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AK homeschoolers-Allotment! - Page 3

post #41 of 52
10/17/08 at 10:39am
When your dd can be in kindergarten (which I believe is 5, I think there is a cutoff birth date on the website) is when you can enroll her and get the allotment. However, once she is enrolled, your next children can get a $200 allotment for preschool at age 4, you just have to have the older child already enrolled. All this is for IDEA, I'm not sure how the other organizations work.
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post #42 of 52
10/17/08 at 2:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by AKchick View Post
When your dd can be in kindergarten (which I believe is 5, I think there is a cutoff birth date on the website) is when you can enroll her and get the allotment. However, once she is enrolled, your next children can get a $200 allotment for preschool at age 4, you just have to have the older child already enrolled. All this is for IDEA, I'm not sure how the other organizations work.
That is exactly what I was told. They have to be five by 9/1 to receive any allotment, but if they already have a sibling enrolled, they can receive the preschool allotment at 4.
post #43 of 52
10/17/08 at 3:01pm
Our preschool allotment was $300. Unless it's changed. And yes, they have to be 5 before September because that is the public school cut-off and the charter and correspondence schools are technically public schools. We lucked out that since we moved here when Autumn was in 1st grade we got to bypass that rule. Her birthday isn't until the end of September.
post #44 of 52
10/17/08 at 3:16pm
Bummer...that means I have to wait 2 more years since she is a Dec baby...Thanks for the info.
post #45 of 52
10/18/08 at 2:10am
The cutoff when my Dd began school was Aug 15; I don't know if that's changed or not, or if it is different from Borough to Borough.

If you choose a HS program, or are already in one, look into its rules regarding preschool. With Raven, we were given only $200, and it came with a list of "accepted" curricular packages for Pre-K...there was no way to spend the money on what WE chose, no mixing and matching. And if you chose a package under $200, you didn't get to spend the leftovers...it was just gone (back into the Raven budget for admin, I believe).

I am pretty unhappy with the way that is set up at Raven, so when we enroll Iris for Pre-K homeschool, it will be w/ IDEA (because one of my kids is with IDEA).

love, p
post #46 of 52
10/23/08 at 5:36pm
I am on the Kenai Peninsula. I know of Connections and Idea, but what other programs are available?
This is the first I've heard about Raven. Is it available state wide? Or just in certain locations?

i am currently HSing my twins (7yo) in secound grade, DS (6yo) in first grade, and DS (4) preschool. I am going through the connections program this year, but would like to try and find something different. Preferably one that does not have to do state testing. My girls have LDs and will need help on the tests.

As for how I spent the allotment, most of it went on curriculum- reading rods, hooked on phonics, saxon math, science, and geography. I also spent a tidy sum on supplies- paper, globe, art supplies, binders...

Funny though, I actually don't use most of it. I find that if I use the workbooks the kids shut down. For the last month I've been making my own worksheets, and just reading a lot of books with the kids and they seem to remembering more! I also got several computer games that help the kids with math skills, reading and listening skills.
post #47 of 52
10/23/08 at 6:27pm
As far as I know, all the state programs require testing. It is something set by the state, not individual schools. But I have not looked into all the different schools, either. I know charter schools have a few less rules and regulations than the correspondence schools.
post #48 of 52
10/27/08 at 12:55am
I know that if you are not in a program you do NOT have to test. But you do have to buy your own stuff then...
post #49 of 52
10/31/08 at 3:26am
We just got most of our supplies from Mercurius and I think we about spent our allotment...
post #50 of 52
11/15/08 at 2:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by homeschoolAK View Post
I know that if you are not in a program you do NOT have to test. But you do have to buy your own stuff then...
But you do still have to pass the HSGQE to get a diploma, IIRC.

We love testing, it really isn't scary and it's a good way to help them learn to focus. In the early years, especially, it's kind of a game to most kids.

You can download sample tests from the net, or ask for copies of sample tests from your HS office. Work on them at a leisurely pace, and don't stress about them.

It really is a lot of fun for most of the kids I know.

love, p
post #51 of 52
11/15/08 at 2:07am
I'm sure every HS program has its issues, but I've found a few which are interesting to me...

1) IDEA does *not* require that my daughter's piano teacher be certified (in anything!), just that she be practicing and learning.

2) IDEA allows PE to include jogging 'round the block, doing pushups, etc.

3) While their paperwork is more confusing to me, I do think it's as easy as Cyberlynx or Raven (I have YEARS of experience in both HS organisations).

4) IDEA has SO MUCH MORE to offer as far as trips, classes, clubs, etc.

Next year, we're definitely moving A to IDEA. Don't know about E and M, but probably at least one of them. A will be a freshman next year, and she's phenomenally interested in things like Close Up, Academic Decathlon, etc., all of which are things Raven is not well put-together about.

love, p
post #52 of 52
11/17/08 at 1:15am
I use Chugach which has one of the smallest allotments and we've pretty much spent it all on curriculum, internet, PE and curriculum. We do lots of PE and I always end up paying 1/2 the year's PE cost out of pocket. It's kinda lame to have so little $ but worth it because we really like the program and have become friends with some of the other families.

I'm using two literature based reading/art/SS curriculums that requires a ton of books so I've had to use the library and ILL extensively.