Online schools????? Newbie???

[Triciabn]

My friend and I are very interested in homeschooling....at this point in the game our kids are a year or so shy of it.... So we are in the hunt and gather stage of the game.
So we have heard quite a bit about these on-line schools (K12) or just a local online-charter school. They supply "the work" and your child completes things on-line and you can then do your own thing too.
*What are the benefits to going with one of these things?
*Is it just so that you can get out of doing that dreaded portfolio?
*Is it so that your school district doesn't treat you like crap when you go to them? (something that happened to us when we were homeschooled as kids)
*Anyone have any experience with going this route?
*Why wouldn't you?

These types of programs sound really enticing to me because of my own homeschooling experiences. They also seem like a great idea because of us being newbies at this.
But I wonder what you pros think of these types of schooling?
Thanks a heap...so much appreciated:
Tricia

[frogguruami]

I wouldn't do an online school because it is still considered public school. There subject material still dictated by the state, they are still require to stay "on grade level" (although there is a BIT more flexibility), they are still penalized for getting behind and are not allowed to work too far ahead even if they are capable. For example. DS2 would be in K this year. He would be required to read at a K level. He does not. He would have to repeat K next year because grade level is based on reading skill. He will be allowed to work only one year ahead in math. He will be starting 2nd and 3rd grade math soon. He couldn't do that in an online school.

For me another huge draw back is that I would be required to stay on their schedule. Things have to be done by the end of the school year. Since we school year round there is less pressure to finish "on time". We would not be able to keep up with their schedule.

The BIGGEST draw back to online school is that they will still have to take the FCAT.

We joined an umbrella school. We are considered Private School students. I report attendance to the director every quarter and that is it. We don't have to keep a portfolio, we don't have to test and we don't have anyone telling us what to do.

I know people that love the online schools because they like having the structure of it. I am not one of those people. I don't like being told what to do!

[Triciabn]

interesting.
My friend is more of the "Structure" type and she isn interested in a baseline to work with.
I am very much they type that doesn't want to be told what to do.... I feel very confident in my teaching ability with my kids and have really enjoyed not just the exposing my children to things but really explaining the ins and outs of stuff to them. However, when we homeschooled as kids that portfolio and the meeting with the school district was a HUGE downfall in the homeschooling system. I would say that is one of my really big hangups with homeschooling.... So there are other means around that?
How do you find out about the local private school umbrella thing you are talking about....?
Tricia

[lauracd]

I assume then that you are in Florida. I agree with Frogguranami that a virtual umbrella school would be a better choice. I plan to join Florida Unschoolers at the end of the year. We are relaxed schoolers and I don't want to worry about a portfolio or put my DS's through tests yet. I think the state does such a poor job of educating kids in general that I certainly would not want to still have to follow their guidelines. I'm homeschooling to get away from that.

[frogguruami]

Originally Posted by Triciabn

So there are other means around that?
How do you find out about the local private school umbrella thing you are talking about....?
Tricia

What state are you in? I am in FL so I can tell you what is available here. If you post your state someone may be able to help you find something in your state.

[Triciabn]

no not Florida.....
Pennsylvania

[mamarhu]

No Penn knowledge here - just wanted to mention that I was amazed to learn that the online charter school required proof of vaccinations! We would never see the teacher or other students, but might pass a virtual disease? Whole new meaning to the term computer virus!

[annethcz]

Originally Posted by Triciabn

*What are the benefits to going with one of these things?

Free curriculum, guidance from experienced teachers (if that's something you want/need)

*Is it just so that you can get out of doing that dreaded portfolio?

We're not required to sumbit a portfolio, so I don't know anything about that.

*Is it so that your school district doesn't treat you like crap when you go to them? (something that happened to us when we were homeschooled as kids)

I know that it varies from place to place, but I've never had bad experiences with the school districts we've lived in. They've been nothing but helpful and polite to us as homeschoolers.

*Anyone have any experience with going this route?

I haven't gone this route, but I have a very good friend whose DD is enrolled in our state's virtual charter school, using K12 curriculum.

*Why wouldn't you?

So many reasons!
-I don't want our curriculum or schedule to be dictated by a school
-I don't want a teacher/expert to tell me how or what my kids should learn
-I don't want to keep up with all the paperwork
-I don't want my kids to be doing the majority of their schoolwork on the computer
-I don't want to jump through all of the hoops required of public school kids- vaccination records, preschool screenings, etc.

These types of programs sound really enticing to me because of my own homeschooling experiences. They also seem like a great idea because of us being newbies at this.
But I wonder what you pros think of these types of schooling?
Thanks a heap...so much appreciated:
Tricia[/QUOTE]