Is Home Schooling really a viable option today?

Some friends of ours home school, and they've never had any problems. What sort of problems would you think they would encounter? I would think the school board would love it as they still get the property tax, but don't have to spend it on said kids.

Some friends of ours home school, and they've never had any problems. What sort of problems would you think they would encounter? I would think the school board would love it as they still get the property tax, but don't have to spend it on said kids.

Schools are funded on the operation side by the enrollment. The property taxes all go to the State and then are given back on a per student basis. This is an oversimplification of the total process, but enrollment means money, less enrollment, less money, so no, they usually do not care for it.

Schools are funded on the operation side by the enrollment. The property taxes all go to the State and then are given back on a per student basis. This is an oversimplification of the total process, but enrollment means money, less enrollment, less money, so no, they usually do not care for it.

Sorry, I always thought the enrollment issue was for federal funding. After more reflection I was confusing this with something else.

We use the Florida Virtual School, it's a really cool program with state certified teachers, etc, funded by the state. It's all online, and they get individual instruction via email or phone. There are also other programs available for elementary students. It's free for the residents of Florida, but available for other state by fee. I don't know how much they charge.

Regarding Home Schooling for high school students, I always wondered how parents (who are usually act as the "teachers" of their home-schooled kids) could cover all the different subjects necessary for a good high school education. But now we have Florida Virtual School, which is being used by most of the home-schooled high school students that I know. It is run through the state and is accredited; you can take classes online (including honors and AP classes), and students can even take an SAT prep class. A student receives grades for all classes taken. It's really pretty neat. It is not a cake-walk, and students need to be motivated and organized, but once you get the hang of it, you can get much more accomplished in a much shorter time span than the typical school day (no wasted time).

Both of my boys attend SWHS, and both took Life Management Skills online through Florida Virtual School. The class was a half credit requirement for graduation, but because SWHS is on the block schedule, they would have to "waste" a full credit to get this half credit requirement. I was extremely impressed with the Florida Virtual School. You have a lot of contact with the teachers (both by phone and by email) and it is extremely organized.

Florida Virtual School is a godsend for kids who have medical problems that cause them to miss chunks of school, as well as for families who travel a lot. It's also a neat option for taking classes that are not offered at your school. I don't know how those student fare on the SAT and ACT tests and what the statistics are for continuing on to college, but I'm sure those statistics are available.

So I would say that Home Schooling has been made pretty easy -- for parents who have high school students at least. Of course, my kids would kill me if I forced them to be home-schooled. They enjoy the social aspects of high school too much to want to stay home and do the work themselves on the computer (even it is means they could surf when the surf was up rather than wait until after school). By law, home-schooled students must be allowed to participate in activities (sports, and possibly band and other things) offered at the school the child would have attended, so that makes it nice for those kids who want to take advantage of those aspects of high school.

As far as the tax $$ aspect of it, if taking FLS classes, they do have a home "base" school and the funds go to that school.

Replying to jodiFL, the funds generated from students who take Florida Virtual School (FLVS) courses go to the the Virtual School. Funding is received when a student completes a course. This is probably why local schools do not advertise and promote FLVS - they lose out on $ when students go that route.

To be honest, my oldest son, who is now a senior at SWHS, took his 1st FLVS course when he was a sophomore (so.... 2 1/2 years ago). When I went to the school to sign him up (you DO have to get the local school to sign some paperwork), they knew NOTHING about FLVS. I had to completely educate them about the program. No one had ever used it at SWHS. I was pretty surprised. In fact, I was actually told by an administrator that if SWHS taught the course, it was not available to the student on FLVS. Of course, this is not true at all, and such a statement is, in fact, against the law. Quite frankly, because the school does not receive funding for courses taken by local students on FLVS, they really don't actively encourage it. However, by law, they must allow students to use the system. (I now know several kids who attend SWHS who take FLVS courses, so it is not so new anymore.) I don't know how it works (financially and for FTE counts) when a student takes a couple of classes online and a couple of classes at the local school. When my son took the class, he did it in addition to the full load he was taking at SWHS, so I know the school did not miss out on any funding.

Here is a really neat summary of Florida's Virtual School. This paper was put out by Florida Tax Watch and although I can't find a date on the report, it uses data from the inception of the program though the year 2007, so it must be very recent. Oh, just looking at the web address, it seems like the report must be dated 10/15/07.

http://www.nacol.org/docs/FLVS_Final_Final_Report(10-15-07).pdf

It was interesting to see that FLVS spends much less per student than traditional schools yet students in FLVS scored higher on FCAT and on AP exams. Hmmm.... they must be doing something right. I didn't see any statistics about SAT or ACT score comparisons.

All in all, FLVS sounds like something that really is "in the best interests of students." How refreshing!

We use Florida Virtual as a supplement for foreign language. Will is a freshman, and currently there is not a language option in the 9th grade. He is taking Latin through FLVS, and like Grayton Girl, we are impressed with the program and quality of the program. He has worked hard, and I have a lot of contact with his teacher.

Why are we supplementing? Two words- block schedule, which has cause him to have an easy workload this year. But that is a whole different subject!

We use Florida Virtual as a supplement for foreign language. Will is a freshman, and currently there is not a language option in the 9th grade. He is taking Latin through FLVS, and like Grayton Girl, we are impressed with the program and quality of the program. He has worked hard, and I have a lot of contact with his teacher.

Why are we supplementing? Two words- block schedule, which has cause him to have an easy workload this year. But that is a whole different subject!

My son has had block scheduling in HS. At first I was unsure about it, but now we (especially him) love it. However, it will be difficult to adjust once he's in college and returns to a regular schedule.

Block scheduling (at least here) is very similar to a college schedule - basically, you complete your class on a semester basis instead of taking all year, as you would on a 6 or 7 period day.

There are pros and cons to it, and I keep wavering on the fence. The primary issue I have with the block schedule is that you do lose the kids' attention spans after about 45 minutes or so. When they go to college and have a longer class, it's because they want to be there.

Question - not that I think this would happen in my household (I hope not, anyway ), but out of curiosity - if a student is expelled from the county school district, would the Virtual School still be available, in lieu of Walton Academy?

Back to home schooling - I have known several families who home-school exclusively, primarily for religious reasons, and their kids still do great socially and later in college. For those who are able to do it, I think it is a great option.

I would say the answer to the question is yes, of course homeschooling is a viable option today. It does seem to be a lot more common today than in the past. I've known a few families who have chosen to homeschool their children, or parents who keep one kid at home for a year for homeschooling to provide very individualized level of instruction and support due to a learning difficulty or a gap in skill development that the school can not or will not address, etc.

you know, the public school just does not address the needs of all children or all families. some parents are very particular about the education content and setting - and feel they can do better at home - and many can no doubt.

I would prefer not to homeschool my child for many reasons, but if, for some reason, homeschooling was what my child needed, then of course I would be very happy that the option was available. there are many, many resources out there to help in the effort should I need it.

Walton GOP, I believe the question you should be asking is this: Are our public schools a viable option for all? I think if we did a better job in education in general then homeschooling would not be such a popular option among families.

I not sure what you mean by viable.

I have often wondered whether home schooling is in the best interest of our society. I have met home school parents that are barely literate and who do not have as much as a high school education themselves, yet are the only educator in their children's lives. A democracy such as ours demands an educated, literate and informed citizenry to remain viable in the long term. Is that the 'viable' that you are asking about?

I not sure what you mean by viable.

I have often wondered whether home schooling is in the best interest of our society. I have met home school parents that are barely literate and who do not have as much as a high school education themselves, yet are the only educator in their children's lives. A democracy such as ours demands an educated, literate and informed citizenry to remain viable in the long term. Is that the 'viable' that you are asking about?

good question bdarg.

I have never met parents such as the ones you refer to here, but I've heard more about such families recently. the only parents I've ever known to homeschool were very well educated parents with resources and patience for educating their children in a very comprehensive way, and provide many experiences beyond classroom study - it always impresses me a great deal. but, this is not exactly common I would guess.

still, I cannot imagine not giving all families a chance to do this if they so choose. what kind of requirements do parents have when they do homeschool? I have never heard of this.

if I lived in an area where the public school was not acceptable to me or my family, I would have to choose either private school or home school. I do not think I should be required by law to send my child to a school which I may consider unsafe or seriously lacking in its education setting and/or competency. this is my child we're talking about. the interest of society is of little importance to me when considering the protection and education of my child, especially if safety is compromised even in the slightest (unsafe buildings, unhealthy environments, and danger of violence). I seriously doubt if any of these problems exist in Walton County, but they do exist in plenty of places in our country.

don't know what WaltonGOP is getting at with this question... or what he proposes?

I constantly wonder about the level of instruction and socialization skills home schooled kids get. I'm not saying that it isn't a good option for a few rare kids, but IMO it doesn't teach kids the wide variety of skills they need for life and I wonder how much it really teaches them in general.

I don't think education should stop when the bell rings at the end of the school day, and that parents need to supplement their kids learning, but I don't think home schooling is the way to go as a primary source of education.

Great thread---Imho Florida is way ahead of some states on the homeschool issue. At least in Florida some brave mom paved the way to get the schools to allow kids to participate in sports that are homeschooled. That is really attractive to me.

I had not heard of the Florida Virtual school, but am so glad to hear of it. I can't wait to check it out.

We homeschool and it has been great for our family. We have also had our kids in public school. The advantages for us are that we can teach our kids at their level. I can focus on their individual needs and go at whatever pace we need. I am also teaching Latin (actually Rosetta Stone is teaching Latin) . It never would have been offered to a 1st grader or a 4th grader. Yes---another good plus is that we can go to Sowal in sept/oct and not mid summer!

Anyway--thanks for the thread start. Hopefully your mission in starting the thread is one of protecting homeschooling in Florida. We are still planning on relocating and love the idea of continuing to homeschool in Florida.

I would love to hear from folks who do/are considering homeschooling their kids as to 1) why they think homeschooling is a better choice 2) the age ranges of the kids they are homeschooling.

We knew very few homeschoolers in Kentucky- in fact, it was considered something that really religious people did (to protect their kids from evil and such). Maybe there were so few homeschoolers because there was a huge choice of schools- public, private, parochial, classic ed, Waldorf, Montessori, sci/math magnets, and my fave that we called the Basketweaving School (which will go unnamed but suffice it to say that they allowed a bit too much independence!)

The socialization aspect is always something I would worry about, since an important part of being in school is learning to interact in a group setting and learning the basic rules of life. Sometimes I think parents try to make the school situation fit their child, when maybe more of a compromise is needed. After all, when these kids become adults, the world is not going to stop for them so they better learn early on how to adjust and go with the flow and get along with all types of people.

I do know some fantastic home schooled kids here, and the reasons they are home schooled are good ones. I personally could never home school my kids because I don't have the self-discipline, and I also want my kids to have the opportunity to be with lots of different kids.

Great thread---Imho Florida is way ahead of some states on the homeschool issue. At least in Florida some brave mom paved the way to get the schools to allow kids to participate in sports that are homeschooled. That is really attractive to me.

I had not heard of the Florida Virtual school, but am so glad to hear of it. I can't wait to check it out.

We homeschool and it has been great for our family. We have also had our kids in public school. The advantages for us are that we can teach our kids at their level. I can focus on their individual needs and go at whatever pace we need. I am also teaching Latin (actually Rosetta Stone is teaching Latin) . It never would have been offered to a 1st grader or a 4th grader. Yes---another good plus is that we can go to Sowal in sept/oct and not mid summer!

Anyway--thanks for the thread start. Hopefully your mission in starting the thread is one of protecting homeschooling in Florida. We are still planning on relocating and love the idea of continuing to homeschool in Florida.

thanks for your input dunelover. I don't think people really understand the concept of homeschooling. I cannot speak from direct experience, though I have read up on it, and talked to a few families. At one time I agreed with some posters on here that homeschooling would be an awful thing to do to a child. I just did not know what a beautiful experience it could be for children and parents to do together. Social interaction is absolutely not an issue when a parent is providing a comprehensive experience for their children. Sports and extra curricular activities - all available in our communities.

I do admire you so much! I would like to learn more. Maybe one day I'll have the skill and desire to give it a try (I doubt it). A few friends of mine have told me that the relationship with their child improved on many levels as a result of homeschooling (I thought that the opposite would result!).

Anyway, thank you for chiming in. Many people have the wrong idea about the possibilities of homeschooling. I believe homeschooling is a fantastic opportunity for many, many families. but certainly needs to be a good fit and adtoped by famliies who have the resources and enthusiasm to make it work for them.

I constantly wonder about the level of instruction and socialization skills home schooled kids get. I'm not saying that it isn't a good option for a few rare kids, but IMO it doesn't teach kids the wide variety of skills they need for life and I wonder how much it really teaches them in general.

I don't think education should stop when the bell rings at the end of the school day, and that parents need to supplement their kids learning, but I don't think home schooling is the way to go as a primary source of education.

Socialization is the first complaint of many people. Our kids are still in social situations that many are not. They play organized sports. They are active in their churches. They still have friends and sleepovers. We meet with a smallgroup of friends and kids once a week. Many people find that homeschool kids actually relate better w/ all ages of people than public school kids.

Sadly, for so many kids learning does stop when the bell rings. Many kids only see their parents a couple hours a day. That doesn't leave time for much.

The socialization aspect is always something I would worry about, since an important part of being in school is learning to interact in a group setting and learning the basic rules of life. Sometimes I think parents try to make the school situation fit their child, when maybe more of a compromise is needed. After all, when these kids become adults, the world is not going to stop for them so they better learn early on how to adjust and go with the flow and get along with all types of people.

I do know some fantastic home schooled kids here, and the reasons they are home schooled are good ones. I personally could never home school my kids because I don't have the self-discipline, and I also want my kids to have the opportunity to be with lots of different kids.

I have a feeling that families who are serious about homeschooling cover all of this and more as part of the child's blend of education and life experiences. I believe that the advantages of homeschooling would be many, such as to provide your child invidualized instruction and attention. Children learn at their own pace, are allowed to advance when they are ready, and parents can present information and material according to the child's interests and learning style. other advantages include: hands on learning, flexiblity in schedule, travel, and regular community participation.

Whether to homeschool or not all depends on the parent and how much they are willing to give the child as well as how much they are willing to give up (job, career, time to self, etc). Consider all the learning materials, field trips, outside activities (music, dance, sports), special projects, etc. Consider the research, planning and prep work required on behalf of the parent. Consider that homeschooling requires a lot of love, patience and encouragement.

These are all the reasons why I do admire families who have decided to take this on, and who do it so well. I do not think people consider these things when they make a snap judgement on whether homeschooling is good for children or not. It can be a most excellent education option, in my opinion.

Do not know if I could do it either. Mostly, I do not desire to do it. So, I am not a candidate! whew! (but I kind of wish.... )

but your points are well taken and apply in many cases to be sure ... it makes me wonder about the law or regulation of homeschooling.. I would hate to see children taken out of school to be put into a religion-brainwashing or other kind of setting that parents consider being education but has nothing to do with education.

I would love to hear from folks who do/are considering homeschooling their kids as to 1) why they think homeschooling is a better choice 2) the age ranges of the kids they are homeschooling.

Scooterbug--I will be the first to admit that homeschooling is a very personal choice for many people. I don't expect you or anyone else to change their opinion of it. I will answer your questions from my perspective.

1). I homeschool a 1st grader (6 year old) and a 4th grader (9 year old). I also have a pre-k that will join us next year. Currently, I have him in a private pre-K program 2 days a week.

2) We have many reasons why we homeschool. I keep saying we because it is a family choice. My husband has to be supportive for it to work. I homeschooled my oldest for Kindergarten, and then sent her to public school. I sent my younger daughter to school as well. This past year I took them out of public school and brought them home. I have always been a stay at home mom so this was easy for me. It wasn't like I was giving up an incredible career or anything.

So my reasons:
a. Teach my kids at their level. I have two bright kids. One was bored alot and called on to "help the teacher" alot. She was even giving a learning disabled child her spelling test each week. My other daughters teacher told me she put my daughter next to the "English as a second language" child to help him learn his letters. That worked until he began to write them upside down from looking at my daughters paper. My oldest was reading at a 6th grade level in 3rd grade. But, the classroom or library did not have books at her level.

b. I can add in a foreign language early. Rosetta Stone is great for anyone that is looking for a foreign language.

c. I can add Bible lessons. Actually, our whole curriculum is centered around Bible.

d. I can have more time with them. We bond as a family, and as parent/child and child/child. We can do more during the day. We can enrich our unit study w/ field trips to museums, parks, or just learning from nature. Our learning isn't always at a desk or a table.

e. Socialization--I consider some of the socialization that goes on in school bad. I like to keep my kids younger and purer in heart longer. No need to worry about peer pressure yet.

Again, it is not for everyone. But for us, it is a perfect option. I think my kids are learning more than they ever would in public school.

thanks for your input dunelover. I don't think people really understand the concept of homeschooling. I cannot speak from direct experience, though I have read up on it, and talked to a few families. At one time I agreed with some posters on here that homeschooling would be an awful thing to do to a child. I just did not know what a beautiful experience it could be for children and parents to do together. Social interaction is absolutely not an issue when a parent is providing a comprehensive experience for their children. Sports and extra curricular activities - all available in our communities.

I do admire you so much! I would like to learn more. Maybe one day I'll have the skill and desire to give it a try (I doubt it). A few friends of mine have told me that the relationship with their child improved on many levels as a result of homeschooling (I thought that the opposite would result!).

Anyway, thank you for chiming in. Many people have the wrong idea about the possibilities of homeschooling. I believe homeschooling is a fantastic opportunity for many, many families. but certainly needs to be a good fit and adtoped by famliies who have the resources and enthusiasm to make it work for them.

Thanks for your comments. That is very sweet of you to say. When we finally get to the area you are welcome to come and sit in with us and see what "a day in the life is like". They say it takes 6-9months for kids and parents to adapt to homeschooling. The further we get into this year, the better it gets. And yes, it really can be a beautiful thing. I feel so blessed to be able to spend this time with my kids.

Socialization is the first complaint of many people. Our kids are still in social situations that many are not. They play organized sports. They are active in their churches. They still have friends and sleepovers. We meet with a smallgroup of friends and kids once a week. Many people find that homeschool kids actually relate better w/ all ages of people than public school kids.

Sadly, for so many kids learning does stop when the bell rings. Many kids only see their parents a couple hours a day. That doesn't leave time for much.

yes, it is always the first comment I hear, and I have also made this same comment more than once. But, I've learned that this is a non-issue for families who are serious homeschoolers. I've also learned that I needed to say this, and other comments against homeschooling, to be sure we all understand that homeschooling is not an option for ME as a mother. I'm half serious!

a classroom situation is a kind of social setting, but not the only kind and certainly not the best kind, especially in some school settings. You can provide your children with much more interesting and stimulating social experiences, that's for sure!

you bring up a very valid point about how learning stops when the bell rings for many. the problem with not homeschooling - many parents leave most of the teaching up to the school. well, with the exception of baseball and soccer and plenty of "social" situations which of course are so critical. they are the ones missing out on a complete education, IMO.

as far as I know, some homeschool families may do a crappy job in educating their children. they probably aren't any better or worse off than some families in the school system. everyone has different expectations when it comes to education.

I'm still interested in hearing Walton GOP's comments on this subject.

I'm still interesting in hearing Walton GOP's comments on this subject.

Me too! I am wondering if it has anything to do with the School Board thread. Walton GOP where are you?

dunelover - take it from our montessori school experience - tables and desks are overrated! our kids do almost all their learning on the floor, on mats/rugs, outside, under the table, whatever. teachers work with them wherever they are. kids aren't that fond of sitting straight and working. it is just not in their make up.