Home schooling is NOT as difficult as some may think.
Online learning and computer based directed learning are available in a VERY wide range of subject and abilities. Placement tests help determine where your student(s) should go--sometimes MUCH higher than where they would be in a public school. Or, if they have PROBLEMS learning, they can get individualized attention.
Alpha Omega: http://www.aop.com/ is just one of many companies out there providing a VARIETY of curriculums...
Better news would be no laws for or against homeschooling. Imagine a world where people took personal responsibility for their lives and children without the government being involved.
This is great - NC may be on my list of retirement places now.
Not that I need to homeschool, but any state that encourages it is doing the right thing.
Parents need to know just had badly our public schools are doing in educating our kids. We are in the bottom of the international math and science tests. If most parents (at least the ones here) could see exactly what goes on inside a public school (and many private ones), they would homeschool. Don’t feel intimidated to do so - your public school teachers have one of the lowest SAT scores at colleges AND the teacher education is so easy, a monkey could do it. (I tried to see just how little work I could do in my last class when I got my credential - I couldn’t even get below an A on any assignment. Showing up is all that’s required.) You will be a much better teacher for your child, no doubt.
The teachers unions ain’t gonna like this.
But I'll take it.
We are switching primarily to online next year from private. One daughter took 1 online class this year to ease her schedule due to a medical problem.(writer’s cramp and tendonitis). She’s still having problems with writing and typing, so most of her academics will be online.
My other daughter’s seizures have come back, and we are having problehms with medication. She wants the flexibility of online classes also.
They will be juiniors in.high school. Not sure how all of this will affect college, but they can always go to junior college for a year.
However small, good things are starting to happen here in NC. I moved here from Kalifornia 10 years ago and while NC had taken a slow, left turn since I’ve been here, it appears they’re getting back on course.
I have been homeschooling for 15 years. It is easy actually. My children are all at the top of the standardized tests. I have been homeschooling in NC for about 8 years. It is great here. Conservatives are pushing hard for school savings accounts for students. GET THIS- as homeschoolers we could have an educational savings account for each child! WHAT?!?! TO use on any classes we choose- and that is what this wording is about.
My son is almost 11 and he is ready for college. Schools here will take him when he is 13. I have begged the public schools to provide for him- and they treat me and my child like dirt, and pushed us out of the schools.
So- fine. How about if I use my tax dollars to send him to college then? How about if public schools serve the public needs, or lose money.
Next step for North Carolina, toward educational savings accounts: Vouchers.
Ideally parents should be able to “shop” for tutors and instructional opportunities for their kids. Some of the online courses available now are mind-numbing (worse than sitting in a public-school classroom), but the right combination of learning experiences can be exciting for everybody—probably the parents even more than the kids.