+ What do I need to know about homeschooling/unschooling?

Our part time schedule is ideal for homeschoolers and unschoolers, as well as online academy students (Columbia Virtual Academy, Khan Academy, and WAVA online public school, etc.). Mainstream public and private school students often also take advantage of part time student status to participate in enrichment programs like Three Dragons Academy, or they opt for these days as 'pull out days' from mainstream school / arrange excused absences.
Many parents find the Home Based Instruction (HBI) handbook (the “Pinkbook”) helpful for learning more about Legally Homeschooling in WA. The “Pinkbook” covers all Washington State laws related to education choice. Please be aware that parents of children age 8 and up might need to file the Washington State Declaration of Intent in order to comply with state Homeschool laws. Read more about the Declaration of Intent (or 'DOI') here.

+ How many openings does TDA have each year?

We average three to four openings per year in each session, although that fluctuates from year to year. Our goal is to have a balance of experienced students and 'first years'.

+ When should I apply?

We accept applications year round. Rolling admissions are often an option as well: Please apply any time for enrollment in the current year.

+ What is the class size?

We are committed to small classes and superb educator to participant ratios. So, we prefer a group that tops out at around 12 to 16 students (minus any restrictions, such as health safety / mandates by PublicHealth). Each session has a maximum of ratio of 1 educator guiding 8 students, keeping small class sizes than ensure individual attention isn't just 'available', but the default.

+ Do we have to sign up for the whole year?

Yes. All families sign up for all ten months running September through June, since the way we design our themes and lessons, with each month building on the next; this yearlong commitment gives the best possibility for your child to grow and learn.
If we have an opening, it is possible to join TDA midyear, as long as we arrange a start date that works with our themes. Usually, these new participants start on the first of the month. Because group dynamics are essential to our program’s success, we do not generally permit families to drop in and out during the academic year. That said, we're incredibly flexible about vacations/leaves when we have plenty of advance notice.

+ Is my child’s enrollment space guaranteed from one year to the next?

Current TDA participants will have a space in the next year’s class during early Spring's 'registration renewal' period; and this generally stays true until they reach approximately 11 or 12 years old. All returning families must reregister and submit the deposit annually in order to hold their space for the coming academic year. Registration renewals (including last month’s tuition deposit and the registration fee) are usually due January 21 – March 15.

+ What is your attendance policy?

For vacations or sick days, we simply ask that you give us as much advance notice as possible (ideally 2 weeks or more). With advance notice we can adapt the individualized lesson plan around occasional schedule disruptions.

+ What is your sibling policy?

We balance our enrollment years in advance and strive to make sure there’s room for each participant’s younger siblings. TDA is more than lessons, it's also a community, so we often have siblings sharing TDA sessions, and younger siblings often have a space slated, well in advance.
While we strive to make sure there's room for each participant's younger siblings, we do assess student participation on a case by case basis. Once an enrollment space is given up, though, priority for siblings is lost. If TDA becomes full, applicants may be added to our waitpool if they choose - and siblings will generally get priority treatment.

+ Can my child attend TDA fewer or more than two days per week?

Sorry, but TDA is crafted mindfully as a two day per week program. Each two-day week is carefully designed and is efficiently packed with individualized lesson plans, group projects, and a number of team-effort games. Cutting the program week down any further would disrupt your child’s experience and that of other participants. Piggybacking the two sessions would mean that your child would be repeating the curriculum which will become boring really fast! Current TDA participants who meet eligibility requirements may have the option to enroll in SPARK as well as TDA for a third day option.

+ How much recess or unstructured playtime do kids get each day?

We feature two daily blocks of work time totaling 3 hours or more each day. While we do encourage some theme projects, this is often unstructured, child-led discovery time. Additionally, we provide an hour or more of daily outside time, for recess (and often lunch, too) - this commitment is rain or shine (we’ve cancelled recess for storms/weather only twice in 10+ years).

+ Do you use / permit technology in the classroom?

Generally not the screen- or internet-based variety. We tend to use a few select electronics/technology tools as a building block for our arts projects.

We give our participants opportunities to create projects using tools like snap circuits, theatrical lighting dimmers, motors, wirenuts, and batteries. Our monthly themes have resulted in some pretty remarkable engineering projects, such as designing a remote-controlled Perry The Platypus robot; wiring and unwiring motion sensors; and building solar-powered model cars strong enough to carry a classroom chair.
We do occasionally offer coding classes, gaming camps or other tech-related options outside of our 2-day TDA sessions. Other than that, we’re confident participants have ample opportunities to work on tablets and laptops outside of their 12 hours a week at TDA. Any similar tech needs to stay out ofthe TDA classroom.

+ How do you handle allergies and food restrictions?

We are humble educators with fine arts degrees giving lessons in a shared cultural center building & taking recess in public greenways and parks. So, while we can respect food restrictions to some degree (if we were to offer a treat, for example), it is simply impossible for us to provide a true allergen-free environment.

+ Can you administer medications?

Three Dragons & SPARK cannot administer or monitor any medications.

+ What involvement opportunities are available for parents at TDA?

TDA has an active parent group (the Dragon Aerie) which facilitates playdates, field trips, donation drives, and curriculum swaps throughout the year, at times and places outside of the 2-day TDA week.
Aside from our small teaching staff, no adults (including family) are permitted in TDA spaces during class time unless there’s a special reason approved by the TDA classmates in advance. We invite family or friends into the classroom only for special events like a Winter Showcase performance or a Family Game Night.
New participant family tours and special guest artists are the rare exceptions, but even those are reviewed by the participants beforehand. Audio or video recording of the kids in their space is strictly prohibited (except by staff & their own family (during a show, for example).
Parents often collaborate on field trips and playdates outside class hours & invite TDA friends for birthday parties and other parent-run outings.

+ How long can my child attend TDA?

TDA is designed for participants in roughly the elementary/gradeschool age range & 'learning plane', which often aligns with roughly 6 to 11 years old.
For those seeking a full grade-school alternative, we’ve designed the curriculum for the learning style usually associated with the entire elementary time period of K through 5th grade. Participants 'aging' out of the TDA/elementary learning phase can transition into our SPARK program.

+ Can I write off TDA as qualifying childcare expenses on my federal tax forms?

Almost always the answer is no: Please see your tax professional for confirmation for your particular situation and the latest updates.
Our CPA/tax advisor told us this: “Wish you could, but no.” IRS forms do not encourage tax benefits for alternative education families (educator expenses, for example, are next to impossible to apply to homeschool parents). At issue: TDA not a school and we’re not a childcare.