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We put six kids through the public system with not so great results. While we were preparing our youngest, (7th) for kindergarten roundup we were also contemplating home schooling him. The brick and mortar school discouraged us six ways to Sunday to enroll him into kindergarten as they felt he was socially immature. He has Asperger’s Syndrome. We did not want to hold him back as he was intellectually ready.

A friend told us about a new charter school, The Ohio Virtual Academy. They use the K12 curriculum. We attended a seminar and were impressed with the curriculum. Like home schoolers, we are the teachers. We have lead teachers who monitor our progress. We still are responsible for state testing. It costs Ohio 1/3 to 1/2 of what public school costs to educate him. We have the option and are encouraged to attend field trips. We are in our 10th year with OHVA/K12. Our son is now in 9th grade. We have to adhere to tighter deadlines and due dates and his lesson plan is heavy. We also have more virtual classes than in the past. To that end, he is also interacting more and making friends with other kids.

We get push back as home schoolers do about social interaction. We tell people that once a month we take him out back to kick his butt and steal his lunch money so he can feel like he's in regular school.