FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Below are answers to commonly asked questions about our Place.

WHAT IS A GOOD AGE TO START CODING?

We think that it's never too early to learn once kids start reading! Before reading skills, there are useful apps like Scratch Jr that can introduce kids to coding concepts. Coding teaches critical thinking and problem-solving, which are valuable no matter your age.

Even if students do not pursue programming as a career in their future, the ability to create something out of nothing is fun and empowering. Similarly, it's never too late to start coding and anyone may wish they started earlier in life, but the important thing is just to start and get exposure!

AFTERSCHOOL CLASSES

Does my child need to bring a laptop?
If your child owns a laptop or has a school provided laptop, we will ask for them to bring it to class each week.
If my child does not have a laptop, do you provide one?
Yes
Do we need to install any programs or set up any student accounts?
No, we take care of all that
Do we offer makeups?
We offer makeup classes at our studio if an excused absence is given at least 24 hours in advance. You will be issued a makeup token which you can use to enroll in a studio class for the makeup. You must email or call to inform us your student will be absent.
What are the class hours?
You can view the class hours for each of our afterschool programs here - https://app.iclasspro.com/portal/mycodingplace/camps/1
What is the dismissal procedure?
Each school has different dismissal processes. We will send out information regarding dismissal specifics to families before the first day of classes.
What if my child is not going to get picked up?
We require a note in advance if a student’s dismissal destination differs from the standard pickup.
Are there late fees?
We charge $20 for any student who is picked up more than 5 minutes late.
How do you handle discipline?
We may reach out for help to deal with any behavior issues if a student is being consistently disruptive in class

CAMPS

What should I bring to camp?
We've got all the computer equipment that we'll need so no need to bring anything electronic! As for what you should pack, here's a list:

A water bottle. We have cups and refills of water if needed.
Snacks if needed.
Please bring lunch or cash to buy lunch at Wendy’s.

Is there a late fee if I pick my child up late?
After a 5 minute grace period, we will charge a late fee of $20.
Will the camp have a showcase?
Yes if the camp is more than 3 days long! On the last day, parents are invited to check out the students’ projects at 2:30 PM.
What should I do if my child feels ill?
Do not bring your child to camp if they are running a fever.
What should I do if my child needs special accommodations?
Please let us know if your student has any allergies or anything we should be aware of and we will do our best to accommodate them.

HOW CAN I CODE AT HOME OR HELP MY CHILD CODE AT HOME?

We are happy to suggest homework. You can find additional projects online or in books.

We have books and resources that are available for students to borrow.

The best way to help your child would be to ask them to show you their projects and to walk through and explain the code to you.

DO YOU OFFER FINANCIAL AID OR SCHOLARSHIPS?

We offer scholarships to our Coding Clubs at select schools and can create a payment plan if needed. Please call 512-593-2729 for more information.

HOW IS MCP DIFFERENT FROM OTHER KIDS CODING SCHOOLS?

We curate the best resources to teach students to code. We believe in accessibility and encourage students to check out the numerous options for kids and adults learning to code, including online programs and software-based programs in your area. We use publicly available programs that students can access at home with the passwords we create at MCP.
We offer tutoring and private/semiprivate lessons to give students more attention. Our classes and camps are led by instructors and have a ratio of 6:1.
We differentiate education from entertainment. You may have heard the term edutainment. We prioritize student engagement and fun, but regularly assess what students are learning and the value that we add. We don't want to waste your time or money.
Our teachers are coders who have had training in developing their skills. They are college students, bootcamp grads, technology teachers or professional coders. We have hired stellar high school students to lead camps and inspire younger children.
We use full-sized monitors for studio classes instead of laptops. We do use laptops in classes or camps when a specific install is required. At schools, equipment will vary.
We have a brick and mortar location and have partnered with local elementary schools or companies to offer our programs to groups of employees and their kids. You can find us at a few local schools too (not listed as Locations), but the majority of our students join classes at our studio. This is starting to change as we go into the community to reach more kids with coding.
We are a family business and our kids attend Austin public schools. There's no place like home. We have lived in Austin for over 20 years and we live near our coding studio.

DO YOU TEACH ADULTS?

Yes we do! Adults are eligible to enroll in private lessons on topics such as Blender or Python. Please contact us with our Contact Form with a specific request! We would be happy to teach tech and empower adults!

HOW MUCH DOES MCP COST?

Pricing is monthly and varies by program and duration. Ages 7-18 can request a free trial by dropping into an existing class in our studio. We do not charge equipment fees, but do have a registration fee.

Small classes that meet once a week with no more than 6 kids in our studio are $149/mo to $229/mo depending on topic. Private lessons are $299/mo. Instruction is 55 minutes long and all classes are led by an instructor.

Frequency is always good for learning new skills. A second hour is 25% less than the first hour, Therefore, attending our programs starts at $260/mo for 2 hours of instruction.

We also sell punch passes of 5 punches that allow for drop-ins for families that prefer a more flexible schedule. The cost per class is lower than a monthly subscription.

Punch passes and specific costs can be found on our Portal or by calling 512-593-2729 for more information.

WHAT IS YOUR MAKEUP AND CANCELLATION POLICY?

Makeup‌ ‌sessions‌ ‌will‌ ‌be‌ ‌issued‌ ‌only‌ ‌when‌ ‌an‌ ‌expected‌ ‌absence‌ ‌has‌ ‌been‌ ‌created‌ ‌in‌ ‌iClassPro‌ ‌within‌ ‌the‌ ‌24‌ ‌hour‌ ‌window‌ ‌previous‌ ‌to‌ ‌the‌ ‌class‌ ‌or‌ ‌lesson.‌ ‌

Tuition is monthly and 30 days advanced notice is required if holding or cancelling as this affects staffing and billing. Since we do not issue refunds, we kindly request you tell us by the 1st of the previous month if you are leaving so we can avoid billing you for the next month.

We do not issue refunds for workshops, missed sessions, or missed events. Credit can be applied to future sessions.

WHAT AGES DO YOU TEACH?

Our programs are designed for ages 7 and above, including adults. We start at age 7 because reading and typing skills are helpful in many of our programs. Before the age of 7, we recommend that you use apps like Scratch Jr to introduce kids to coding at home.

While we began only teaching children, our programs are not limited by age except for reading, dexterity and typing skills being a requirement for lower ages. Adults who want to learn Chess or Digital Arts or Game Development are certainly welcome to participate in lesson format.

HOW DO I KNOW WHERE TO START?

GIve us a call or come in and try our programs! Find a topic and request a free trial! Trials are for ages 7-18 only.