Summer Programs are open to out-of-state and international students. The Academy partners with school districts throughout Wisconsin and is not open to out-of-state students.

 

Yes, WCATY considers all students who have successfully completed a WCATY program to be returning.

 

No, WCATY summer programs have a different application process for students than other EOP precollege programs. Students who have attended EOP's College for Kids, Movin' Minds, Technology and Arts, and/or Saturday Enrichment programming must apply to WCATY as a new student.

 

WCATY accepts check, money order, and credit cards (Visa or Mastercard only).

 

Yes, aid is determined by analyzing family income and extenuating economic circumstances. However, funds for financial aid vary from year to year and past aid awards may not be an indication of current available support. For our full policy on financial aid, please see the financial section of a program page.

 

No, applicants who fail to submit complete financial documentation before the April 15th, 2011 deadline will NOT be considered for financial aid.

 

Through our membership program WCATY offers scholarships for free and reduced lunch students. Please see the Membership page for more details.

 

The Academy provides online classes that replace a quarter of Language Arts curriculum for Wisconsin students. Coursework is assigned in weekly chunks allowing students complete readings, assignments, and discussions within the online classroom at their own pace. Instructors provide regular feedback throughout the week. Students participate in two or three face-to-face meetings at the host school.

 

Instructors conduct face-to-face meetings to bring students together at the host location for hands-on activities. Generally, they are from 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. at a local school or district office. Dates, times, and locations are posted at the bottom of each course description.

 

Students must be recommended by an educator (G/T coordinator, guidance counselor, teacher, principal, etc) to particpate.

 

Sponsors (educators who are responsible for monitoring student progress in the Academy for their district) register students using our online registration system. For details on this process, please see "The Starting Point." Parents may not register students for Academy classes, unless they are home schooled.

 

Sponsors are educators (usually the indivdual who recommended the student) who are responsible for Academy students within their district. Sponsors provide web access so students can complete coursework, supply required books, arrange transportation to face-to-face meetings, and provie support. Instructors contact sponsors with any student issues in the classroom (academic or behavioral).

 

Yes, The Academy brings students together from a region to participate in courses, including private and home school students.

 

The amount of time sponsors spend supporting students varies greatly. Sponsors spend time enrolling students and then should check in frequently. Students spend between 5-10 hours a week completing activities, including the weekly five hours during the school day.

 

When you submit your personal information through our secure online surveys, it is protected from unauthorized access by security infrastructure. When the information is received, we employ extensive physical, electronic and procedural safeguards to make sure it remains secure. We also conduct periodic reviews of our website security to ensure that our electronic safeguards remain up-to-date and effective. This information is used to provide excellent programming for your student(s) and emergency contact information for our instructors. WCATY will not sell the personal information provided.

 

Academy classes are $250 per student, per course. WCATY's membership program provides discounts and scholarships on Academy classes to support district participation.

 

Sponsors must log into The Academy and go to their students courses to view midterm and final grades. Final grades and comments are only available after the course has finished.

 

While most of the ALP students will have already completed 9th or 10th grade, we certainly consider 8th-graders' applications to the program, and most of them do very well. ALP is a very intensive experience, though, and represents a large increase in challenge compared to STEP.

 

At WCATY, 6th grade is kind of a cusp year, so we have 6th-graders attending either program. In terms of deciding which program to select, we suggest that parents consider their child's maturity level and comfort at being away from home. We have 6th-graders who do well and have a great time in both programs, so it's just a matter of choosing which one is the better fit for your child.

 

While most of the YSSP students will have already completed 4th or 5th grade, we certainly consider 3rd-graders' applications to the program, and most of them do very well. We suggest that parents consider their child's maturity level and comfort at being away from home in deciding whether camp would be a good fit.

 

Yes, students may attend two sessions YSSP. Due to significant need and limited funding, students are not eligible for financial for two sessions.

 

For both STEP and YSSP, students sign up for workshops at camp on Sunday night.