Frequently Asked Questions

If the system indicated that your student is already connected to an account, it may be that a different email address was provided when the account was created. If you need assistance in adding your student to your account, please contact us.

No, students may enroll without a placement test. If a placement is needed, it will be administered before the first day of school to ensure your student is in the appropriate level.

• Orders for Blue Ridge Academy families are placed in Procurify.
• Your HST will review the order.
• Once the HST approves the order, Blue Ridge administration will place the order with Branches Learning.
• The family will receive an order confirmation email.
• Before the start of the semester, students will receive a Google Classroom invite for each class to their Blue Ridge school email address.

To register for classes or tutoring, you must have a Branches Learning account with active students. 

Here are instructions for creating and account and adding your students.

Enrollment opens for all students in July for Semester 1 (Fall) and in December for Semester 2 (Spring). The exact enrollment dates vary year-to-year. Please visit the Academic Calendar for upcoming enrollment dates.

Withdrawals must be processed through the student’s school or organization. Contact your supervising teacher (HST) for assistance.

Refunds are available if requested within two weeks of the course start date and must include all relevant details. Refunds are prorated.
Full refunds are available if the course has not begun.

*Blue Ridge Families: Refunds are not available once full-year courses begin; this is a Blue Ridge policy.

Yes, please visit our course catalog, select the course(s) and proceed with the enrollment.

Schools or organizations interested in partnering with us can contact our team at info@brancheslearning.org. We’ll guide you through the process, from understanding your school’s needs to implementing our courses.

Your teacher or tutor will send a Google Classroom invitation to your student’s school email address.

🛠️ Troubleshooting Tips

If your student hasn’t received an invite:

• Double-check they’re logged into their school email. Invitations are only sent to official school email addresses.
• Check the Spam/Junk folder.
• Try accessing Google Classroom directly at classroom.google.com or via the Google Apps menu. (example below)

 
❓ Need Help?
If your student still doesn’t see their class after these steps, please click here to request support.

Examples

Email Invitation

The invitation email sent to students will start with “Class invitation:” followed by the course name. They will need to click on the button to be added to the roster.

Confirm Email is Correct

Some students may see a screen asking them to confirm it is the correct Google account. Be sure it is their Blue Ridge Academy account and click “Continue”.

Accessing a Class

All classes in which the student is enrolled will be listed on the left side of Classroom and in the grid on the right.

Accessing Google Classroom

A student may access Google Classroom at any time directly from the “waffle” menu in the top right of their Google Email or Drive page. Be sure they are logged in with their school email address and then click on the Classroom icon to access classes.

Another method is to navigate to https://classroom.google.com in a browser. However, it is important that the school email address account is used when accessing Classroom.

No, your student will receive an email invitation to their student email address with a direct link to access their class.

Accessing Google Classroom

A student may access Google Classroom at any time directly from the “waffle” menu in the top right of their Google Email or Drive page. Be sure they are logged in with their school email address, and then click on the Classroom icon to access classes.

Another method is to navigate to https://classroom.google.com in a browser. However, it is important that the school email address account is used when accessing Classroom.

No, students must use their school-issued email address to access Google Classroom. If your school does not issue email addresses, you may use a personal Gmail account.

Parents/guardians are not able to access the classroom directly for privacy reasons. However, the primary parent and HST will be given Guardian access for each of their students’ classes. 

Guardian access sends an email daily or weekly based on their notification preferences.

In email summaries, you can review:

• Missing work—Work not turned in when the summary was sent.
• Upcoming work—Work that’s due today and tomorrow (for daily emails) or that’s due in the upcoming week (for weekly emails).
• Class activities—Announcements, assignments, and questions recently posted by teachers.

Click here to see a sample Guardian email.

If a second parent/guardian would like to receive these emails, click here.

Guardian emails are not available for students who do not use a school-issued email address for Google Classroom.

Note: These emails do not include grade reporting. For more information on grade reporting, click here.

To register for classes or tutoring, you must have a Branches Learning account with active students. 

Here are instructions for creating and account and adding your students.

After successful registration and approval, you will receive a welcome email containing your tutor’s scheduling link. Click the link to choose and book your student’s sessions at a convenient time.

Once you complete your registration on the Branches Learning website, your school will review and approve your request. After approval, we will match your student with a tutor and send a welcome email to the email address on file.

This process generally takes 1-2 business days.

Visit your Branches Learning My Account page and click the Tutoring Appointments link to see upcoming appointments. There, you can cancel individual appointments.

Then, visit your tutor’s scheduling link to reschedule your session. Rescheduling will be based on your tutor’s availability.

Please notify your tutor as soon as possible via email.

Please notify your tutor as soon as possible via email.

Parents may request a change of tutor if it appears beneficial to their student’s progress or in cases of scheduling conflicts. However, to support continuity and effective learning, we typically limit such requests to one per student—unless the current tutor is ill or no longer able to continue. Our goal is to establish stable and productive learning relationships between students and tutors.

Submit a support request here to request a change.

When you register your student, please indicate the name of the tutor. Tutor assignments will be based on availability. The requested tutor will be assigned whenever possible.

Blue Ridge Academy students may be eligible for free tutoring each month. Once they have enrolled and been assigned a tutor, they do not need to re-enroll during that school year.

No, our standard practice is to assign only one tutor per student for consistency and effective learning.

Visit our tutoring page to enroll and learn more about the Blue Ridge-sponsored program.  The student will need to have a mega waiver on file and be approved by their school administration.

Additional tutoring can be purchased with school or personal funds.

Branches Learning provides personalized tutoring services across all subjects we offer. Our tutoring is designed to meet students where they are, helping them to understand challenging concepts, improve their study habits, and excel academically.

Our tutors are matched with students based on the student’s academic needs, learning style, and the tutor’s area of expertise. We strive to create a compatible learning partnership to ensure the most effective tutoring experience.

Yes, absolutely. Flexibility is a key component of our tutoring services. Sessions can be scheduled at times that work best for your child, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate extracurricular activities and family commitments.

All Branches Learning tutors are subject matter experts with a passion for teaching and learning. They undergo a rigorous selection process, including background checks and training in online instructional techniques, to ensure they meet our high standards for quality and effectiveness.

If your child is struggling with coursework, receiving lower grades than usual, or expressing frustration with a particular subject, tutoring might be beneficial. Students who wish to excel in a particular subject area may also consider requesting tutoring.

*Free tutoring may be available to Blue Ridge students.

Please visit our contact page for phone and email addresses. To open a support ticket, click here.

We recognize the importance of communication and support. Branches Learning teachers, supervising teachers (HSTs), parents, and students all have roles to play. The more we work as a team, the more successful each student will be.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with the teacher to discuss any concerns you may have about your child’s progress. 

Tutoring is available for all grade levels and subjects. Click here for more information. 

*Free tutoring may be available to Blue Ridge students. 

We provide parents with guides on navigating our platform, tips for supporting online learning at home, and access to our parent liaison team for any questions or concerns.

Students have access to dedicated instructors and technical support to help them navigate their courses successfully. We work with the teacher assigned to your family (through their school) to ensure your child receives the services needed.

We are committed to inclusive education. Parents are welcome to share information regarding their student’s learning needs. We are happy to make reasonable accommodations such as extended deadlines and customized assignments.

Beyond our academic courses, we offer a range of extracurricular and enrichment programs aimed at developing skills in leadership, creativity, and critical thinking.

Yes, we offer a variety of summer school courses for students looking to advance their studies or catch up on credits during the summer break. These courses are condensed but maintain the same high-quality instruction as our regular courses.

Click here to read/download late work policies.

A student work folder is created in Google Classroom containing submitted assignments. Other paper/pencil assignments and projects are frequently completed at home.

Teachers update grades weekly for most subjects. Some courses may get updates bi-weekly. 

A weekly email is sent with assignment grades to parents/guardians, students, and HSTs. This email does not include the cumulative grade.

To view your student’s cumulative grade, have them log in to their Google Classroom account and share it with you.

Mid-term and final grades are sent to the student’s HST at the end of each semester.

Request a Guardian Account for Google Classroom to receive summaries, which include assignments, missing work, and announcements.

Please establish a quiet space where your child can work uninterrupted.
Background conversations, music, telephone calls, etc. are distracting for all of the students and the teacher.

Families will be notified as soon as possible. A substitute will host the class or the teacher may post a prerecorded lesson. In case of a last-minute cancellation/emergency, the teacher will make up the lesson as soon as possible (it may be live or recorded).

If a student misses two or more consecutive classes and the course teacher does not know why, the supervising teacher (HST) and parent will be notified.

Attendance and participation are part of the final grade. Students who miss more than 40% of live classes may fail the course. Exceptions are made if a pre-approved plan is in place with the course teacher and student’s supervising teacher (HST).

The Branches Learning teacher will award a final grade based on assignment quality and completion, attendance, and participation.

Please let the course teacher know when your child must miss due to an illness or other reason.

Branches Learning requires steady attendance in each class (typically two hours per week, per class; some electives are one hour per week). Classes are recorded, and families can request access to recordings from the teacher.

Students who use cameras typically do better academically and socially than students who don’t. It is difficult for teachers to assess understanding and engagement without reading facial expressions.

Relationships are easier to build with peers and teachers when cameras are being used.

During live classes, students can ask questions, share ideas, build relationships, and collaborate with peers and course teachers.

Branches Learning courses are designed to align with standard educational requirements. It’s important, however, to confirm with your child’s school regarding credit transfer policies. We can provide detailed course descriptions and assessments for their review.

Yes, our high school courses are developed to meet graduation requirements in core and elective subjects. We recommend consulting with your school counselor to ensure the courses align with your specific graduation plan.

Students and parents can browse our course catalog online. For personalized guidance, consult with your supervising teacher to ensure you are selecting the proper classes.

Some of our advanced or specialized courses may have prerequisites to ensure students are prepared for the course content. These prerequisites are listed on the course description pages on our website.

Branches Learning is an innovative provider of online courses for students in transitional kindergarten (TK) through 12th grade, partnering with schools, organizations, and families to offer high-quality, engaging, and flexible learning experiences.

We offer a wide range of courses including core subjects (Math, English, Science, Social Studies), electives (Art, Music, Technology), honors courses, and special interest classes designed to cater to diverse student needs and interests.

Our courses are designed with flexibility in mind, featuring a mix of synchronous (live) sessions and asynchronous (on your own time) activities, interactive content, and assessments to cater to various learning styles.

Absolutely! Our courses are fully online, allowing students to access their learning materials from anywhere with an internet connection.

Users will need a stable internet connection and a modern web browser. Specific courses may have additional requirements, which are listed on the course description page.

If you’re experiencing technical difficulties, please contact our support team at tech@brancheslearning.org. We’re here to help ensure a smooth and effective learning experience for all students.

You can verify our accreditation status by visiting the WASC website and searching for Branches Learning in their directory of accredited institutions. Additionally, we proudly display our accreditation status on our website and in our marketing materials.

We maintain our WASC accreditation through regular self-assessments, updates to our programs based on feedback and evaluation, and participation in periodic reviews by WASC. This commitment to excellence and continuous improvement ensures that we meet and exceed accreditation standards.

The accreditation process includes a comprehensive self-study, peer review, and ongoing evaluation to ensure continuous improvement. This process examines all aspects of our educational services, including curriculum, instruction, student support, and overall institutional effectiveness.

• Confidence and Trust: Parents can trust that Branches Learning provides a high-quality education that meets rigorous standards.
• Accountability: Accreditation holds Branches Learning accountable to its stakeholders, ensuring transparency and commitment to excellence.
• Future Opportunities: Accredited programs enhance students’ prospects for future educational and career opportunities, giving parents peace of mind about their child’s educational investment.

Accreditation requires a thorough evaluation of our programs, teaching methods, and educational outcomes. This ongoing process ensures that we continually improve and adapt to the latest educational standards and practices, providing our students with the best possible learning environment.

• Transferable Credits: Courses completed at Branches Learning are more likely to be accepted for credit at other accredited schools, ensuring students’ efforts are recognized.
• Quality Assurance: Accreditation guarantees that our curriculum, instructors, and educational resources meet high standards, providing students with a reliable and effective learning experience.
• College Admissions: Many colleges and universities prefer or require coursework from accredited institutions, increasing students’ chances of acceptance.
• Financial Aid and Scholarships: Accreditation can be a factor in eligibility for financial aid and scholarships, opening more opportunities for students to fund their education.

Accreditation by WASC is crucial for Branches Learning because it signifies that our programs meet high standards of educational quality. This recognition ensures that our courses and supplemental educational services are credible and respected by educational institutions and employers.

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is a regional accrediting agency that ensures institutions meet rigorous standards of quality and effectiveness. Accreditation by WASC is a mark of excellence and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Pricing varies based on the number of courses purchased and the level of support services required. Contact our sales team for a detailed quote tailored to your school’s needs.

We occasionally offer promotions and scholarships. Schools and families are encouraged to reach out to our support team or check our website for the latest offers.