Procedures and Policies

In the summer of 2009 Black Forest Academy established a partnership with Sevenstar Academy (www.sevenstaracademy.org) in order to expand our ministry of Christian education to the children of international Christian workers both at our main campus (see I. On-Campus Students) and to others around the world (see II. Off-Campus Students).

While we value the teacher/student dynamic that happens in the classroom setting, we also believe there is an appropriate time and place for high quality online learning either part time or full time.

I. On-Campus Students

  1. Types of Online Course Work
  2. Course listing
  3. Enrollment application for current students
  4. Timing of course work
  5. Equipment Requirements
  6. Restrictions
  7. Fees

II. Off-Campus Students

  1. Enrollment information
  2. Enrollment Application
  3. Timing of Course Work
  4. Restrictions
  5. Benefits
  6. Full-time Fees

I. On-Campus Students

A. Types of Online Course Work

There are several reasons why a current day or boarding student may wish or need to take a course through BFA Online.

B. Course Listing

Courses offered for On-Campus students

C. Enrollment application for current students

A current student may apply to BFA Online by filling out the Online Course Request form and submitting it to the Guidance Department. Completion of this form includes a signature from both the student and parents (an email from the parents supporting enrollment can be sent in place of parental signature). Enrollment is not automatic. The Guidance Department and the program Coordinator will consider the reasons for the request, the student aptitude for online learning, and availability of time, hardware, and supervising personnel.

D. Timing of course work

BFA Guidance Counselors will assist the student and parent regarding the best time to begin an online course. In some cases summer will provide the best time for a student to take an online course. In other cases, a capable student may be approved to take an online course during the school year. Time during the school day and or an available school computer is not guaranteed. In some cases, the student may have to do online course work after school hours in the home or in the dorm.

E. Equipment Requirements

You can find the listed requirements on our Equipment Requirements page. Also, all students must sign and agree to abide by the BFA Internet Acceptable Use Policy.

F. Restrictions

  1. Due to schooling laws in Germany, a BFA day or boarding student may not enroll full time with BFA Online. A currently enrolled day or boarding student is limited to two courses per semester during the academic year (August to June). Students who qualify, may take more than two courses during the summer.
  2. Normally, it is not possible to substitute an online version of the same course offered on campus. Exceptions may be granted by the Administration, however they will be rare.
  3. In order to gain a BFA Diploma a student must attend school in Kandern at least one year and be enrolled either on campus or full-time at “BFA Online” during their senior year.

G. Fees

  1. All online courses require extra tuition fees paid to BFA. The only exception to this will be when BFA is unable to provide a teacher for a core course and offers that course to its students in online form.
  2. All online fees are non-refundable.
  3. Fees for 2011/2012 (prices subject to change): Two Semester courses are 430 Euro. One Semester courses are 340 Euro. AP and Dual Credit courses are 520 Euro.
  4. Additional fee for books and labs may be required and are the student’s responsibility.
  5. No refund will be awarded to a student who drops an online course. A student who drops a course after the first marking period will have the course recorded on their transcript as withdrawn passing or withdrawn failing. No credit will be awarded for dropped courses.
  6. A $50 fee is charged when dropping a dual credit course.

II. Off-Campus Students

A. Enrollment information

A student may enroll full-time in grades 6-12 at BFA Online after being accepted as a student at Black Forest Academy.
Participating students may reside in any country that allows home-schooling or internet schooling and where the family has an adequate internet access that meets the minimum requirements for participation. (See Equipment Requirements above.)

B. Enrollment Application

All prospective online students must apply to Black Forest Academy using the BFA Online application.

If the student intends to come to BFA the next school year, a regular BFA Application Packet may be submitted so that the family does not have to complete two separate applications – BFA Application Packet

Acceptance to the program will be based upon the following:
  1. An acceptable setting conducive to learning provided by the parents
  2. An agreement to BFA’s Educational Philosophy. (which is at the beginning of the Student Application Packet)
  3. * Also, in order to earn a BFA diploma a student must meet the BFA residency requirement and attend school at the main campus for at least one of the student’s high school years, preferably grades 11-12.
  4. ** The student/parents must also complete the Student Application Packet to be considered for acceptance as an On-Campus student.

C. Timing of Course Work

Ideally, students enrolled full-time at BFA Online will follow the BFA school calendar. It is important that full time students stay within these general parameters in order to better transition into and out of the main campus. For example, to enroll as an 11th grader on campus all previous course work must be completed before arrival to Kandern.

D. Restrictions

Students enrolled in BFA Online may not graduate from BFA without having spent at least one full school year on our main campus. Two years is preferred.

E. Benefits

  1. Students are enrolled as BFA students.
  2. All online courses successfully completed (passing marks) will be awarded credit at BFA.
  3. All BFA Online credits will appear on the BFA transcript as a letter grade and be calculated into the cumulative GPA.

F. Full-time Fees

  1. All Off-Campus Online students must pay the BFA application fee not included in the online fees.
  2. No refund will be awarded to a student who drops on online course. A student who drops a course after the first marking period will have the course recorded on their transcript as withdrawn passing (WP) or withdrawn failing (WF). No credit will be awarded for dropped courses.
  3. Fees for 2011/2012 (prices subject to change): Two Semester courses are 430 Euro. One Semester courses are 340 Euro. AP and Dual Credit courses are 520 Euro.
  4. Dropping a Dual Credit course incurs a $50 fee.
  5. All online fees are non-refundable.