Your family’s guide to everything BMS

• Small class sizes of just 6–10 students per teacher, so your child never feels like a face on a screen.
• A full, accredited academic program with a valid high school diploma recognized by colleges, employers, and the military.
• A curriculum built for students who learn differently, including neurodivergent learners and those with unique learning needs.
• A real school community — Houses, electives, clubs, field trips, and events — all happening online (well, field trips are in person, and we’d be happy for you to join).
• A Parent Support team of experts that genuinely wants to help.
• A variety of electives, clubs, and non-traditional subjects taught by exceptional teachers.

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We can help with:

• Logging into Clever, Toddle, Zoom, or any learning app
• Billing and invoices
• Scheduling parent–teacher meetings
• Connecting you with your child’s teacher or principal
• State documentation, transcripts, and student records
• Technology troubleshooting
• Any question — we’ll help you find the right person.

Contacting your child’s teacher:
For anything directly related to learning — homework, attendance, feedback — Toddle Family direct message is the preferred way to reach them. Not sure who to ask? Start with Parent Support; the team will point you in the right direction.

Our Support Ladder — who to contact, when

Open it big, or keep a copy on your fridge.

Download

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Behind every great classroom is a great team. Here’s a quick look at how BMS is structured — from school leadership to the people who keep everything running.

1. 1Submit Your Registration FormIn progress
   Takes 5–10 minutes. Helps us meet state requirements and helps your child’s future teacher understand their needs, interests, and background.

   Got it — unlock next step
2. 2Schedule Your Teacher Meet & GreetUnlocks once you finish the step above
3. 3Submit Your First Tuition PaymentUnlocks once you finish the step above
4. 4Schedule Your Parent Onboarding Meeting (POM)Unlocks once you finish the step above

Your onboarding checklist

Tick items off as you go — progress saves automatically to this device.

Our Programs & Tuitions

We enroll year-round, and the rates below apply regardless of when your child starts.

What’s included in every program:
Your choice of certified teacher, live daily instruction, our full adaptive learning app suite, bi-annual progress reports and MAP Growth testing, a parent dashboard for assignments and progress, and a support team of certified teachers, academic advisors, and counselors.

How Tuition Is Calculated

Your tuition is set for the full school year — not month by month. We start with the total cost of the academic year, then divide it into equal monthly payments, charged on the 1st of each month from September through June. Every payment is the same amount, from the first month to the last. That’s the whole idea: one number you can plan around.

Why Every Month Costs the Same

Some months have more instructional days than others. November has holidays. December and April have breaks. June wraps up partway through. But your payment doesn’t move because each payment is a portion of the full year’s tuition, not a bill for that particular month’s classes.

If we billed strictly by instructional days, your payments would swing up and down all year: a heavy September, a light November, an unpredictable June. Families would be budgeting around a moving target. Spreading the annual total evenly is simply the calmer way to do it.

Special Education group classes tuition works exactly the same way: $650 a month, 10 times, for a full year of the program.

The June Payment & Your Seat for Next Year

June is not an extra charge — and it does more than close out the year. The June 1 payment is the final installment of your full-year tuition. It also covers the last two weeks of August, when classes resume for the new school year — and it secures your child’s seat for that year. That’s why there is no payment in July or August. After June 1, your next regular monthly payment isn’t due until September 1.

• What it closes: the current school year, through the final day of classes in June.
• What it opens: the last two weeks of August, when the new school year begins.
• What it holds: your child’s seat for the new school year.
• What it isn’t: a bill for the last few days of school. It’s one-tenth of your annual tuition, exactly like every other payment.

When Payments Are Taken

• Your first payment is processed after your Teacher Meet & Greet, once enrollment is confirmed.
• After that, tuition is charged automatically on the 1st of each month, using the payment card on file.
• If your child starts partway through a month, your second payment is pro-rated accordingly.
• 1:1 programs are billed bi-weekly rather than monthly. Your rate and schedule are confirmed during admissions.
• There is no trial period — enrollment begins with your three-month commitment.

Updating Your Payment Method

Call, text, or email Parent Support and we’ll send you a secure link to update your card. Please give us a few days’ notice before the 1st of the month so the change lands before the next charge.

Commitment & Withdrawal

Other Fees You May Come Across

We serve K–12 students across all 50 states, with families also joining from Canada, Europe, and South America. Because we’re online, we build connection on purpose rather than leaving it to chance — and we handle the state-by-state paperwork so you don’t have to.

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Florida vs. Out-of-State Families

In Florida: We handle everything directly — attendance, records, and all Florida private school requirements on your behalf. No additional steps needed from you.

Other states: Most are just as straightforward — no extra paperwork required. In a small number of states, families may need to notify their State Department of Education or local district that they are homeschooling. We’ll give you clear instructions and are happy to help.

School Choice Funds

Many states now offer school choice funding — tax credits or direct financial support. Depending on the program, funds may be paid directly to BMS or reimbursed to you after you submit an invoice. Either way, we’re here to take care of what’s needed. Full, state-by-state detail lives on our ESA Funding page.

More states are coming — see the ESA Funding page or ask Parent Support for the latest.

Documents We Can Provide

• Notice of Intent to homeschool (where required)
• Individualized Home Instruction Plan
• Quarterly progress reports
• Annual academic evaluations
• Portfolios of student work
• Attendance records
• Transcripts

Not sure what your state requires? A great resource is the Home School Legal Defense Association at hslda.org, or just reach out to Parent Support.

Setting Up Your Workspace

Device & Tech Requirements

A laptop or desktop with a keyboard is required. Phones and tablets aren’t always compatible with our learning apps, and Chromebooks don’t support everything we use.

Check your speed at speedtest.net. If it’s slow, try restarting your router or switching Wi-Fi bands before class.

Useful Materials — Interactive Checklist

Everything is online, but a few things make the experience much more comfortable.

For Parents — First Month Checklist

For Students — Ways to Settle In

• Set up your workspace and routine: same spot, same time each day. Get dressed (yes, even for online school!) and have breakfast before class.
• Get comfortable on camera — it helps your teacher support you and builds our community. New students have a two-week grace period to adjust.
• Explore your learning apps outside of class — familiarity helps you focus on actually learning.
• Look into clubs and electives — Spanish, Health & PE, Digital Art, Coding, and more.
• Above all, enjoy it and reach out if anything isn’t working.

Google Chrome & Extensions

We recommend Google Chrome — some of our learning apps work best with it. Download it at chrome.google.com. Then add these essential extensions:

• Clever Chrome Extension — instant one-click login to all school apps.
• Grammarly — grammar, spelling, and punctuation as your child writes.
• Read&Write — text-to-speech, word prediction, and reading support.
• BlockSite — helps students stay focused by blocking distracting websites.

Your BMS Gmail

Your child will receive a school email ending in @bms.family. It’s the key that unlocks everything — Clever, Toddle, Zoom, and all learning apps. The very first step on day one: log in and make sure it works.

Your Clever Portal

Clever is your child’s launchpad. Bookmark clever.com/in/brilliant-microschool and click “Log in with Google” using the BMS Gmail.

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Zoom Education

All live classes happen on Zoom Education — BMS’s secure, school-safe version of Zoom. Students join directly from Clever.

Why Brillow works the way it does

Our students arrive with very different needs, strengths, and starting points — and many learn best with clear structure and routine. Brillow was built for exactly that. Rather than leaving each teacher to juggle lesson design, differentiation, assessment, and reporting across separate tools, it brings them into one consistent system, so more energy goes to your child and less to admin.

In practice, that means:

• Learning is mastery-based — your child moves forward as they show real understanding, and the system makes that progress visible as it happens.
• Support arrives earlier — because gaps show up clearly, your teacher can step in before a wobble becomes a struggle.
• The structure stays steady — the same familiar rhythm every day, which is especially helpful for neurodiverse learners.

You can read more about the thinking behind Brillow at brilliantmicroschools.org/brillow.

Main Features

Brillow

Classes — select a class to view your learning path.

Core Subjects

All students — General Education (GE) and Exceptional Student Education (ESE) — receive classes in the four core subjects: ELA, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies & History. GE classes run 3 hours with 8–10 students. ESE classes run 2 hours with 4–6 students, with extra focus on core standards and life skills.

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Our Six Principles

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BMS Learning Framework

Everything we teach rests on one simple idea: when learning is joyful, well-structured, and built around real understanding, every child can thrive. Our Learning Framework brings that to life in six connected layers — the top four shape how we teach; the bottom two build the life skills that help your child flourish far beyond any single lesson.

• Fun — we put engagement in the driver’s seat, trimming each unit down to a few irresistible essentials so learning feels exciting, not overwhelming.
• Pathways — we design differentiated learning journeys, so every child has a route that fits how they learn best.
• Routines — we teach through the 5E framework and reusable EduProtocols, so students always know what to expect.
• Mastery — we measure progress by real understanding, with mastery-based assessment and the freedom to try again.
• Learner Resourcefulness — we build practical skills and comfort with technology, so students grow more independent and capable.
• Social Emotional Learning — we strengthen self-management through warmth and positive reinforcement, helping your child feel confident, calm, and cared for.

Starting with the End in Mind

Great lessons don’t happen by accident. We plan every unit backwards — beginning with the end goals, which we call Power Standards (the key skills and knowledge we want your child to walk away with). Next we decide how we’ll know they’ve got there — we call these Mastery Checks — and only then do we design the lessons that lead the way. Working backwards means nothing is busywork.

Lessons That Flow: EduProtocols

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To build our lessons we use reusable lesson frames called EduProtocols — familiar formats where the routine stays the same but the content changes. Because your child already knows how the activity works, they spend less energy figuring out “what do I do next?” and more energy actually learning and being creative.

Showing What They Know: Performance Tasks

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Each unit ends with one or two performance tasks — real-world challenges that ask your child to use what they’ve learned, not just repeat it. We design them with a framework called GRASPS, which keeps each task goal-oriented, rooted in real situations, and open to personal choice in how your child shows their thinking. Tasks come with different formats and optional extensions, so every learner has a way in.

Making Math Come Alive: 3-Act Tasks

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• Act 1 — Spark curiosity: we open with a fun, real-world scene (think carnival rides or the Olympics) and invite students to estimate and predict — low pressure, high engagement.
• Act 2 — Make sense of it: we share a little more information and let students explore their own ways to solve the problem, building reasoning, creativity, and confidence.
• Act 3 — Reveal and reflect: we reveal the answer, and students compare, share their strategies, learn from one another, and get real-time feedback.

Universal Design for Learning

Every lesson is designed from the start to be accessible for all students. Teachers offer multiple ways to take in information (video, audio, text, interactive), engage with material, and show what they know (essays, presentations, projects, creative work, verbal responses). We review any IEPs carefully; our universal accommodations are built to support the great majority of learners without requiring individual plans.

Teachers Who Are Vigorous, Not Just Rigorous

Behind every lesson is a teacher who never stops growing. We describe our teachers as vigorous rather than rigorous — endlessly curious, hungry for fresh ideas, and quick to act on feedback. They adapt, they refine, and they meet challenges with warmth and determination.

How the week works

1:1 is self-paced learning anchored by two live check-ins a week, each 50 minutes, with a certified teacher who is on camera for every session:

• Session 1 — English Language Arts & Social Studies
• Session 2 — Math & Science

Between sessions, your child works independently through the digital curriculum, video lessons, and adaptive learning apps. Expect roughly 1–2 hours a day for students in Grades K–5, and 2–4 hours a day for Grades 6–12.

Unlike our group programs, MS 1:1 runs year-round. Sessions continue through holiday periods unless you ask to reschedule them.

Who is it for?

MS 1:1 suits students who need personalised support or simply aren’t thriving in a group setting. Families usually come to it for one of these reasons:

• A student receiving Tier 3 support through MTSS, where the most individual attention is the right call.
• A student who is finding a group class hard going — pace, focus, or confidence.
• A student managing health or behavioural circumstances that make a fixed group timetable difficult.
• A self-starter who would rather move at their own speed than wait for the group.
• A family whose schedule or time zone doesn’t line up with our group class times.

General Education 1:1 vs Special Education 1:1

The service, structure, and cost are identical across both. Two things differ:

Everything else — private sessions with a certified teacher of your choosing, the digital curriculum and adaptive software, daily independent study, the parent dashboard, progress reporting, and rolling year-round enrolment — is the same in both.

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At BMS a grade isn’t about how many assignments got done — it’s about how well your child understands and can use what they’ve learned. We call this mastery-based grading. Students show their understanding through performance tasks and clear rubrics on a simple 0–4 scale (a 4 is Advanced Mastery, a 3 is Meets Grade-Level Mastery).

We describe progress in four levels. Here’s how those four levels translate to a letter grade on the report card:

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Our high school program follows the same small-class, teacher-led model as the rest of BMS, with a few important additions:

• Two specialist teachers per classroom (English/Social Studies + Math/Science).
• Maximum of 10 students per room at any time.
• An accredited high school diploma recognized in all 50 states and internationally.
• Electives including Digital Art, Spanish, Health & PE, and Coding.
• Students work toward 9 standards-aligned graduation badges.

Just as we give extra support to students who need it, we make room for students who are ready for more. Because our program is mastery-based, a student who has truly mastered the material doesn’t have to wait for the group.

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• Moving at your own pace — with teacher guidance, ready students can move faster and go deeper instead of repeating what they already know.
• High school credit in middle school — in subjects like Mathematics, Foreign Language, and Electives; their high school teacher reviews the standards mastered along with performance tasks and portfolio.
• The Honors pathway — students aiming higher can work toward our 26-credit Honors diploma.
• Dual & concurrent enrollment — dual-enrollment opportunities with select post-secondary partners, and we’re glad to explore aligning with a college your family has in mind where their policy allows.
• Credit for learning already done — strong prior coursework, or a project or artifact that shows mastery of one of our standards, can be reviewed by the teacher.

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Credits are earned through mastery, not attendance. Students earn standards-aligned badges by showing what they know through performance tasks (three standards per badge, three badges per subject), and a standard counts as mastered at a score of 3 or higher on our 0–4 scale.

• 24-credit Standard diploma
• 26-credit Honors diploma
• 12-credit Certificate of Completion — an alternative designed for Exceptional Education students

Our Principal can walk you through the options. The full Graduation Requirements, including the credit-by-subject breakdown and community-service hours, are available on request.

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Our high schoolers don’t navigate the future alone. BMS provides college and career guidance, one-on-one counseling, transcripts (conditions apply), and a clear graduation pathway built around our graduation badges.

• College & Career Fridays — short weekly activities like interest surveys, job exploration, resume-building, goal-setting, financial literacy, and college research.
• Student check-ins — regular one-on-one time with staff to review progress and decide the next step.
• Family engagement — virtual workshops on academic planning, financial aid, college admissions, and postsecondary decisions.
• Monthly initiatives — each month has a theme, with workshops, guest speakers, and planning activities to match.

Seniors and their families also get targeted workshops on college applications, FAFSA, scholarships, resumes, interview prep, and transition planning.

ASU Dual Enrollment

Through our partnership with Arizona State University, eligible students can take online, college-level courses while still in high school — exploring possible majors, earning high school elective credit, and building real college confidence. Courses are self-paced and can be started any time of year.

It’s a no-risk model: students only decide after finishing a course whether they’d like to pay for official ASU college credit. There’s a $25 enrollment fee to begin, and a $400 credit-conversion fee only if the student completes the course and chooses to receive official ASU credit.

Our Career Experts

• Alondra Acosta — College & Career Partnerships Coordinator. Dual enrollment, college visits, guest speakers, career events, and family workshops.
• Collene Underwood — College & Career Readiness Counselor. One-on-one and small-group counseling, college applications and admissions support, graduation and postsecondary planning, and career pathways.

Sometimes students fall behind on a credit and don’t want to wait until summer to catch up. Because credit at BMS is earned by demonstrating mastery — not seat time — there are real ways to recover a credit during the school year:

• Revise and reassess — a student who hasn’t yet shown mastery can revise their work or take on extra learning, then resubmit.
• Reach the mastery benchmark — credit is awarded at 3 out of 4 or above across the required performance tasks.
• Alternative mastery pathways — in certain situations we can offer other tailored ways to demonstrate mastery.
• Count outside learning — relevant coursework from an accredited school, or a project showing mastery of one of our standards, with teacher review.

If your high schooler is behind on a credit, reach out to their teacher or House Leader. For a fuller catch-up over the break, see Summer School.

Many students arrive after school has felt stressful, lonely, or overwhelming — so we create several layers of belonging and let every child find their own way in, at their own pace:

There’s no single path and no pressure. The goal is steady confidence, not forced participation.

Field Trips & Meetups

Learning goes far beyond the screen. BMS organizes regional in-person field trips across the country — and before each one, we host a pre-field trip icebreaker Zoom so students and families can meet online first. Past trips have included the California Science Center, the Virginia Aquarium, SeaWorld Orlando, and the American Museum of Natural History in New York City.

Parent-hosted meetups run all year too — casual park hangs, playground sessions, and local restaurant gatherings in cities like Chicago, Baltimore, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Boston, Jacksonville, and Sacramento. Every Thursday, families can also join Zoom regional meetups — BMS runs 35–55 of these each year at statewide, city, and town level.

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School Events

• All-School Pep Rally
• Annual Talent Show — Stage Masters
• Fall & Spring Project Showcases
• All-School Art Show
• Career Week
• Global Day
• Science Fair
• Graduation Ceremony

Student Governance

BMS Student Government gives students the opportunity to develop leadership skills while making a meaningful impact on the school community. Designed to amplify student voice, Student Government is made up of three leadership levels.

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• The Student Council includes elected class representatives from grades 3–12 and serves as the voice of the student body by gathering feedback, proposing ideas, and representing their classmates. Representatives help shape school culture through discussions, events, and initiatives.
• The Executive Cabinet, consisting of student leaders such as the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, provides leadership for the organization by facilitating meetings, coordinating communication, and guiding the work of the Council.
• Throughout the year, students may also participate in special committees focused on areas such as school spirit, community events, academics, and other projects. These committees provide additional opportunities for students to get involved, even if they are not elected representatives.

Together, these groups create a student-led organization that encourages leadership, collaboration, civic responsibility, and a strong sense of community at BMS.

At Brilliant Microschools, we believe that meaningful relationships and a strong sense of belonging are essential to a great school experience. As our school community has grown, our House System has helped us preserve the small, personal environment that makes BMS special.

Every student and teacher belongs to a House—a smaller community within our larger school. Each House is led by an Assistant Principal (AP) who serves as the House Leader and works closely with teachers, students, and families throughout the school year.

Our Houses are named after places of myth, fantasy, and imagination. Each House develops its own unique and inclusive culture while remaining connected to the broader BMS community.

✨ What Does Being Part of a House Mean?

Throughout the year, students have opportunities to build connections and contribute to their House community. This may include:

• Participating in House-wide gatherings and activities
• Sharing their learning and celebrating accomplishments with other students
• Contributing to House traditions, symbols, and culture
• Connecting with students and teachers beyond their immediate classroom
• Building a stronger sense of community and belonging

Behind the scenes, the House structure also gives our teachers a smaller professional community in which they can collaborate, share ideas, discuss student needs, and support one another. This allows us to maintain the personalized approach of a microschool even as BMS continues to grow.

You’ll find out which House your child belongs to during onboarding. House-wide assemblies, symbol-building activities, and shared events run throughout the year, giving your child a familiar community inside the wider school.

Our nine Houses are Atlantis, Hogwarts, Emerald City, Bright Tree Village, Gotham, Dagobah, Camelot, Forbidden Forest, and Ithaca — organised across Upper and Lower School. Each has its own crest, symbols, assemblies, and rhythm, so even as the school grows, your child always has a close-knit group that feels personal.

• Atlantis
• Hogwarts
• Emerald City
• Bright Tree Village
• Gotham
• Dagobah
• Camelot
• Forbidden Forest
• Ithaca

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Electives and clubs are very important in our community. They give students a place to explore interests, develop passions, and build confidence in a space that feels lighter than a regular class — and that often becomes the starting point for lasting friendships.

Core Electives — starting September, once weekly, 50 minutes, no extra cost for GE students:

• Spanish
• Health & PE
• Digital Art
• Coding

Clubs — open to all:

• Anime Night
• Art Night
• Pet Night
• Trivia Night
• Creative Writing
• Music Meetup
• Arts & Crafts
• The Chill Zone

Clubs are deliberately low-stakes — no grades, no pressure — and for many students they’re where a first friendship forms and confidence starts to carry over into the rest of school. New clubs open each year, so if your child is hoping for something that isn’t listed, just ask Parent Support.

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Home-Based Electives

Beyond our online electives and clubs, high school students can also earn elective credit for approved learning experiences that happen outside of school. Home-based electives recognize the meaningful activities your child is already passionate about — the sports, music, dance, art, and skill-building they pursue in their own community — and let that growth count toward their diploma.

What counts? Examples of eligible home-based electives may include:

To receive credit, all home-based electives must be approved by the school in advance and completed according to established requirements, including any required documentation or evidence of participation. Not sure if an activity qualifies? Just ask Parent Support — we’ll help you check.

Code of Conduct

• Punctuality: arrive on time and treat teachers and classmates with respect.
• Classroom etiquette: no loud noises, unrelated multitasking, or eating during live class. Teachers schedule regular breaks (roughly every 50 minutes).
• Appropriate attire: dress freely, but appropriately for a school environment.
• Active participation: complete assignments, contribute, and engage respectfully.
• Respect opinions: listen actively, avoid interrupting, and engage constructively.
• Privacy: personal information (email, phone, address) must not be shared in class.

Every parent and student signs the BMS Honor Code before the school year begins.

Camera Policy

Cameras stay on during live classes — it helps teachers support each student and builds the sense of community that makes BMS special. New students get a two-week grace period to adjust.

Parent–Teacher Meeting Requests

For general questions, Toddle direct message is the preferred channel. A dedicated private meeting outside of class hours carries a $25 fee to compensate the teacher. Submit requests through  Parent Support.

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Our MTSS is the safety net that makes sure no child slips through the cracks: when a student needs a little more, we notice early, we tell you, and we put the right support in place — together. Most students stay in Tier 1 all year; the higher tiers simply add more individual attention when it’s needed, and step back down as soon as your child is thriving again.

If we message you in Toddle about a Tier 2 plan and don’t hear back within about 48 hours, Parent Support will call — we never want you out of the loop.

Attendance & Excused Absences

Our classes are live and interactive, so showing up really does matter. At the same time, our mastery-based model measures progress by understanding rather than seat time, so an occasional absence won’t put your child behind as long as they stay engaged. We run a full school calendar of instructional days a year — meeting state requirements through a mix of live (synchronous) and independent (asynchronous) learning.

To report an absence, message the class teacher via Toddle as early as you can — or call/text Parent Support if you can’t reach the teacher. National public holidays are observed, and we’re always glad to accommodate religious and cultural days; just give the teacher a heads-up in advance.

Cancellation & Rescheduling

One individual session per academic year may be rescheduled without charge with at least 24 hours’ written notice. Group sessions cannot be rescheduled. If a recording is available for a missed session, we’ll share it with a report and any homework — at no charge.

Off-Campus Social Media & Third-Party Apps

BMS doesn’t provide, manage, or monitor access to personal social media accounts or third-party apps (Discord, WhatsApp, Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, etc.) outside school hours or platforms.