What is your opinion on virtual schools and internet homeschooling?

i have the choice to either pay for internet homeschooling or choose a goverment paid virtual school. my issue is if i choose the virtual school my son would have standardized testing every year. if i choose to pay for internet homeschooling, then i would only have to have him tested once every 3 years. i am just really insecure about anything the government pays for.

What is your opinion on virtual schools and internet homeschooling?
I think online/virtual learning depends a lot on the learning style of the individual child. Like anything else, some children will do well using this type of program and some will not. Often, computer programs can contain material presented in different types of learning styles (visual, spacial, etc) and can be a great aid for a larger cross section of students then other methods, but a lot will depend on the type of programs being used by the administering institution you choose.





Insofar as the choice between paid internet schooling or government funded virtual school - I'd take a good look at the individual courses, lesson plans, the teaching style, etc? Do they each give you any samples to look over?


How old is your child? Could you try out one program initially and switch if it doesn't seem to be working? Can you switch mid-year?


While I'm not keen on standardized testing, I don't think you have much to worry about whether the tests are each year or every three years. Most HSed children perform better-then-average on these tests. If your child has trouble with a particular subject I'd suggest additional lessons (either computer based or other) in that subject. Theres literally tons of resources out there for additional studies.





Personally, I'd probably lean towards the non-government based one, solely because you'll have a lot more flexibility choosing what works for your child. Good luck to you!
Reply:My opinion of virtual schools and internet homeschooling is this: If it is government funded it is not homeschooling. I am not against government funded virtual school, but I am against calling it "homeschool". I like my state's legal definition, and at least in my state, if you are in a Public School at Home virtual program, you are not required to file as a homeschooler because you are NOT a homeschooler.





I am amazed at how some people will argue with this simple legal definition. Now in some other states the legal definition may be different, but I have had people in my own state accuse me of trying to judge them just because I choose to go with the definition set forth in our state education laws.





That said, I am not against virtual school, it may be the best choice for some who can not afford to homeschool but are not happy in the brick and mortar Public School. I am not against payed internet homeschooling, although I have not chosen that option myself, I am not against correspondence schools, although again, I have not chosen that option, I am not against charter schools, or private schools. In fact I am not even AGAINST traditional Public School. I believe that all of these are viable alternatives, and that each family must decide for themselves what is best.





My issue, if I have one, is with confusing all these terms until a person can't figure out what someone is really talking about anymore.





Recently there was a question that was asked in a way which in order to answer, I had to choose one of two categories, the first category was that of being one who was using a well known Public virtual school, the other category was to call myself someone who "couldn't stand" that virtual school. Given only those two options, I would have to put myself in the "can't stand" category, but really there should have been a third category- those who have no problem with it but who just don't recognize it as homeschool.





Now in making a decision about whether to go with a state funded shcool, here are some things I would consider:





1. This is not homeschool, IT IS PUBLIC SCHOOL, that is not to say the program is bad, but just to point out that it is a Public School program.





2. Confusing these programs with homeschool poses many dangers to homeschooling freedoms. Those who came before us in the homeschooling movement faced persecution, fines, arrest, and loss of custody of their children, they faced these things to win BACK the God given right to raise and educate their children as they believed. I truly believe we do them a dishonor to put these hard earned freedoms at risk for the sake of convenience. Its not that these programs themselves are bad, but calling them "homeschool" is. So if you choose this option, please call yourself a "virtual schooler" or "independent study family" or something like that, not a "homeschooler". For information on the dangers posed to homeschooling by these programs, see the HSLDA website.








3. If you choose a public school at home, you are giving up your right to control your program. You are at the mercy of someone else's decisions, even if they do offer some choices, the choices will only be allowed within the parameters set by the program. Usually these programs offer almost no choice.





4. The virtual school in my state is time based. That means if your child is bright and finishes the day's math lesson in 15 minutes when it was supposed to take 50 minutes, they don't get full credit. Instead they have to be assigned "busy work" to fill the time quota. This might be okay if you were allowed to do whatever you wanted to meet that time (for instance; play Monopoly) but usually you have to do something from a list of "approved" activities. Even if all state's programs are not like this, the fact is, it is up to them, not you.





5. People I have talked to in the program have faced a lot of hassles. Not getting their books on time, so they started late, but were expected to finish on time anyway. Forgetting to log their time for an activity, so not getting any credit even though they have the finished assignment, etc.





6. People often sign on these programs hoping to avoid "gaps" in their child's knowledge. This is fear driven. Aside from that, "gaps" cannot be avoided. No person can possibly know everything there is to know (though we have all met some who think they do). Even if it WAS possible for a curriculum to have no gaps, everyone forgets a great deal of what they learn. At least as a homeschooler, you have a little bit of say as to where those gaps will be. Do you want a gap in the knowledge of political correctness, or do you want a gap in the knowledge of the Bible? What is more important, that your child memorize a list of dates, or have an overview of History? Is it okay for a High School student to need to draw a picture to solve a multiplication problem, or should they have memorized the facts in 3rd grade? Different people will answer these kinds of questions differently, but if you put yourself under government control you are giving them the right to answer these questions for you.





7. Many states run these programs only until a certain grade, hoping to pull "homescoolers" completely back into the public School system with them. You do it for three years, become dependent on it, and then it is pulled out from under you, you face the choice of returning you kids the brick and mortar Public School or re-learning how to truly homeschool.





8. Nothing assures the program will continue. When enough homeschoolers have joined up that the homeschool voice loses its power, the programs can be stopped. By then, we may not have the right to homeschool anymore. It wasn't until the mid 90's that homeschooling became legal in all 50 states, there is no guarantee we will keep these freedoms. Make no mistake that public school officials ultimate goal with these programs is to end homeschooling! I truly believe that these virtual schools are just a tool being used toward that goal. They are not supplying these programs to be "nice", they are supplying them to get students back into the Public School system. In a very large city near me, they have closed 5 schools in the past year, not from lack of money, but from lack of students. And there are more people now than there used to be, more kids too. That means that too many people are opting out of the public school system and it is finding itself without enough students for the schools it has. Is it any surprise that schools around here have suddenly become so "friendly" to homeschoolers? If they can get you back they will, and if the only way to do it is with a Virtual School, so be it.





Now after saying all that, I will again say that I do not have a problem with a Public Virtual school, what I have a problem with is muddying the terms. I just like to see people be aware. You know the "other" Golden Rule? "He who has the Gold makes the rules." Well in this case we can turn it around, he who pays the bill makes the rules. If Uncle Sam pays it, (even though it IS really taxpayer's money) then Uncle Sam makes the rules.





Just things to keep in mind.
Reply:You know those aren't the only options for homeschooling in Georgia? If you have a GED or high school diploma, you can just homeschool and do your own thing and have the testing done every three years.





If that's the issue and that's why the online is your only route, go with the Georgia Virtual Academy. It's through K12, which is well respected, and is free.
Reply:We use a curriculum, K12, that is used in many states' virtual schools. We use it as independent homeschoolers, not as part of a public school. There are pros and cons to each, and it really depends on your family dynamic, just like different HS curricula do.





If you have insecurities about being part of a government funded public school (which isn't "true/pure" homeschooling, but very similar), then I wouldn't enroll in the virtual school.





I encourage you to join a Yahoo group for the school/curriculum you're considering. There are many K12 boards that are for both virtual users and independent users. We all learn from each other and gain great insight into the VA vs. Independent issue.





I don't have the option of a state-wide K12 Virtual Academy in the state I'm in now, but I had to choices in my former state. For many reasons we decided to continue the independent route when the VA's became available.





*** ADDED after your additional information...





The K12 virtual schools I helped with in my former state (doing parent trainings about the curriculum) did not teach to the test. They just used the K12 curriculum as is, since it meets or exceeds every state's standards. In some states, things like PE or state history is added to the curriculum to comply with that state's standards.
Reply:I know that a lot of families have chosen this way of schooling for their children.


It is one of many educational choices available to parents who for one reason or another do not want their children attending a conventional school.





As for my opinion, I do not call it "home schooling", since it is actually doing school at home.


The children are still enrolled as public school students, and have to comply with all their requirements, and national tests.





Home schooling is completely directed by the parents who choose the curriculum, and it's content.


In home schooling the parents are the primary teachers, set the requirements, and direct their children's schooling.


That is what makes home schooling so different from virtual, or Internet schooling.
Reply:Personally I've heard a lot of things very pro-virtual school. But to me it is just not something I'd like.





Obviously if you get the free public school virtual school you save the money. But now instead of your child being a public school student they are just a public school cyber student. Same difference in my opinion.





As far as doing it yourself, have you considered some of the free programs online and making your own curriculum and supplementing it with text books and/or curriculum you buy yourself?
Reply:have BEEN WITH AZ VIRTUAL ACADEMY for many yrs it is awesome I would never stray from this program you can say no to testing if he has a illness otherwise it is not so bad we don't make our lesson on testing it is only to let them no where you need help this program is different the teachers care m,any have left public schools to go there. the lessons are fun and the clubs and kids are awesome! try it for just one yr if you don't like it leave it is all free and so awesome your child will love it and so will you never any stress its great good luck and I hope you get this program you wont be sorry trust me I was worried about starting homeschooling k12 has help so much they are truley inspiring and if your worried about the government that is silly they only fund this program nothing eles and it is taxpayers that pay it
Reply:is your son going to have virtual friends and play on internet sports teams and think querty is a form of social interaction?





Sorry, I don't agree with homeschooling, virtual orotherwise - children lose out on learning valuable social skills that are key to survival in the adult world being closeted at home with a parent and a computer.





If anything, choose the one with yearly standardized testing so that you at least know if he is retaining anything, like they do in regular school.