Thinking about homeschooling but not sure you have the chops? What if you could school your kids at home, but leave the actual education up to a "real" teacher?
Charter schools are making the jump to online, where a curriculum is laid out, tests given and students have the advantage of doing it all from home. And, because it's a charter school, the bulk of the costs to parents - from the price of a (loaner) computer to their art supplies - are taxpayer funded.
It's a movement that could expand homeschooling opportunities to parents who have always been uncomfortable with the idea of the burden of their child's education resting entirely on their shoulders but who are equally uncomfortable with the public school system in their area. That's why charter schools are usually created anyway - chartered by parents who want an alternative to the traditional school system that will be open to all kids, kids whose parents often can't afford private school tuition. Taxpayer funded, they're meant to extend choice in education to more families.
But while homeschooling parents have been making use of the internet practically since it began, if they signed on to a particular program, parents have often paid out of pocket. By granting the charter school label to an online school, taxpayer funds come into play.
And parents who've signed their kids up say they're loving it. In a recent Chicago Tribune piece, Michelle Koss, mom of a child with learning disabilities, said this has enabled her daughter to take her time mastering different subjects. Where she was lost in a traditional school setting, Sarah Koss is gaining momentum by working online at home.
As a mom who is pro-homeschool but knows it just wouldn't work for our family, the idea intrigues me most because it would take some of the onus off of me as teacher. I don't have faith in myself to be her educator, but with this kind of help, I could see it working. And knowing my taxes were going to fund it, instead of paying into a school system she would never use, would be a bonus. Too bad it's not available in my hometown.
Is this option available in your area? Would you take them up on it?
Image: Media.Canada
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