i can't say much yet about it. we just enrolled our son in it for kindergarten (public school, OHVA--ohio virtual academy). i have loved the personal attention we've gotten so far, and all the online classes i've taken so far have been very informative. i went to one of the discovery days they had and saw the curriculum, and really liked what i saw. i'll be watching to see what others say about it.
My sil did Ohio Virtual Academy, and was frustrated with it. She saw the freedom I had to do what I wanted when I wanted. And every time I invited her to go apple picking or whatever with us, she couldn't. "Oh, I'd LOVE to, but Jordyn has to be on the computer today for XYZ at that time...." And then Jonathon was sick for a while, and got behind. Their response? Just double up his lessons :roll:! After one year, the enrolled in a Christian school.
I was looking into it in Texas. DS would have to be there 180 day and they expect 25-30 hours a week on the computer. It just seemed like we would not have the freedom to go and come as we please. They said you have to get approval to missed days for vacation. I ended up passing on it.
I looked into it-because we need to be careful with $$$. Unfortunately, if my autistic son doesn't cooperate with the number of hours and specific times he'll need to be at the computer, he would be too far behind.And I need days "built in" for um, non-cooperation(which is why we hs year round). I do know there are some people that have enrolled and love it-I know 2 people...both only have 1 child. But both recommended it to me (which was why I initially looked into it). It won't work for my 3 that are going to be hs'ed this year.
Like Brandy, I looked into it for money reasons. (hubby got laid off over a year ago) Everything is all laid out for you and everything you need is free. That really tempted me. REALLY tempted me. LOL But it doesn't fit with why I want to homeschool. I want to homeschool so my son can study what he's into. So he can learn what he wants when he wants. I want to take a vacation in the off season. I want to do a 4 day week and school year round. I want to control the curriculum. I want to go over something until my son gets it, if it's frustrating we can leave and come back to it in a month or next year even. I don't want him to feel forced to learn things he's not ready for just because the state says he needs to learn it now. I want our subjects to be Christian based. I want him learning life skills to count as part of his education. I want to take field trips when they present themselves. I want our curriculum to follow life (aka, our rabbit had babies so we did a lapbook on rabbits) I don't agree with forcing such young children to do so much, my son was totally stressed out in KINDERGARTEN this year. Crazy. So next year, we're homeschooling for free with resources I found online. K12 just doesn't fit why we want to homeschool. So, instead, I searched the web and found mostly free curriculum for next year. I've bought a few things that cost me $5 or less. And I get to teach him my way, I make the rules. I think K12 is a good option for some. But I think you really need to look into WHY you are considering homeschooling. If your AHDH child just needs more frequent breaks to expel some energy or your child suffers from anxiety and doesn't like being in a classroom with 20-30 other kids, then yeah, it may be a perfect fit. But if your homeschooling because you don't agree with public school theories or state standards or whatever, then you're not going to be happy, cause it's still a state run school, you still answer to the state.
Thank you guys so much! You have really helped me with my decision... I have a friend who has a friend that uses it and she was saying such great things about it.. but I need the freedom of flexibility. Especially since I also have a 3 year old and 18 month old! Thanks again!!
We use K12 (Pennsylvania Virtual Charter School) and we LOVE it. I chose to homeschool because I didn't want my daughter attending a city school, I didn't want her to have to walk through a metal detector to get into school . . . I knew I wouldn't have the discipline to do a traditional homeschool, so we went this route. We're happy with it. It holds me accountable!
A lot of people feel that way. LOL I think k12 and other virtual public schools programs are a GREAT option to have. It's a prefect fit for some people. But it doesn't offer the freedom of actually homeschooling. It is still public school. It's just public school at home. And that's what I wanted was the freedom! LOL And I'm lucky to live in a state that offers me a lot of that with regards to homeschooling.
Like many have said, I too looked at K12 through a virtual. The curriculum looks AWESOME, and I have heard really great things about their science and social studies. I was terrified of PA's laws and really thought that was my only option at first. Then I found a site that explained our laws in normal human language and I realized I could do it on my own. Going with a virtual is a great option, but for me I wanted the freedom to teach my kids what I wanted them to learn, and do it on my schedule, not someone elses.
Exactly! I get frustrated with hs'ers that are so against K12 programs. It's one option, and who are we to say it's a "wrong" option? But I do get frustrated with people equating K12 with homeschooling. They're as different as public and private school! I am concerned that, because they're both done at home, it will eventually erode away the right to homeschool.
I think us homeschoolers are a vocal enough group that k12 isn't a threat LOL we like our freedom and homeschooling for most people *I* know isn't about school at home, it's about educational freedom. We're not going to give that up easily! LOL I do feel for those who do virtual public though, I have seen them attacked from both sides. Homeschoolers don't except them cause it is not homeschooling it is a public school option and public schoolers don't accept them cause they have school at home. LOL Poor guys, they are just parents like the rest of us, trying to do what is best for their child! And just because virtual public isn't best for MY child, doesn't mean it isn't best for YOUR child. I agree though, what is wrong for my family, might be perfect for yours. And vice versa. And that's okay. It doesn't mean we can't support each other in our choices!
I have a friend who I REALLY wish would use K12. She's divorced, but wants to keep her kids home. She has to work. I think this would be a great option for her, but haven't convinced her of it yet. Her kids just need more than she can give right now, but I certainly understand her resistance to putting her kids in public school. We do have a local private school that you can use K12 through. That would be a better option fo her.
