Connections Academy aka public online homeschooling

[nelle]

I'm not sure if this belongs on this board but.... Does anyone have their children enrolled in Connections Academy? For those who don't know about it's a public school run online usually by a school in your state. I think only a few states have this and it's considered charter in a few states but I was wondering if anyone here has their children enrolled in it. How do you like it? Do you feel that your child is getting a good education? Any other thoughts?
I rember seeing a thread a while ago on homeschooling on this board and I thought maybe someone here might know about it.
Thanks,

 

[Barb D]

I don't know anything about this program, but I've just started looking at another online hsing program through Alpha Omega. They also have a non-online CD-ROM based program. Here's a link: http://www.aop.com/default.asp?chan_id=24

Check your pm for a link to a homeschool board where there have been some discussions about online/computer based hs programs.

 

[momof2inPA]

We are doing Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School, which uses a K12 curriculum. It is a public charter school, with the parents as the main teachers. This has worked wonderfully for us. My first grader reads well; writes well; has broad exposure to history, science, art, and music; and can do Math on a third grade level. My son has tons of outside activities, and we are free to travel and take educational field trips with the flexible schedule.

More paperwork may be required for the charter school than for traditional homeschoolers, but I like the fact that the curriculum is put together, and I don't have to utilize my limited creative abilities.

There are a couple other virtual academies in PA, but I have not heard of Connections. I would make sure they are well established and have a good track record before I join. Best of luck!

 

[nelle]

Thanks for the replies! I didn't expect any . Barb thanks for the link to the homeschooling board thats got lots of great info. Right now our DD is in public schools which around here are ok but she also plays the violin with the youth symphony orchestra. Most of those children are HS so they sometimes have practices during the school days which is hard for us I take her out of school for some but she also misses some . Her teacher this year is really getting fed up with it she gets excellent grades and is even part of the gifted program at school so I don't know why she complains . This program(Connections academy) is based in Baltimore and I know they have charter schools in CA and other places. They seem to have a good curriculum Spanish, Calvert math, Science, and even Physical Ed. I guess what I'm really looking for is flexability being able to allow her to play in the YSO and we like to go to museums and travel a lot and I like having a curriculum so that I don't have to come up with one like momof2PA said . They have a info meeting here soon that I will attend and see what it's all about. Well thanks for listening to me ramble

 

[Barb D]

Janelle! My 10yo DD plays viola! Her private teacher doesn't think she's ready to be in a YS yet. One of the reasons we're thinking of putting her in public school next year is so that she can play in a school orchestra.

 

[nelle]

Barb, I wish the schools around here had a YS but even their music program is poor. We travel 45min to her violin teacher and for the YS. With the all of the cuts in the local schools budget one of the first things cut was music . I've tried to encourage my DD to play the viola also but she prefers the violin . Well good luck with your public school decision.
Thanks again,