just read over everyone elses posts.. and they are all right.. get her out now, and worry about it later. Most homeschoolers do not get a diploma.. they have their transcript. Here in PA there are diploma programs, but they are kinda a pain in the you know where..lol. Since she is 17, you can pull her out. It wouldn't offer you the opportunity to borrow the materials from them if you just have her "drop out", because then she wouldn't be registered as a homeschooler. That is a decision you need to make. Do make sure to get a copy of her transcript no matter what route you go! You can do this!!!
I'm praying for you...that your dd gets the help she needs, that she will not have to go back to high school, and that you will remain strong through all of this.
Yep, she's above compulsory age. You can just yank her and they can't do anything about it. As she said above, though, if you do register as a homeschooler in your state you can borrow materials from the school itself. This would put you under option one, but since you're using the school's materials you aren't out the cost of an umbrella school. If your daughter is motivated enough to do the work herself, this might be a great option. (The only thing I can think of is occasionally needing the answer key and/or teacher materials... but you may even find an individual teacher who's willing to let you look at her edition sometimes or maybe copy certain parts etc.) Anyway. Sounds like things CAN and WILL work for you! Congrats, and you can do it!! YAY!
DaLynn.. we actually have lots of free charter/cyber schools here. We looked into them because I didn't think I could teach well enough.. but they are just like public school at home... and have a rigid schedule. The schedule is what made me say it wasn't for us. I was terrified of the laws here as well.. but really they aren't that bad! The laws was one of the main reasons I was thinking cyberschool.
We have applied to a cyberschool and I called and left a message. She has a friend that goes to this one. I hope they will call back tomorrow. If not, I will have to take her out as a homeschooler. How does one sign a child out as a homeschooler in PA? Tomorrow I am off so I will research some schools, too, and see what I can come up with. I did notice the schedule for school ... I wonder if she can make up time on the weekends ... Thank you all for your posts. I really appreciate all the help you have given me. BeckyB
you have to file a notorized affidavit complete with a list of objectives, and a list of immunizations (or an expemtion form). Here are links to sites about homeschooling in PA. this one makes things simple to understand.. PA's laws are scarey!!! http://home.comcast.net/~askpauline/index.html this group has a booklet you can buy.. our school district gave us one for free.. it is a great resource!! http://www.pahomeschoolers.com/ http://www.phea.net/ http://www.phen.org/home101.html
AHHHH....not letting me fix my mistake! Sorry, this post originally was me recommending askpauline.com just like the above poster! But it's not letting me change or delete this post! AHHH!!!
I hope that you find a solution that will allow your child to have reduced stress while she works through these intence issues. Prayers and Hugs to both of you. If you decided to have her drop out or sign her out as a homeschooler, you can just deschool for a while. Let her have some free reign with a library card and spend time watching educational videos that are of interest. You could collect some acurriculum guidelines and evauate if there are any gaps that need to be filled in before she moves on in each topic. Another way would to be to use the end of chapter quizes or exams in normal textbooks. Worce case, she could drop out then self teach her way through a GED prep book using library materials. SHe could then test for the GED and or a Diploma (in my state they give an actual diploma if you score high enough on the test). After she could take courses at a Jr. college. Many offer remedial courses in math and lanquage arts for those who dont get enough from high school, and they often have placement tests to help with where to start.
I wanted to thank you ladies and check back in. I have been working at my new job ... sadly minimum wage putting together a huge new store and am worn out .. BUT ... it is a job, and I know God is watching over us. I am still going back and forth with the school, talked to her favorite teacher today. I found a cyber school which I will use as the basis for her learning but do much more with her when I am home. For now, she is spending time healing ... and I can see a little bit of a change, so you were right ... it is what is best for her. I have also decided as soon as possible to send my youngest to the same cyber school with heavy additional working with me ... using many of the tips you post here. Kinda a bit of both worlds so I don't have to worry about the PA laws .. which really are strict ... and to have as a guideline. The best thing is in PA they are free ... and honestly I cannot afford the book costs. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart. You are absolutely wonderful people and proof to me that not all of God's angels are in Heaven, some are right here among us. Bless you all, BeckyB
I am so happy to hear that you are finding resolution in this. I am glad your daughter is finding time to heal. That is good news!
It sounds like you found a great solution Becky! That's the important part, realizing that your children's education is under your control and then adjusting it to make it work for you!
Glad you are finding something to work for you. Just remember if you find the cyber school as a not so good fit, you can leave it.. esp after you have your feet in the water a bit... and go on your own. You can work and homeschool and you can do it on a tight budget. PA laws are not that bad.. I promise they are no where as hard as they seem at first.
Thank you for your kind comments .. I many just use it as a bridge, too ... I am taking it one day at a time now
Both girls started cyber-school last week, and they absolutely love it! My teenager wanted to celebrate the fact that she never again will be bullied in school Of course, the local school district has filed truancy charges against me ... even though she was 17 when she stopped going to school. I called the school and the principal said he never bothered to look at her age ... grrr.... I don't have money for a lawyer so I am just going alone ...please pray the outcome will be good for us. Oh, and when I told my family of my decision, I got the usual "socialization" issue. Thanks to all of you .. I had the right answers. One step at a time is where we are, and I think this really was a good step for us. Thank you all. BeckyB
About the truancy issue: Once a judge looks at the fact that she's 17, won't he throw out the charges?
You would think so, wouldn't you? I'd have all paperwork regarding enrollment in the cyber school as well as copies of your state's homeschool laws with you in court. That way there can be no question as to what you are doing and whether or not it's legal.
I will also be taking my cell phone with the glowing words of her new guidance counselor from the cyber school. She gets up now and gets the work done .. then helps her sister. I think in the end this will make them closer, also. I will be printing up those laws, too. The principal said he hadn't bothered to look up her age, but that I still needed to show up, they would all be there from the school district. Oh, well. Perhaps I should go after them for not stopping the bullying? I did pick up the sheet they have about bullying in the office ...
I would tell them that no, you do NOT have to show up, since she's over age. It's not YOUR fault he didn't bother looking up her age. Tell him that if they don't back off, you WILL go after him about the bullying....
