MAA Private School & Homeschool Partner Package

For Families

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything a parent or homeschool family needs to know before enrolling — from how SUFS funding works to what a typical Saturday looks like at X39.

Getting Started

What is Mission Aviation Academy?

Mission Aviation Academy (MAA) is the academic division of Infinity Aero Club Tampa Bay, Inc. — a Florida 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating at Tampa North Aero Park (X39) in Lutz, FL. We deliver FAA-credentialed aviation, drone, STEM, entrepreneurship, and AI programs for students ages 9 through adult. Every student enters through an individualized orientation, skills assessment, and personal training roadmap — we do not run generic classes. We are a registered SUFS provider, SAM.gov active, and EIN 85-1110607.

My child attends a private school or homeschool co-op. Can they enroll?

Yes — and enrollment is the same regardless of school type. Private school students, homeschoolers, and co-op students all follow the same entry process: register and complete onboarding, take an initial assessment, receive a personal training roadmap, and begin their first session. If your school has a partnership MOU with MAA, your cohort may have dedicated session blocks and scholarship-funded seats available. Contact us to check whether your school is a current partner.

What is the first step to enroll?

The first step is the Registration & Onboarding ($200, one-time). This covers your student's individual orientation, account setup, skills assessment, and a personalized training blueprint built around their goals — approximately two hours of direct staff time. It is required before any course begins and is SUFS-fundable. After onboarding, your student selects their first course or subscription tier and books their first session.

What ages do you serve?

We serve students ages 9 through adult. Age-based track recommendations:

Ages 9–12: Tier 1–2 enrichment, morning Saturday sessions — drone discovery, simulator intro, STEM foundations
Ages 13–15: Tier 2–3, afternoon Saturday sessions — drone certification pathway begins, AI Innovation
Ages 16–17: Tier 3–4, certification focus — FAA Part 107 eligibility, Part 107 Phase 1 ($800)
Ages 18+: Tier 4 and career track — full Part 107, flight simulator program, apprenticeship pathway

SUFS Funding

Can we use our Step Up For Students scholarship funds at MAA?

Yes. MAA is a registered SUFS provider and 38+ of our courses and programs are live and bookable through the SUFS EMA marketplace. If your family holds an active FES-UA, FTC, or AAA scholarship balance, you can apply those funds directly toward MAA enrollment — including the one-time onboarding fee, monthly enrichment tiers, AI Innovation courses, drone certification, and the flight simulator program. Contact us or log into your SUFS account and search "Mission Aviation Academy" to apply funds directly.

What does SUFS funding actually cover?

SUFS funds can cover: Registration & Onboarding ($200), Monthly Enrichment Tier subscriptions ($99–$249/mo), Academic Tutoring sessions ($90–$100/hr), AI Innovation courses ($450–$825), Drone & Aerospace STEM courses ($450 each), FAA Part 107 Phase 1 Foundations ($800), and the Flight Simulator Program ($3,395). Ground school, solo flight training, workforce programs, and camps are available but not yet SUFS-listed — contact us for those options directly.

Our SUFS balance is limited. What's the most strategic way to use it?

Start with Registration & Onboarding ($200) — required and SUFS-fundable. Then, depending on your student's age and goals: for ages 9–15, a Tier 2 or Tier 3 monthly subscription ($149–$199/mo) gives the broadest course access. For ages 16+, the Part 107 Phase 1 course ($800) is the highest-credential, highest-career-value use of a larger balance. For families with limited balances, à la carte sessions at $99/individual or $49/person in a group are available without a subscription commitment.

Schedule & Delivery

When can my child attend?

Saturday in-person at X39 (Lutz, FL): 8:30 AM–5:00 PM. Group and individual sessions in drone, simulator, and STEM tracks. This is our flagship delivery — students work hands-on with real aircraft, FAA-approved simulators, and certified instructors.

Virtual sessions (Monday–Friday): Individual or small group appointments by booking, SUFS-approved courses only. Available 12:30–2:30 PM and 3:00–5:00 PM Monday, Wednesday, Thursday. Friday: 8:30–10:30 AM overflow window by request. All virtual sessions are 2 hours.

How does a typical Saturday work?

Morning (Ages 9–15 primary):

8:30 AM — Group session or individual arrival
10:00 AM — Check-in, badge scan, mentor connect
10:15 AM — Course Session 1: Drone Discovery, Simulator, or Career Assessment
12:00 PM — Lunch break
12:30 PM — Course Session 2: Drone Training, Ground School, or AI Apps

Afternoon (Ages 13–18+ primary):

2:00 PM — Afternoon check-in
2:15 PM — Course Sessions 3–4 continue through 5:00 PM

New students always begin with orientation and assessment before joining a session track.

Credentials & Outcomes

What credentials can my child earn?

Credentials available through MAA programs:

FAA TRUST Certificate — Recreational drone operator (ages 12+, Part I Drone course)
FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate — Commercial drone pilot (ages 16+, Part 107 Phase 1–3)
Drone Business Certificates — 8 specializations including mapping, inspection, agriculture (ages 16+)
Flight Simulator Completion Certificate — 26 sessions on FAA-approved simulator with CFI (ages 12+)
AI Innovation Certificates — Parts 1 and 2, app-building with AI tools (all ages)
MAA Internship Certificate — For students completing the MAA Internship Program or equivalent tracks

Every student receives a portfolio, logbook entries, and letters of recommendation documenting their training pathway.

Are your instructors background-checked?

Yes. Background checks are a condition of any student-contact role at MAA — for lead instructors, drone instructors, simulator instructors, and any staff or volunteer with unsupervised student access. Documentation is available to school partners upon request as part of the MOU process.

For School Administrators & Principals

Partnership Process & Requirements

What school administrators need to know before signing a partnership MOU — compliance, curriculum, cohort structure, and the School Partner Scholarship Fund.

What does a school partnership with MAA actually look like?

A school partnership begins with a Tier 1 Exploratory Partnership MOU — a non-binding framework agreement that establishes intent and the addendum structure. No financial commitments are made at this stage. From there, a Tier 2 School Cohort Addendum names the specific student cohort, credentials, schedule, location, cost, funding source, and outcome reporting requirements. The MOU and addendum together define the working relationship; each addendum covers a specific program area (drone, internships, STEM lab, field trips, fundraising, books, gala).

What does MAA require before the MOU can advance?

Three items are required before a school MOU can progress beyond the exploratory stage:

Background checks — completed for all MAA instructors with student contact (online or in-person). Documentation provided to the school upon request.
Cohort Addendum terms agreed — specific program, credential, schedule, location, and funding source named in writing.
No-duplication-of-payment budget — a written per-student budget identifying every funding source (SUFS, WIA, grant, sponsor, school, family) so no expense is billed twice.

What curriculum does MAA actually deliver — and does MAA create it?

MAA creates and delivers its own aviation, drone, STEM, entrepreneurship, and AI curriculum — we are not a broker. Lead instruction is provided by Ricardo E. Foster (LCDR, USN Ret., FAA Remote Pilot, LSRM certificate holder) as primary instructor. Drone practicals are delivered by FAA-credentialed drone instructors. Flight simulator sessions are conducted with a CFI (Phillip Mednick, FAA Cert. No. 3205411, Exp. April 2028). Curriculum scope and sequence, instructor qualifications, and student-to-instructor ratios are available in the MAA Master Course Catalog (v2.6) — provided to school partners upon request.

What does FERPA compliance look like for school partner students?

MAA operates as a third-party service provider under FERPA. Student records generated by MAA (session logs, credential documentation, internship hours, assessment results) are shared with the partnering school as part of the cohort's outcome reporting requirements — named in the School Cohort Addendum. No student information is shared with third parties outside the MOU. Schools retain primary FERPA responsibility for their students; MAA complies with school-specific data handling requirements as documented in the addendum.

How does the School Partner Scholarship Fund work?

The MAA School Partner Scholarship Fund is a dedicated fundraising vehicle that covers the cost of program enrollment for school partner students — so the school pays nothing and families pay nothing out-of-pocket beyond what their SUFS balance covers. Each school partner receives a named cohort fund (e.g., "[Your School Name] Student Access Fund"). Donors contribute to that specific fund; contributions are tracked and reported to the school. The fund is activated through the MOU and managed by MAA's development team. Each school's fund has a designated Campaign Chair responsible for donor cultivation, the I Fly student storytelling campaign, bulk book outreach, and the annual gala at X39.

Our families cannot redirect SUFS balances to MAA. Does that block the partnership?

No. The School Partner Scholarship Fund was specifically designed for this situation. When SUFS cross-funding is not available at the school level, the scholarship fund covers the enrollment cost directly — students receive the same program at no out-of-pocket cost to the family. The fund is seeded through employer sponsors, individual donors, bulk book purchases, and the annual joint fundraising gala. Contact us to discuss the fund structure and the initial fundraising target for your school cohort.

What outcome data does MAA provide to school partners?

MAA provides the following outcome data to school partners as part of the Cohort Addendum reporting requirements: session attendance records, credentials earned per student, internship hours logged, employer interviews completed, simulator hours, assessment scores, and letters of recommendation issued. Reporting cadence (monthly, quarterly, or semester) is negotiated in the addendum. All data is provided in a format compatible with the school's existing reporting systems.

Partnership Structure

Four Ways to Partner with MAA

Partnership with MAA is tiered — schools and families enter at the level that fits their current relationship and deepen from there. Each tier activates additional program elements and funding pathways.

Tier	Who It's For	What It Covers	Funding Pathway	Next Step
Tier 1 Entry Exploratory Partnership MOU	Private schools, Montessori schools, faith-based schools, charter schools exploring the partnership	Framework agreement only — no financial commitments. Establishes intent, addendum structure, and program areas of interest. Head of School signs.	None required at this stage. SUFS and scholarship fund options presented.	Schedule an exploratory call. Ricardo presents the program overview and MOU framework. School reviews and returns annotated draft.
Tier 2 School Cohort Addendum	Schools that have signed Tier 1 and are ready to enroll a student cohort	Names the specific cohort (grades, size, ages), credentials, schedule (Saturday in-person or virtual), location, exact cost per student, and funding source. Outcome reporting cadence defined. Background check documentation provided.	School Partner Scholarship Fund (MAA-managed, donor-funded). SUFS where applicable. WIA youth contracts where eligible. Employer cohort seat sponsors.	Cohort Addendum signed. Background checks confirmed. School Partner Scholarship Fund activated. First cohort session scheduled.
Tier 3 Homeschool Co-op Agreement	Parent-governed homeschool co-ops and hybrid school networks	Lighter structure than Tier 2 — designed for organizations without formal administration. Names the student group, program, schedule (Saturday cohort or virtual appointment track), and SUFS enrollment process. Parent liaison designated.	Individual SUFS balances applied per family. Co-op scholarship fund available upon request. À la carte and group session pricing available.	Co-op agreement signed. Parent liaison confirmed. SUFS enrollment guide distributed to families. First Saturday cohort or virtual orientation scheduled.
Tier 4 Direct SUFS Parent Direct Enrollment	Individual SUFS-holding families — private school, homeschool, or unaffiliated — enrolling directly without a school MOU	Direct family enrollment through the SUFS EMA marketplace. Covers all 38+ SUFS-approved MAA courses. No school involvement required. Same entry process: onboarding, assessment, roadmap, first session.	FES-UA, FTC, or AAA scholarship balance applied directly. À la carte, group, or subscription tier. No school-level financial commitment.	Family visits the SUFS EMA marketplace, searches "Mission Aviation Academy," selects Registration & Onboarding ($200), and books first Saturday or virtual session.

Enrollment Pricing

Homeschool STEM Program — Rates & Enrollment

All pricing is SUFS-fundable where noted. School partner cohort seats are priced separately through the MOU — contact us for cohort rates. All programs run on 12-week quarters aligned to the SUFS reimbursement schedule.

Required First Step

Registration & Onboarding

$200

One-time · All ages · SUFS-fundable

Student & parent orientation
Account setup on all platforms
Initial skills assessment
Personalized training blueprint
Gleim study materials
Personal pilot logbook

Monthly Subscription

Tier 1 — Foundations

$99

Per month · Ages 9+ · SUFS-fundable

2 sessions / 4 hrs per month
Choose 2 of 8 starter courses
Virtual or Saturday in-person
1–4 month commitment

Monthly Subscription

Tier 2 — Builder

$149

Per month · All ages · SUFS-fundable

4 sessions / 8 hrs per month
Choose 4 of 20 courses
Virtual or Saturday in-person
1–5 month commitment
Most popular for homeschoolers

Monthly Subscription

Tier 3 — Intermediate

$199

Per month · All ages · SUFS-fundable

6 sessions / 12 hrs per month
Choose 6 of 30 courses
Includes AI Apps & entrepreneurship content
1–6 month commitment

Monthly Subscription

Tier 4 — Advanced

$249

Per month · All ages · SUFS-fundable

8 sessions / 16 hrs per month
Choose 8 of 40 courses
Customizable per-student options
Career track priority scheduling

No Subscription Required

À La Carte

$99

Per 2-hr session · All ages · SUFS-fundable

Individual: $99/session
Group: $49/person (2-person min)
Any tier-level course
Virtual or Saturday in-person
Book by appointment

School partner cohort pricing: $650/student/quarter for cohorts of 10 or more enrolled through a signed MOU. 12-week quarter aligned to SUFS reimbursement schedule. Contact us for cohort enrollment.

Program Schedule

When & How Sessions Run

MAA runs Saturday in-person sessions at X39 and virtual appointments Monday through Friday. Every student's schedule is built from their individual roadmap — not a one-size-fits-all calendar.

Monday

12:30–2:30 PM

Virtual session block — SUFS-approved courses, by appointment

3:00–5:00 PM

Virtual session block — individual or group

Wednesday

12:30–2:30 PM

Virtual session block — SUFS-approved courses, by appointment

3:00–5:00 PM

Virtual session block — individual or group

Thursday

12:30–2:30 PM

Virtual session block — SUFS-approved courses, by appointment

3:00–5:00 PM

Virtual session block — individual or group

Friday

8:30–10:30 AM

Virtual overflow window — by request, limited availability

Saturday — In-Person at X39

8:30–10:30 AM

Morning group or individual sessions — drone, STEM, simulator

10:00 AM

Check-in, badge scan, mentor connect

10:15 AM–12:00 PM

Course Session 1 — Drone Discovery, Simulator, Career Assessment

12:30–2:00 PM

Course Session 2 — Drone Training, Ground School, AI Apps

2:00–5:00 PM

Afternoon sessions — ages 13–18+ priority, certification tracks

Sunday

Closed

No sessions — staff planning and curriculum development

Virtual sessions run on Zoom by appointment. Book through Flight Circle or contact MAA directly. School partner cohorts may have dedicated session blocks — see your school's MOU for details. All virtual SUFS-approved courses are available in the virtual window. Saturday in-person sessions are the only format for drone flight, simulator access, and hands-on aerospace training.

School Partner Scholarship Fund

How We Fund School Partner Enrollment

When SUFS cross-funding is not available at the school level, the MAA School Partner Scholarship Fund covers enrollment costs directly — so schools pay nothing and families pay nothing out-of-pocket. Each school partner receives a named, trackable fund.

Organizational Template

MAA School Partner Scholarship Fund

A dedicated fundraising vehicle established for each school partner that signs a Tier 2 MOU with MAA. Donors contribute to the school's named fund; contributions cover the cost of enrollment, credential fees, and session costs for that school's student cohort. Every dollar is tracked and reported back to the school as a named impact unit — "your gift funded X students through the drone certification pathway this semester."

What It Covers

Registration & Onboarding · Monthly tier subscriptions · Credential exam fees · Field trip costs · Materials

Funding Sources

Individual donors · Employer cohort seat sponsors ($2,500/seat) · Bulk book purchases · Annual gala at X39

Campaign Chair

Designated per school — leads donor cultivation, I Fly storytelling campaign, and gala table sales

Reporting

Quarterly impact reports to school and donors · Named student outcomes (with permission) · Credential completion rates

School-Specific Example — How It Works in Practice

[Your School Name] Student Aviation & STEM Scholarship Fund

When a school signs a Tier 2 MOU with MAA, a named scholarship fund is established for that school's students. The example below shows what a typical school fund looks like — with your school's name, your cohort size, and your designated Campaign Chair replacing the placeholders.

Initial Fundraising Target

$10,000–$15,000 — covers one semester cohort of 10–15 students through Registration & Onboarding and a full Tier 2 semester. Scales with cohort size.

Campaign Chair Role

Designated by the school — leads donor cultivation, the I Fly student storytelling campaign, bulk book outreach, and annual gala table sales at X39.

Employer Seat Sponsor

$2,500 sponsors one student through the full drone certification pathway — CSR-ready, impact-documented, named in the school's annual impact report.

Annual Fundraising Event

Joint school × iACT/MAA fundraiser at X39 — no venue cost · Campaign Chair manages sponsors and table sales · Proceeds fund the following year's cohort seats.

Contact MAA to discuss establishing a named scholarship fund for your school community.

SUFS Approved Course Reference

All Live SUFS-Approved Programs

Every program below is currently active and bookable through the SUFS EMA marketplace. Prices shown are the authoritative rates (v3.5 — portal update in progress). Delivery: virtual or Saturday in-person unless noted.

Program	Ages	Price	Hours	Delivery
Onboarding
Registration & Onboarding SUFS	All	$200	~2 hrs staff time	In-person or virtual
Monthly Enrichment Subscription
Tier 1 — Foundations (2 sessions/mo, 8 courses) SUFS	All	$99/mo	4 hrs/mo	Virtual or Sat
Tier 2 — Builder (4 sessions/mo, 20 courses) SUFS	All	$149/mo	8 hrs/mo	Virtual or Sat
Tier 3 — Intermediate (6 sessions/mo, 30 courses) SUFS	All	$199/mo	12 hrs/mo	Virtual or Sat
Tier 4 — Advanced (8 sessions/mo, 40 courses) SUFS	All	$249/mo	16 hrs/mo	Virtual or Sat
À La Carte — Individual Session SUFS	All	$99	2 hrs	Virtual or Sat
À La Carte — Group Session (2+ students) SUFS	All	$49/person	2 hrs	Virtual or Sat
Academic Tutoring
High Dosage Reading & Math SUFS	K–12	$90/hr	Per session	Virtual or Sat
STEM Tutoring — Algebra, Physics, Calculus SUFS	HS / College-prep	$94/hr	Per session	Virtual or Sat
Writing Acceleration Lab SUFS	K–12	$100/hr	Per session	Virtual or Sat
SAT/ACT Test Prep SUFS	HS	$100/hr	Per session	Virtual or Sat
AI Innovation
Part 1 — Intro to Building Apps with AI SUFS	All	$450	10 hrs	Virtual or Sat
Part 2 — Build Apps with AI SUFS	All	$450	10 hrs	Virtual or Sat
Parts 1 & 2 Bundle SUFS	All	$825	20 hrs	Virtual or Sat
Drone & Aerospace STEM
Part I — Recreational Drone Certificate (TRUST) SUFS	12–18+	$450	4 hrs	Virtual + Sat flight
Part II — Drone Fly, Repair & Maintenance SUFS	14–21+	$450	4 hrs	Saturday (in-person)
Part III — Drone Evolution & Opportunities SUFS	16–21+	$450	4 hrs	Virtual or Sat
Drone Business Courses — DB101–DB108 (8 available) SUFS	16–21+	$350 each	Per course	Virtual or Sat
FAA Part 107 Commercial Drone Pilot Certification
Phase 1 — Foundations (20+ hrs FAA ground curriculum) SUFS	16+	$800	20+ hrs	Virtual or Sat
Phase 2 — Test Prep SUFS	16+	$450	10 hrs	Virtual or Sat
Phase 3 — Flight Check & Certification SUFS	16+	$780	4 hrs	Saturday (in-person)
Full Bundle — Phases 1–3 SUFS	16+	$2,000–$2,500	34+ hrs	Virtual + Saturday
Flight Simulator Program
Private Pilot Flight Simulator — 26 sessions with CFI SUFS	12+	$3,395	26 sessions	Saturday (in-person)

Ground School, Solo Flight training, camps, tours, workforce/AMT training, and JROTC programs are available but not currently SUFS-listed. Contact MAA directly for those options. Drone Soccer removed from Tier 3 — targeting Fall 2027 reintroduction.

Aviation, STEM, Entrepreneurship & AI — brought to your school community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Partnership Process & Requirements

Four Ways to Partner with MAA

Homeschool STEM Program — Rates & Enrollment

When & How Sessions Run

How We Fund School Partner Enrollment

All Live SUFS-Approved Programs

Ready to bring MAA to your school or family?