoy is the optional virtual Bridge program. The Bridge program offers virtual teacher-led classes in core subjects and students also pick one virtual club as an elective. Fees for the bridge program can come from the student’s supplemental learning fund. 

Many families also enjoy the virtual clubs which are teacher-led and cover a wide variety of interests.

More information on Virtual Clubs

 

No. Our goal is to help students gain valuable skills to be successful in college, career, and life, while encouraging them to pursue their interests. When selecting electives students may choose one of the courses we offer or they may pursue some other skill they are interested in!  The sky’s the limit!

Families are welcome to create their own custom elective course designed specifically for their student.

View a List of Virtual Clubs which many students use as electives – effective as of January 2021.

See the many fun Tech Electives offered through Tech Trep Academy.

Yes – absolutely.  We believe the parent knows their child best and can decide if he/she would be able to handle a course that may be designed for older students.

The Minecraft STEAM course is broad and touches on Art, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Math, Language Art / Social Studies concepts.  The course can be applied at multiple levels, depending of the skill level of the student.  Since it is very open, it allows students to do projects at their own level.  Experienced Minecraft players may know some of the Minecraft techniques already (how to make a character skin and how to use redstone), but will discover new concepts  such as basic art techniques, making scale models, and learning about circuitry with redstone.

The Minecraft Modding with Java course is fairly technical and focuses exclusively on creating and adding custom modifications to Minecraft using Java. The course is appropriate for any student 11+ that has a basic foundational grasp of coding and is comfortable with a little bit of troubleshooting.

Yes!  Visit TechTrep.com, and private pay parents and schools can purchase individual courses for students. Note:  Several partner schools and programs across the country are pre-approved to purchase via Tech Trep.

Yes!  Once accepted into the program, parents will have access to Parent Link, a secure site with extensive details regarding all aspects of our personalized education program. 

• Parents submit an application for each child in the Tech Trep Academy InfoCenter.
• Once accepted, parents submit a complete enrollment packet in InfoCenter. The packet includes proof of residence, birth certificate, and immunization information.
• Both student and parent need an active email account (see video for help with younger children).
• After the packet is approved, you will receive a confirmation email letting you know your student is fully enrolled.
• Once enrollment is complete, there is nothing else to do until summer when the student schedule can be created and learning resources are ordered.
• You will be able to access Parent Link and Announcements in InfoCenter for additional information.
• If you have questions about the process, please reach out to [email protected] for help and support in enrollment.

Absolutely! Go the parent testimonials to read what other families have experienced while enrolled in Tech Trep Academy.

Contact Us with your questions and/or check out the live Parent Information Meetings. We look forward to speaking with you!

In 2008, a full-time public school program called My Tech High was created to provide students in Utah with a personalized education experience focused on technology and entrepreneurship.  Interest in the Utah program has continued to grow each year with thousands of students now participating.

Tech Trep Academy (‘trep’ is short for entrepreneur) started in 2015 to help part-time students outside of Utah to access the amazing technology and entrepreneurship curriculum.

Beginning in February 2017, a full-time Tech Trep Academy program became available in Idaho for students in grades K–8! As of fall 2022, Tech Trep Academy has also added programs for Arizona, Indiana, Tennessee, Wyoming, and North Dakota.