Homeschool v. Cyber Charter School v. Private School

[NiftyJ88]

I do not want my child going to public school. I have many reasons, but I am looking into options for my 3.5 y.o. I have awhile to decide yet, but I want to get some other opinions.
First option, homeschool. I am not home all the time, but I could potentially get a job where I could work from home. I don't know much about homeschooling or if I could even work from home and homeschool at the same time.
Second option, cyber charter school. PA has many free public cyber charter schools. I've not been impressed with what I've seen at the high school level, but if I'm able to supplement it at home, it may be an option.
Lastly, private school. It's super expensive, but if the other options aren't great choices, it could be worth it.
Any ideas? Feel free to ask questions. Thanks!

 

[ntink]

Can you elaborate a little on why you do not want your child going to public school? It would be helpful in providing a recommendation on the other options you listed.

 

[dormouse72]

Some public schools just aren't an option...

I would probably go with a private school. Homeschooling is great but very difficult. Depending on the laws in your district, you may have to register your child as being homeschooled (it's against the law in many municipalities to just not register your child in a school program) and possibly have to have a registered teacher come in to evaluate your curriculum according to state guidelines. Since you just say "PA" and not where, you'd have to do some research into what your local laws are.

Also, teaching is hard work. You have to develop lesson plans, figure out your child's learning style, buy all your own materials, etc. Honestly, I couldn't imagine both homeschooling and working from home. Homeschooling would have to be my full-time job. Tempermentally, I'm not meant to be a teacher any more than I'm meant to be a plumber or a brain surgeon.

Your child is very young. Speaking as a parent of a child with a learning disability (diagnosed when she was 7), I don't know what I would have done if I had tried to homeschool her. It has taken a team of people to get her where she is now (doing well) but I would NOT have been able to do it on my own. I can supplement what she does in school with weekend trips, extra help, and other enrichment activities but I don't have the resources or expertise to help her the way that they have.

You have 10 years to think about HS. You have to imagine that your situation may change in that time. Your child may not like being homeschooled and may want to go to a more traditional group learning environment (public or private). I wouldn't look further than the upper elementary grades right now and re-evaulate your options at that point.

The decision is yours and you have to do what is best for your child. If you can find it in your budget, your best bet might be private school.

 

[princessmom29]

I teach in a public high school, and my 5 year old goes to private school. The public schools here are just not what I want for her. I am in a very unique school with a magnet engineering program, but in general the public schools in our area spend way too much time teaching to a test, and not enough on enrichment. WE LOVE private school. Best decision we ever made. DD goes to art, music, computer, spanish, and library time at least once a week.They get daily recess and PE(something the pubilc schools have stopped doing), and still gets top notch academics because standardized testing is not a focus. They take them and do well, but it is on the strength of the acedemics, not teaching to a test. My child is an only, so I feel she needs the socialization of a school environment. Besides, once she got to high school I would be sunk. I could homeschool calculus, but definitely not AP english or Latin ect.

 

[NiftyJ88]

Thanks for the responses so far. I'll give a little more information. I am a certified high school teacher. I am entirely overprotective of my child and do not want her to be exposed to the public schools around here where there are no consequences for poor behavior and kids can get As when they don't hand in assignments. I also am not a fan of how schools around here handle NCLB. It seems that schools cater to the needs of students who are behind and don't devote enough attention to students who are meeting or exceeding goals, who deserve more of a challenge.
I want to make sure that she is safe at all times and that she is getting the education and challenge that she needs. At 3, she can identify and write all her letters, she knows numbers up to 16, knows shapes, colors, and can write several words when prompted as well as read several words. I don't believe she is gifted, but she enjoys learning and I want that to continue. She makes connections from things that she's learned to new things.
Emotionally, she does not do well with other kids. She is not anti-social, but becomes fearful of kids who do not behave. When playing with well-behaved children, she is fine.
Money is somewhat of an issue. I cannot quit teaching, but could teach from home and do fine with the paycut. If we decide on private school, I would need to continue working where I am to pay for it. I don't know for certain since we haven't entirely looked into it yet, but we could likely afford to pay for homeschooling materials. Also, if I were homeschooling, I would probably pay a reading specialist to come and work with her a few times a week.
Of course, nothing would be permanent and we would change things if needed.
Thanks again for advice so far!

 

[MiniGirl]

OP, I can't really speak about private schooling or cyber-schooling. I have no experience with those. We are a homeschooling family though, and we love it. I think it is a wonderful option, and love that it is becoming more mainstream.

First things first though.... PA is one of the more regulated states in which to homeschool. However, as a certified teacher, you do have a great advantage. Here is a link to the HSLDA's website (specifically the PA state laws page)......

http://www.hslda.org/laws/analysis/Pennsylvania.pdf

Also, for a child so young, you could easily homeschool and work -- as long as childcare is covered, of course. It would be tough on you to fit it all in, but at that young age, it really does not involve a whole lot of time. So much of it could be done after school and even on weekends. Your reading can be incorporated into a bedtime routine and you just find time to do it. (We do a lot of review at meal time. It is when my girls tell my dh about the things we've read, etc. We also play math games and guessing games -- I'm an animal that is nocturnal and flies.... stuff like that.)

It really is a wonderful lifestyle, but, of course, it isn't for everyone. You could always join a local yahoo homeschooling group to get an idea of local opportunities in you area.

Good luck in you decision.

 

[lemondog]

I have a lot of the same problems with public school that you do. We ended up choosing private, Catholic school for our children and have been very happy with our choice. Yes, it costs $$ but it's a sacrifice we're willing to make. We don't eat out a lot, we only go to Disney every other year, etc.

However, keep in mind there are poorly behaved children at EVERY school, private school is no exception. Just something to think about.

 

[MomtoAlexnWilliam]

Our public schools are not the best and I do not think I have the patience to homeschool. We picked private and love it! The kids have tons of opportunities and love it there! It's the best decision possible for our kids.

Good luck in making your decision!

 

[rascooby]

I don't know if this is an option for you, but my daughter is in 1st grade and goes to a Univeristy Model school. It's part regular school and part homeschool. On Mondays and Wednesdays she goes to school and on Tuesdays and Thursdays she stays home and we do the homework/lessons that the teacher assigns. Fridays she does electives (Spanish, Art, Health). I didn't want her in public school, I don't think I'd like to homeschool full time and full time private would be really expensive for all 3 kids.

The University Model is pretty popular here in Texas, but I know it's in other places as well.

 

[wmharley]

my DW was freaked about HS our DD4. We have tons of friends who do it though.

This is what you should do....

1) find a home school group in your area. ask some questions, go to meetings. your 3.5yo isn't going to be doing much. You can easily buy those workbooks of cutting, tracing, etc and that is basically what is done at private school for pre-K. We've been told by several other friends who's kids attend a top tier local private academy.

2) there are usually conferences for homeschoolers. There is one for us in FL in May. The wife will go then.

3) there are so many companies selling packaged curriculums. Sonlight is one. We've had people choose a mix and match or switch from one to another across the years..

4) there are even more online free sites out there. I know one that my wife visits (as she's asked me to print out charts from work) is www.hubbardscupboard.org I'll try and look at the other PC and see her links...

Starting HS is daunting.. but once you start, its much easier...

My wife deals with DD4 and DS1 during the day, then works from home at night. They do HS twice a week and have PE with an actual PE teacher for the group on Thursdays at a park. Another day, our local library has science classes each week where they learn various subjects. One week it was water pollution, another day it was on insects, etc... Folks who talk to my wife and find out we HS, are very positive.. we still ahve to work on the parents... but we know many kids of friends that HS where they graduated with honors from HS...

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

I'm in PA also. We have a wonderful homeschool group, as PP said check into these too! I use PaCyber, it's one of the easier cyber schools I think. You don't have to be online all day or even an hour a day, all you have to do is long on each day. PLEASE ask any questions if you'd like, I'll keep this short for posting purposes! They have a PreK option, since yours is 3.5 maybe you could look into doing this in the fall, it'll give you a good idea how it'll go. It's really much easier than most think. I did PK sept-dec, K Jan-May, started 1st grade last fall, done by march, and we just started his second grade in August... I took the break to focus on math and reading basics, get him comfortable with that. You do not have to follow the manuals to the T, you'll find a lot of the stuff esp in PK will probably be stuff they already know. It's a great way to start into homeschooling, get you comfortable with it without all the work... plus they send you the books, pay your internet connection and some for a gym class. I am planning to NOT use them next year, I've got a better idea of what is needed, figured out how my DS learns and what works for us and I'm comfortable with doing it on my own now. I won't get into our state's school issues or my feelings on schools vs homeschooling, but I do recommend this as a good way to get you started, you won't regret it!

 

[kpgriswold]

I LOVE the public schools that my kids have attended! That said, I know that they are not for everyone, and that not all school systems are as good as ours (Fairfax County, VA).

Home schooling is more difficult than most people think, and most people don't do it as well as they think. I say this having seen firsthand the number of children coming to my mother's small private school WAY behind others in her 4th grade class after being "home schooled".

Since you are a teacher by profession, you may do a far better job than most parents. On the other hand, might it be harder to teach your own kid than one in whom you have less invested? I would second some pps by saying that if you go the home school route, you should look into a cooperative group. Kids really need the social piece that school offers as well as the academics, and it's the best way to expose your kids to music and art and othe things that may not be your specialty.

If you choose to home school or cyber-school, please get your child involved in a scout troop or a sports team or a youth group or some other kind of activity where she will spend lots of time with other kids her age.

Private school seems like the best option to me. Could you get a job at the private school you prefer and take advantage of staff discounts? Most of the folks I know who teach at private schools pay half tuition for thier own kids.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[wmharley]

I LOVE the public schools that my kids have attended! That said, I know that they are not for everyone, and that not all school systems are as good as ours (Fairfax County, VA).

Home schooling is more difficult than most people think, and most people don't do it as well as they think. I say this having seen firsthand the number of children coming to my mother's small private school WAY behind others in her 4th grade class after being "home schooled".

Since you are a teacher by profession, you may do a far better job than most parents. On the other hand, might it be harder to teach your own kid than one in whom you have less invested? I would second some pps by saying that if you go the home school route, you should look into a cooperative group. Kids really need the social piece that school offers as well as the academics, and it's the best way to expose your kids to music and art and othe things that may not be your specialty.

If you choose to home school or cyber-school, please get your child involved in a scout troop or a sports team or a youth group or some other kind of activity where she will spend lots of time with other kids her age.

Private school seems like the best option to me. Could you get a job at the private school you prefer and take advantage of staff discounts? Most of the folks I know who teach at private schools pay half tuition for thier own kids.

Just my 2 cents...

home schooling is as difficult as you make it. Some kid's learning styles dictate how best to teach.. If there is a strong support system with friends and homeschool groups, then its easier. If a parent tries to do it themselves with no preparation, then yes, its difficult.

As you mentioned firsthand, i've seen it firsthand where several children of friends just graduated HS with honors and they were enrolled in IB-level courses while homeschooled.

I know a few more that are reading at grade levels several years up. Florida, or at least our county, allows HSers to attend sports at public schools.

And since there are homeschool groups where parents and kids meet to do activities, etc... they do get social interaction that way.. Ours just had her yearbook photos taken for the HS group. they have PE and playtime each week, science at the library each week, plus other assorted event like field trips, etc...

the hardest part about stepping out to do something you don't know (to the OP) is that first step... millions of kids are HS'd and each parent was scared when they started too.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

teaching reading is a piece of cake with most kids. I wouldn't sweat that. I also wouldn't worry about whether the cyberschool is good for high school. That is a long long time away. I don't care for cyberschools personally, because I think most of them do not allow the child to move on when they have mastered a concept. I also don't think that every concept must be tested.

Good luck. We enjoy homeschooling, but it isn't for everyone. I hope you find an option that you enjoy, too.

PS. A 3 year old who isn't "social" isn't a big cause of concern. 3's are just learning still.

 

[C&G'sMama]

We don't home school but have very seriously considered it. We still keep it in the back of our minds. It sounds like your child is at a good age for you to try it out. And if you start off home schooling you can always change your mind later and if you send your child to "regular" school whether it be public or private, you can switch later. Every family is different, every child is different. I don't think I could home school to save my life, but DP, who is the one who would be the main teacher would be very good at it and wants to do it. We had written an IHIP, joined a home schooling group and taken our daughter on a HS field trip when she was in 2nd grade. In the mean time her number came up in the lottery for a charter school. We toured the school and decided to let her go there. She is in 4th grade now and her brother is in 1st grade. We like the school but we'll take it one year at a time. We have to push hard to get DS challenged academically and like OP we don't always like the outside influences.

Our area has hundreds of homeschooling families. There are ice skating lessons, gymnastics, science clubs, bowling leagues, etc. There are "unschoolers", traditional schoolers, Christian groups, non-religious based groups etc. We have stayed on the home schooling yahoo group for our area. We do home school in the summer (aka "mommy" school).

Contrary to one poster's experience of students being behind. My experience with the folks I know is the opposite. Most of the kids are at or above grade level. Again, it depends on the family.

Good luck with whatever you choose

 

[anabelle]

We began homeschooling last year. My children went to private school before that for eight years. I have never used a cyber school, but have many friends that supplement with cyber schools.

These are pros and cons I have seen with private and homeschooling

Homeschool
Pros:
Freedom to choose your schedule (helps with vacations or illnesses)
Tailoring the curriculum to your beliefs
Supplementing as needed with more material
Parking on a topic if more time is needed to comprehend
NO HOMEWORK in the evening
More family time
typically score well on achievement type tests
If your curriculum doesn't work for your child, you can change it at any time
There is a curriculum to fit many learning styles


Cons
You have to pay for everything (like books, music, sports, testing, computer classes)
You have to schedule social activities
Good sports teams are hard to find
No buses, you drive to every activity
You have to keep the siblings occupied while you try to teach the older ones
Regulations vary by state. You must keep good records



Private School
Pros:
You can choose a school to fit your beliefs
Smaller class sizes
Better dicipline (in most cases)
Higher curriculum standards

Cons
Smaller schools mean less chances of finding compatable friends
Smaller schools usually have less competetive sports teams than public
Less chances of sport scholarships
Less technology
Fewer class choices
No special education
IT'S EXPENSIVE

These are just what I have noticed in my experience. You should continue to examine your situation in the coming year. Take some time to research homeschool curriculums. You can also sign up for some Yahoo groups. There are groups for everything and usually people are very happy to help you sort through things.

 

[wmharley]

We began homeschooling last year. My children went to private school before that for eight years. I have never used a cyber school, but have many friends that supplement with cyber schools.

These are pros and cons I have seen with private and homeschooling

Homeschool
Pros:
Freedom to choose your schedule (helps with vacations or illnesses)
Tailoring the curriculum to your beliefs
Supplementing as needed with more material
Parking on a topic if more time is needed to comprehend
NO HOMEWORK in the evening
More family time
typically score well on achievement type tests
If your curriculum doesn't work for your child, you can change it at any time
There is a curriculum to fit many learning styles


Cons
You have to pay for everything (like books, music, sports, testing, computer classes)
You have to schedule social activities
Good sports teams are hard to find
No buses, you drive to every activity
You have to keep the siblings occupied while you try to teach the older ones
Regulations vary by state. You must keep good records

and remember your Cons are different from ours...

our county, under a budget crunch, as many others are, requires you to pay for anything anyways, except the books. I've had coworkers with PS kids and they had to go and rent music instruments at the store because the schols didn't provide them.

Our district also lets the kids play sports for the school they would have attended. So if my kids want to play basketball or something, I just take them to tryouts to play.

Other than fieldtrips.. most parents attend the functions anyways... besides.. les chance some random kid will attack my kid.. My neighbor had her two sons get beat up on the bus last year twice... ooooo that was exciting to see the parents pissed.. one is a MArine recruiter so he doesn't play around.

Our group has weekly, or biweekly field trips lined up. there are parents tasked with several functions... My wife picked a local candy shop where they actually make the sweets and such. The kids got to make some treats and everyone had a blast. They will also be going to a farm, the museum, and some other places...

 

[disneymarie]

I do not want my child going to public school. I have many reasons, but I am looking into options for my 3.5 y.o. I have awhile to decide yet, but I want to get some other opinions.
First option, homeschool. I am not home all the time, but I could potentially get a job where I could work from home. I don't know much about homeschooling or if I could even work from home and homeschool at the same time.
Second option, cyber charter school. PA has many free public cyber charter schools. I've not been impressed with what I've seen at the high school level, but if I'm able to supplement it at home, it may be an option.
Lastly, private school. It's super expensive, but if the other options aren't great choices, it could be worth it.
Any ideas? Feel free to ask questions. Thanks!

I have my dd enrolled second year at Commonwealth connections Academy I checked out every option in cyber school before choosing this one. I am thrilled with the curriculum, the staff and teachers. they have various field trips every month and some online chat and clubs for the kids.
She is 8th grade now, 14 yrs old.

I am not the type to do home schooling, but as a learning coach to make sure things are on track, live lessons or recorded ones attended, her grades are posted daily. I can pull up the work and see grading and comments.

I did not want a too easy program, but I also did not want something too demanding. I did want challenge as she is gifted and that did work out very well.

She had a lot of bullying and a school system that did not take aggressive measures for this. She ended up school phobic and was a mess socially for about 2 just now contacting school friends and meeting out with them.

Connections academy is in various states. Commonwealth Connections is the PA school.
Yes it is free, my school monies that would go to the district go to CCA.
If you have boys or girls into sports because PA is a PIAA the kids can participate in their home school sports. or PA will pull the PIAA on the school,

Many CCA kids are into sports, especially that one, dang what is the name with catching the ball and flinging it....brain fog.

I believe they still take enrollments for this year,
If you are interested and do enroll, a referral gives the school more outing money for the kids.
www.connectionsacademy.com
Di

 

[wmharley]

Florida has a cyber school program that gets rave review.. they just got some funding taken away sicne the courts say they had to give some class size amendment money up...

but the only flaw on that is you have to have been enrolled in a public school for one yr before you are allowed into the program. You can then be homeschooled, and still take the cyber courses...

There is a lawsuit by a homeschooler (I think she's 10yo) and her mom challenging it on the basis of we all pay for school taxes on our property taxes, so we should be able to use the program since our tax $$$ goes towards that.