Melamed Academy is a nonprofit online yeshiva day school educating hundreds of students across the globe in multiple program tracks. Founded 10 years ago, Melamed Academy offers a solution for those looking for a high-quality Torah and general studies education without the increasingly high cost of yeshiva day schools. Registered in the State of New Jersey, the program offers courses for grades K-12, college degree programs, career technology training and customized remedial service.
Shira Moncharsh, founder and administrator of Melamed Academy, believes online learning is an ideal choice for many students. It could be a gifted student who requires a more challenging curriculum, someone who has learning issues and is easily distracted in a traditional classroom, or even an average student who simply prefers virtual courses. Whatever the circumstance, online school provides these students with a different approach to academic success.
For some, the benefits of online learning include the flexibility of the program. Melamed offers asynchronous courses with live teacher support, allowing students to work within their own schedule. A 9-to-5 program doesn’t suit all learners, said Moncharsh, and Melamed Academy takes that into account, creating a schedule for each student that fits their lifestyle. Students are expected to keep up a pace, but the format is much less structured than a typical day school program.
Melamed Academy understands that one size doesn’t fit all, so they assess each student and curate a curriculum to match their individual learning level. By offering numerous electives and personalizing the educational experience, every learner succeeds, said Moncharsh, who added that students can also register for single courses, course recovery and enrichment.
For their advanced students, Melamed Academy offers a wide array of activities and resources that encourage higher thought processes and stimulate intellectual curiosity. A choice of world languages, technology electives, and AP prep courses provide enrichment customizable to individual areas of interest. Many students who excel at Melamed Academy continue to prestigious college programs including Ivy Leagues.
For students who require enrichment, Melamed Academy offers customized remedial services at no additional charge. They understand that each student’s learning level can vary between individual subjects, so they provide enhancements when needed. “We genuinely want each student to succeed,” said Moncharsh, who believes it’s the personalization of the program that fosters that outcome.
Kids who are part of the Melamed Academy homeschooling program still have an opportunity to meet friends and have a very fulfilling social life. The program provides an online forum for students to meet one another as well as clubs and other platforms that encourage students to socialize virtually. Moncharsh said many of the students are excited about the opportunity to meet friends from far-away places.
Through partner institutions, Melamed Academy’s unique college program can offer students aged 16 and up the opportunity to go directly to college without a high school diploma. Credit is earned by taking exams in qualifying Torah and general studies subjects and then transferred to accredited colleges where students can complete a BA or a BS in a variety of subjects.
Moncharsh said the highly trained faculty at Melamed Academy will work with each student to determine the right degree program that matches both their interests and their level of learning.
Melamed Academy also offers GED test prep and professional training courses in high demand fields intended to help students graduate with marketable skills in hand. Moncharsh emphasized the objective is for students to leave with a positive self-image and the skills to succeed.
Besides the benefits to virtual school already mentioned, one can’t overlook the cost-effective aspect of the program. The tuition is significantly less than yeshiva day school and deeper discounts are offered to families enrolling multiple children. At Melamed Academy the core mission is to make sure no Jewish child is denied a quality Torah and general studies education because of financial constraints or otherwise. Fundamentally they believe every child can and should be successful in school.
To learn more about Melamed Academy and the programs it offers, please contact [email protected] or call (732) 228-8800.
By Andrea Nissel
