Echo Hill Elementary

The Linn-Mar Home School Assistance Program pairs each homeschooling family with a supervising teacher licensed by the State of Iowa. It serves students in kindergarten through 12th grade and is housed at Hazel Point Intermediate in Marion. Families in the program follow Iowa's Competent Private Instruction option with a licensed teacher, which means students can also dual enroll at Linn-Mar for classes, activities or special education services. Our supervising teacher advises parents on lesson plans, textbooks and supplementary materials, goals, teaching techniques, assessment, diagnosing strengths and weaknesses, interpreting test results and recordkeeping. Each family has 16 contacts with the teacher over the school year, and 8 of them are face to face. Students can join program activities, field trips and enrichment classes, borrow from our resource library, and use public school resources along with district and Grant Wood AEA services. Taking part in an activity can count in place of one face-to-face visit each quarter.

Marion Home School Assistance Program serves families who teach their children at home and want a licensed teacher and a school district behind them. Under Iowa's Home School Assistance Program option, each enrolled family is paired with a state-certified supervising teacher who makes 16 contacts across the year, eight of them face to face. We work out of the Emerson Learning Center, and Marion Independent School District families can enroll at any time of year starting with an orientation meeting. Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can take our optional enrichment classes, join family-style field trips, and show their work at events that also let program families meet one another. Our resource library lends general materials to support home teaching. Through dual enrollment, our students can take selected classes and activities in Marion public schools on the same basis as full-time students. The district and Grant Wood AEA also make special education, testing, media resources and vision and hearing screening available to home-educated children. Children must be five by September 15 to enroll, and families outside the district who live within 45 miles may open enroll into Marion.

Active Minds Early Learning Academy is dedicated to nurturing the potential of young children aged 3 to 5, particularly those with unique learning needs. The school's core mission revolves around providing a supportive and enriching environment tailored for students with language-based learning disabilities and other developmental challenges. With a focus on early intervention, Active Minds employs innovative educational programs and therapeutic methodologies that promote cognitive, social, and emotional growth. The academy stands out through its low student-teacher ratio, ensuring personalized attention and fostering strong partnerships with families. Specialized facilities and engaging community events further enhance the learning experience, making Active Minds a distinctive choice for parents seeking an inclusive and compassionate educational setting for their children.