We've opted for a two day per week charter school for my dd's kinder year using the school's curriculum. They also offer a full-time independent study program with much more freedom for curriculum, electives, etc up to $1000 per student should we feel that would be a better option. I guess i'm just looking for input from those who have btdt... things to watch out for with charter schools, things you liked, etc... any thoughts?
I go through an umbrella school- I think it's different from a charter because there is no option to send them- just a stipend for the year and of course we are at home. I know it may vary by the state you are in too, but I am in Alaska and to me it seems pretty easy going. We get a pretty good stipend to use for curriculum, and activities. The choices for curriculum are pretty good- almost anything except too religious stuff, but I can still use them they may or may not cover it though. My responsibilities are to 'check' in monthly (email is good enough) and write a learning plan for the year (this helps them cover the materials) and report card 2 times a year and then once in 3rd grade they do the standardized testing. The staff is friendly and easy going, for us it's been great- I can use curriculum I may not have been able to afford and to me the testing really is not a big deal- 3 mornings of the year, that's fine. I guess it depends on what their expectations are for you as a family and if you are comfortable with them- I have heard of others trying to work with one and they were much more 'in your face' I guess, but that has not been our experience- again it may depend on where you live too! Good luck with it!
That's interesting. We have quite a few charter schools, but to my knowledge, they pretty much keep to the same schedule as public schools. Does it have a certain focus? Here, we have military, art, medical, science, and law charters (and probably others).
yeah, this is more involved than an umbrella school. when you're on a two day per week track like we'll be, you have to keep up with the class and do the assigned work... I guess i'm just trying it out to see how it foes knowing that I can always pull her out if I want to. i'm thinking of it more like homeschool training wheels. get a routine down, look at different ways of teaching, etc, without having to come up with everything on my own.
The only thing that I can add is that you may not like the math. I do not like our math. The 2 day a week thing would be nice for getting to know others without having to pay for a home school co-op. We do an online charter so it is probably different. The one thing that I see is that they sell you on it to get you in and it may be a little different once you start. Things that weren't mandatory may suddenly become a deal breaker if you don't do them. I kind of think it might would be the best of both worlds type of thing.
