Frequently Asked Questions

• Northshore Family Partnership gives you access to a community of like-minded families and supportive teachers. Enrolled families have access to an experienced advisor who will help you create a Written Student Learning Plan for the year and provide support throughout the year in the instruction you’re providing at home including setting goals, developing learning objectives, and recommending resources.

• Parents who enroll their students in the Northshore Family Partnership provide the majority of instructional hours at home as primary educators. Parents are responsible for ensuring that their child receives instruction that teaches to, and for reporting their child’s progress toward the standards through monthly progress reports.

• NFP Families have access to curriculum for home instruction, advising and guidance from certificated teachers, collaborative project-based learning opportunities, and community support.

• Northshore Family Partnership will have a schedule of classes. Parents can register from a variety of classes to supplement the education parents provide at home.

• Each child will have a Written Student Learning Plan (WSLP) developed by the parent, student, and an advisor, to help them set up achievable academic goals for the school year. This WSLP is a live document that can be modified throughout the year, if needed. Progress is also reported monthly by parents/students and teachers in a Progress Report.

• An advisor will be assigned to families to help them to assess and report home learning, understand the standards, access district provided curriculum, and give support with at home learning.

• All learning activities reported on the WSLP must be secular.

Common Questions:

1. How soon should I enroll, and how?

The sooner you enroll, the better. As we enroll more students we may be able to offer more classes. There is no cap on in-district enrollment. Out of district enrollment is contingent on available space. Contact Leslie Connor mailto:lconnor@nsd.org for more information.

1. What kind of classes are offered typically? What is the schedule and registration process like in a typical year? How many classes does my child have to take? Is there an upper limit on how many classes my student can take?

2. Typically, we offer classes during normal school hours 4 days a week, Monday - Thursday. In the spring we release the schedule and registration date when parents would be able to enroll in NFP. Students take at least one class and are allowed up to 10 hours of class time per week.

3. When will we get a schedule? How will classes and the registration process be different this year with distance learning and the various stages moving students back into classrooms?

How much notice will we get for registration?

The schedule should be ready in early August. Because of COVID-19, we will follow the district Northshore Learns 3.0 and it’s reentry phases. There will also be an option for families to remain registered and check in with an advisor weekly, without online or onsite classes.

1. How will reporting work?

OSPI is still requiring reporting, but we are working to make it as easy as possible for parents, with our teachers taking on most of the legwork

1. Can we set up co-ops and learning pods? What will that look like?

Some NFP Parents are choosing to form small learning/socialization groups called co-ops on their own. Groups of parents coordinate to provide group experiences for their collective children. This is up to the parents, and is not part of NFP or Northshore School District.

1. What kind of curriculum is available to us?

The curriculum used by Northshore for general education is available to our families, such as Math Expressions, Benchmark Reading and Writing, and TCI Science for elementary students, and TCI Science and Social Studies, Core Focus Math, and Springboard Language Arts for Middle School. Hard copies of curricula can be found on campus. You may contact your family’s advisor for access to this and online curriculum resources.

NFP is developing a curriculum library that will grow over time. We have also purchased limited copies of popular curricula including: “Handwriting Without Tears”, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, “Singapore Math”, “Right Start Math” and “Beast Academy”.

We’re also working to get access to some popular online curricula.

The PTSA will also be hosting a curriculum fair to share popular Homeschool curriculum.

1. Are there parents we can talk to about all this?

Parents have developed an information group on Facebook for families who want to learn more about Northshore Family Partnership. Parents enrolled in the program are happy to answer questions and offer support to new families. However, questions about the structure and requirements of the program should be sent to NFP staff. This Facebook page offers a lot of valuable information about NFP to families in our program, as well as interested families. Our school will work closely with our PTSA to develop Community Outreach.

1. How can I get involved?

To get involved, become a member of the new Northshore Family Partnership PTSA and reach out to one of the PTSA co-presidents to volunteer for PTSA programs and events.

1. What kinds of support can I expect from teachers?

Your advisor will work with you at the beginning of the year to create a Written Student Learning Plan (WSLP) for your family and monitor progress throughout the year. Our teachers are there to help you in any way possible. They can help you with curriculum support, social-emotional needs, identifying and obtaining support for learning differences, resources for effective homeschooling, progress reporting, and more. We are a family-friendly organization. Our teachers are there to offer as much support for you as you need.

1. What happens to the online classes if we reach hybrid classes at stage 5?

We will receive direction from the district and develop plans that meet the needs of NFP families.

1. What is the enrollment cap for on-site classes in normal times? What are the enrollment caps for online classes?

Typically classes on campus are capped at 12 (with some exceptions). For online classes this year, we’re looking at somewhere between 12 and 20, depending on the class. Some may be smaller, some bigger.

1. How do we meet other families when there is no in-person school?

Get involved in the PTSA. They are working to help families with this.

1. What if we aren’t on Facebook?

The PTSA is working to revise their website to have information available. Leslie Connor, our head teacher, sends out emails often with need to know information, and Gary Keeler sends a monthly newsletter during the school year.

1. How do students receive Special Ed services?

Our special education teacher, Angela Dose, will be providing services for IEPs, and will set times up with families. We also have a speech pathologist, and an occupational therapist who are on campus part time. They, too, will be in touch with families, to provide services.

1. When do we meet with an advisor?

We will meet with your family in September to set up your WSLP. After that you will meet with your advisor as needed.

1. How does NFP support HiCap students?

Our students all work at their own pace. Parents are the primary educators, and work with their students at their appropriate level. Hi-Cap qualified students have access to appropriate curriculum.

1. How do families with both working parents make it work?

Each family develops their own plan.

1. What does community in NFP look like?

We are a family friendly organization that values input from all members of our partnership. We have regular family forums to get feedback from our community.