A peek into the window of in-home schooling ...
Saturday, April 3, 2010
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• Home-school definition, identity blurs with new programs
Home school or ALE?
Alternative learning experience
What is it: An alternative to traditional school which is developed and supervised by a public school teacher. These programs include online schools, contract programs or other education options school districts offer, such as the Valley Academy of the Wenatchee School District and Columbia Virtual Academy of the Eastmont School District.
Laws adopted: 1996, 2005
Funding: ALE is considered part of the public school system, so the state provides education funding for every student enrolled. Several programs offer reimbursement to families for non-religious materials the student needs to finish their “student learning plan,” including books, software, admission to museums or plays. The program approves the purchases in advance.
Requirements: Parents sign a document saying they understand of the difference between home-school and ALE.
• Students follow a learning plan and their progress is monitored and assessed by a public school teacher.
• Students follow the same testing rules, attendance and graduation requirements as public school students.
• Students must prove they are doing their own work.
• ALE programs submit an annual report to the state and the school board of the program’s school district. The report includes enrollment, staff-to-student ratios, a program description and evaluation.
Home school
What is it: Parents are solely responsible for planning and supervising their child’s education.
Law adopted: 1985
Funding: No state funding, parents pay for their child’s curriculum materials, transportation and extras, such as music or swimming lessons.
Requirements: Parents must qualify for home school by doing one of these things: take a college course about home-schooling, earn 45 college credits, a local school superintendent deems the parent “qualified,” or the student works with a teacher an hour a week.
• The parent sends an annual form to the school district declaring that their child will be home-schooled.
• Students take 11 subjects a year: occupational education, science, mathematics, language, social studies, history, health, reading, writing and spelling and art and music appreciation.
• Students test annually, either the state test or another test approved by the state. Several testing companies offer tests and grading. The results stay with the family, not reported to the state.
• Students cannot graduate through a public high school unless they meet state and local graduation requirements. The Washington Homeschool Organization hosts an annual home school graduation.
• Home-school students can still attend school part-time and request some services, such as speech therapy or academic counseling.
Source: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
Long before the big yellow buses roll through the neighborhood, school is already in session for the Lester and the Marion families.
In many ways, their days are similar:
The children learn at home with a parent by their side, they study at their own pace, they are ahead of their peers, both families make an effort to socialize their children and they can take their studies on the road if they choose.
But there’s a difference between the two.
The Marions choose and buy their own curriculum with no oversight from the public school system.
The Lesters opted for online school, which means their son’s education follows a public school curriculum under the supervision of a teacher.
These two families don’t represent every family whose children stay at home. Education outside the mainstream is as varied as parenting itself.
Some families mix school and religion, some don’t. Some don’t believe in desks, while others still salute the flag every morning. Some spend hundreds of dollars on prepackaged curriculum, some use free public school programs, while others cobble together library books, used books and hands-on experience to cover all the bases.
Here’s a peek at what education looks like in the home of the Lesters — with the support of public school — and the Marions — who largely go their own way.
Comments
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mopbucket (frank owens) says...
wow way to go!!!! smart kids PRAISE THE LORD
April 3, 2010 at 9:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DannO (Emilie Fogle) says...
For those interested in home-based instruction, please visit the Washington Homeschool Organization's website:
http://www.washhomeschool.org/homesch...
WHO will be holding their 25th annual convention, June 18th & 19th at the Puyallup Fair and Events Center.
For more information:
http://www.washhomeschool.org/convent...
April 4, 2010 at 1:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Reilly (Brian Reilly) says...
Homeschooling, unattached from the public school system works quite nicely. A parent is fully aware of what their child is being taught. God can be recognized as the higher authority and the creator of government. "Political Correctness" in the curriculum can be eliminated. Establishing a love for God, our nation, its Constitution and respect for the Rule of Law can be given uncensored attention. And, most interestingly, homeschoolers, using a quality curriculum will be able to read before they have completed kindergarten. Having the ablility to read is the foundation for all future learning and advancement leading to a successful life.
Homeschooling, with no connection to the public schools, worked for us. Our son worked his way through college obtained a scholarship, and is debt free. He has an excellent career. And, he can think on an independent basis without the need for any "group think."
The Washington Homeschool Organization is an excellent resource as well as the Home School Legal Defense Association (H.S.D.L.A.).
An excellent homeschool curriculum is the Abeka Video School out of Pensacola Christian College (Pensacola, Florida). With courses from K-12, it is an excellent investment in your child's future and and excellent program to bind together the family unit.
Homeschoolers are the last link to a memory of a free America, its past and what made America a great and successful nation. The "world citizens" currently exiting the public schools will know little about the freedoms that they are currently losing.
April 4, 2010 at 2:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Reilly (Brian Reilly) says...
Correction: Home School Legal Defense Association (H.S.L.D.A.)
April 4, 2010 at 2:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Norm (Norm Messer) says...
"Homeschoolers are the last link to a memory of a free America, its past and what made America a great and successful nation. The "world citizens" currently exiting the public schools will know little about the freedoms that they are currently losing. "
.
Tell me about some of those freedoms that you claim we are "currently losing", please, Brian.
.
April 4, 2010 at 2:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
glory74 (Ron Huges) says...
Norm would love nothing more to see Home Schooling banned in the country so kids will be forced to go to his Communist propaganda education centers where they sing sings about the liberal gods and how they can do no wrong.
I don't think so Norm,not my kids.They learn far more at home then they would in any public school and we can bypass all that college level left-wing propaganda currently being shoved on some children behind their parents backs and focus on reading,writing,arithmetic and true American history free from the falsehoods and manipulation.
April 4, 2010 at 3:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Norm (Norm Messer) says...
Wow. What a sad commentary.
.
April 4, 2010 at 4:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Reilly (Brian Reilly) says...
Norm wrote:
"Tell me about some of those freedoms that you claim we are "currently losing", please, Brian."
My reply:
If you would have homeschooled, you wouldn't need to ask the question.
April 4, 2010 at 4:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Norm (Norm Messer) says...
I didn't think you could.
.
April 4, 2010 at 5:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Mom (Susan Feil) says...
You know, I think home-schooling is great for many families. It's also not great for some. I was asked to consider teaching Spanish to a group of home schooled children many years ago. I was impressed that some were far ahead of their peers in the public school, but as many were far behind and couldn't do the basics for their age. Some were very socially aware and polite and some were pretty bad to put it nicely.
When my children were small, I didn't really consider home-schooling; it didn't have the choices as far as curriculum and on-line schools that are available now, but I really didn't think my children would do as well for me as they would in the classroom. I also wanted them to meet and learn to deal with many different people, both teachers and other children. Some experiences were good, and some were not, but overall, I felt that they all received an excellent education, and now two are teachers and one is a writer. All are college graduates.
My point is that I think we need options for children and while some children really can't handle a classroom for a variety of reasons, or their parents prefer to have more control over the curriculum, many get an excellent education and their parents are very happy with the public school system. It really doesn't have to be a matter of this is the best way and this way is bad, as many of you like to make it.
April 4, 2010 at 7:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
DannO (Emilie Fogle) says...
If anyone has a question on the home-based instruction law (homeschooling), feel free to contact me at:
pleatus@hotmail.com
or for material on this subject as well as information on becoming a member of our state organization, please go to the WHO website I listed previously.
April 5, 2010 at 5:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhitneyRoth (Whitney Roth) says...
Houses and cars are expensive and not every person is able to buy it. Nevertheless, loans was invented to help different people in such situations.
June 11, 2010 at 2:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )