Charter Schooling: A Better Homeschool?
Since it is summer, everyone starts thinking about what kind of schooling they want to do. This is the time to decide between public, private and homeschooling. Well, I have recently been asked what I think about charter schooling as a form of/alternative to homeschooling.
First, lets talk a little about what a charter school is. A charter school simply refers to the funding and oversite issues that apply to theses special public schools. Some are traditional schools and some are offsite schools. Not all charter schools are offsite schools. What I mean by offsite schools is that kids don't attend every day (some once a week, some once a month, etc) but they still have a teacher. Sometimes they will still have sports and clubs. Sometimes not. They have homework assigned and every so often check in to make sure it is getting done, to get tested and (I assume) help if they need it.
So the pluses are that you don't have to keep all the records and all the books are free. Some off extracuricular activities that don't cost anything. You have a trained teacher to assist you as you go. Typically you can move along at your own pace be that faster or slower. You can minimize anything in the curriculum that you don't agree with. If you are homeschooling for social reasons it pulls your children out of the typical school society and you can protect them a little more.
The cons (and this is the side I sit on) start with the fact this isn't homeschooling but public schooling at home. You answer to the public schools, as you should because they are paying for it. While you can minimize certain subjects/issues that you don't agree with, you can't just choose to not teach them at all. Now some allow you a little latitude in what you teach but not complete control. So you also have to fit within the traditional education theory and are not going to be allowed to do a classical education, unschooling or even eclectic. Your kids will still need to take the standardized testing that the public schools have. Personally, I find the tests a gigantic waste of time and effort so I don't want to have to do that. You do have a teacher that you answer to. And you have attendance rules of how many days and how many hours you kid has to do school.
I think it really boils down to the fact that it is public school and that comes with strings. The leash may be looser but it is still there. It is a good option for someone who has no qualms with the public school other than social and religious issues. I think there are better options but that is my humble opinion;).
First, lets talk a little about what a charter school is. A charter school simply refers to the funding and oversite issues that apply to theses special public schools. Some are traditional schools and some are offsite schools. Not all charter schools are offsite schools. What I mean by offsite schools is that kids don't attend every day (some once a week, some once a month, etc) but they still have a teacher. Sometimes they will still have sports and clubs. Sometimes not. They have homework assigned and every so often check in to make sure it is getting done, to get tested and (I assume) help if they need it.
So the pluses are that you don't have to keep all the records and all the books are free. Some off extracuricular activities that don't cost anything. You have a trained teacher to assist you as you go. Typically you can move along at your own pace be that faster or slower. You can minimize anything in the curriculum that you don't agree with. If you are homeschooling for social reasons it pulls your children out of the typical school society and you can protect them a little more.
The cons (and this is the side I sit on) start with the fact this isn't homeschooling but public schooling at home. You answer to the public schools, as you should because they are paying for it. While you can minimize certain subjects/issues that you don't agree with, you can't just choose to not teach them at all. Now some allow you a little latitude in what you teach but not complete control. So you also have to fit within the traditional education theory and are not going to be allowed to do a classical education, unschooling or even eclectic. Your kids will still need to take the standardized testing that the public schools have. Personally, I find the tests a gigantic waste of time and effort so I don't want to have to do that. You do have a teacher that you answer to. And you have attendance rules of how many days and how many hours you kid has to do school.
I think it really boils down to the fact that it is public school and that comes with strings. The leash may be looser but it is still there. It is a good option for someone who has no qualms with the public school other than social and religious issues. I think there are better options but that is my humble opinion;).
Labels: education, Homeschoooling
posted by NerdMom at
2:21 PM
5 Comments:
I have also read that if you ARE homeschooling for religious reasons, but choose to use one of these charter schools as your "homeschool" that you can kiss using any religous curriculum during the "school day" goodbye because of that "separation of church and state" thing. Of course, I'm not sure how they'd monitor that, but if you are a law abiding citizen AND deeply religious, I'm sure you're not going to want to break that rule.
Just my $.02, but I agree with you--I want less forced commitment and more freedom.
By
Ruralmama, at 8:50 PM
How they enforce it is that the charter has to buy the curriculum. When I said for religious reasons I meant to keep them at home and educate them on the Bible and keep them away from those who don't believe. Not necessarily a religious education.
By
NerdMom, at 8:57 PM
We homeschool through a charter school and it has been a good match for us. I was very hesitant about the testing issue, but the difference for me is that I don't have to waste vast time teaching to the test beforehand as public schools do. As far as choosing curriculum, you're right, the charter will not buy you anything with religious content, but it is possible to get around that. You can use any curriculum you want as long as you buy it with your own money. You also need to have non-religious work samples to turn in.
It is putting yourself in submission to the state, but there are attractive benefits (reduced record-keeping, accountability, significant funds for educational materials including laptops, lessons, and equipment as well as curriculum) to consider as well.
By
Beth, at 1:06 PM
I agree with most of what you say, but it absolutely is possible to enroll in a charter program and still use whatever educational approach you desire. The charter doesn't care how the schooling is done so long as the student produces work samples in each of the required subjects (math, English, science, etc.)
By
Crimson Wife, at 4:11 PM
It is important to understand that each charter school is different. If you were to explore that option as a way to homeschool, you would need to find out the specific policies of the school in question. Some allow great freedom even in what can be ordered with school money. Granted, nothing overtly religious can be purchased by the school. However, some will also allow the use of any curriculum you purchase on your own. Most will require non-religious samples for portfolios. Also, true unschooling would be a problem with most unless the students in question were clearly well ahead of the expected levels for their ages in all subjects.
Other charters provide the required curriculum along with pacing guides, etc. This would be much more like attending school, only with the parent as the day to day teacher and the home as the classroom.
I think most charters will not give you a hard time if you decide the school is not good for your family and withdraw. They tend to be run by people who believe in parental choice in education.
By
Learning Mom, at 5:24 PM
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