My step-daughter will most likely be coming back to live with us in a couple of months and would like to join us for homeschooling. I will try to give you the Reader's Digest version of her history and my questions. Ashley went to the public school through her freshman year. She had/has multiple problems inside and outside the school. These escalated. Her sophmore year, Ashley, my husband, and I decided to try our school systems alternative center and then after more issues (included several runs from the home and drug addiction and treatment) the decision was made to homeschool. Unfortunately, this was not the end of her/our problems. We had to make the decsion to allow her to be placed outside the home in November. During that time she had several more runs. She has been much more stable during the last 3 months. She is facing some legal issues, but seems to have her head on her shoulders, has been clean for almost 6 months, and really wants to gradute from high school, not get a GED. Because of the issues over the last year or two she has no credits for her sophmore year. On top of this she is at the older end of her class due to her birthdate. So, if we follow a traditional school pattern she will be almost 19 when she graduates at this point. Not the end of the world, but I also want her to stay motiviated and be able to be a productive adult. I know the credit recovery programs online and/or correspondence schools often do things where they go through texts at an accelerated rate and/or test out of classes. What I am trying to figure out is if I can so something similar for her at home without one of these programs. This does go against my educational philosophies to a certain degree. I want my kids to dig deep and love learning, and this is more like a drive-through restaurant method. But, I know this is what she wants, and maybe needs at this point. Just to get done. I know, typically, according to HSLDA a high school credit is 120-180 clock hours or finishing a high school level text book. So, for subjects she understands well enough, like maybe a consumer math course, can we fly through the book, testing each chapter and going on when she passes, and count it as a credit when she finishes the book? FWIW, Kansas law is pretty flexible. It requires "The instruction must be (a) planned and (b) scheduled, and (c) periodic testing must occur." Technically, compulsory attendence can end at 16 with special parental consent. Sorry for the rambling, thank you for your insight.
According to my husband, Credit Recovery is usually a total waste of time. He says that, at least in his school district, the kids just basically take the tests over and over until they pass, and it's always the same questions in the same order. The kids basically memorize which answers AREN'T right.
This, and $$, are why I don't really want to use a correspondence school to do credit recovery through. The school district is out because it is small enough that there is only one school choice and there are many people that she (and we) would rather distance her from during her recovery period. I figured, even if we did a surface cover of a course we would do better than the school's credit recovery program. I just don't want to do anything that would be perceived as "wrong." Too many people have worked too hard to preserve the rights of homeschooling families. I don't want someone looking over our transcript/portfolio when she enters college or trade school and overly questioning our methods. As in, how she got 3 years worth of credits in 1.5 yrs (assuming we school through the summer and do longer days.)
What if you put her in summer school until her senior year, also ask the school district if she will be able to "test" out of some classes. You could homeschool her on that subject and then she could just take the test for the credit. Are there any schools or programs in your area where she could attend and be more monitored so she doesn't have the chance to slip up? What about a school in a neighboring town or district, most schools will let any kid attend for a small fee.
Well, unfortunately, unless the school budge improves there will not be a summer school option. They did not have it this summer do to funding. Locally our two choices for high school are the main high school and the alternative center. The alternative center is much, much smaller, and more secure. The problem is at least 80% of the students there are the "problem" students. So, she would be spending all her down time at school with those kids who engage in the same kinds of activites she was engaging in. This is a tempatation she wants to distance herself from for a while longer. The only other school within 30 miles has just recently stopped being a strictly closed district. But, they are very selective with what students. So, with her past academic history (skipping, failing) she has little to no chance of being allowed in. I really think hsing is the way we will go, regardless. I guess the decision we really have to make is if we are going to 1) do it traditionally, like with my son 2)use some type of accelerated format or 3) use a distance education credit recovery program.
If you school year round she can make up stuff and I see no reason NOT to give her credit if she finishes the course. Maybe look at something which has SPECIFIC tests (like Saxon Math or even LifePacs/Switched on Schoolhouse).....if she completes the class it IS completed - no reason not to give her credit for it even if it took her 3 weeks (just an example <G>)
Have you considered an on-line charter school? I personally am very much against them, but for some people, they can be a good choice. And, because they're a charter school, they're free. You might want to at least check it out.
They do not really have to know she did it in 1.5 yrs. I am trying to remember how a transcript looks when things have been transferred in, but I do not think they generally itemize when they were taken. I think it is often listed as T credit. But honestly, I do not think a college or trade school will care. High school transcripts are never viewed outside of the admissions office. I would also be realistic about her prospects for making it through college after a history of drug use. While there are exceptions, few people make it through drug recovery and never go back. I think the fact that you feel you do not have much hope if she does not graduate until closer to 19 yrs old is an issue says that I think you feel much the same way. Here is what I would do..I would do high school simultaneous to trade school or community college. She may not graduate high school until almost 19, but maybe she will be ready to sit for a trade exam, such as haircutting. That is routine here. My high schoolers will be attending community college for their junior and senior years of high school. They will earn 2 yrs of college that apply toward their high school too. So, for example, they will take freshman English at the community college and be given credit for 11th grade English at home. Our local schools offer programs in hair cutting and other things that require licenses, automotive tech, etc. So that is a possibility too. One big advantage to taking these classes in high school, where we live anyway, is it is tuition free at the community colleges. I don't know what they do in Kansas though.
Thank you guys, again. Jackie- My son did a charter school last year, and while some are self-paced, he couldn't take finals, etc until a specified date. So, in reality you couldn't finish early, just get to the end of the semster and wait. But, if we don't decide to accelerate it is a real option for her.
Momofafew- Let's just say I am cautiously optimistic. I really do hope she has learned her lessons and will find her path and excel. However, we have been down this road too many times to be naive. So, my goal, as you indicated, is to get her graduated and be at a point where she can realistically be expected to support herself if we, once again, have to exhibit tough love. We definately may go the duel enrollment route for her. It won't be free, but as will assist the kids with college/trade school funding we can help with it. At this point she really has no idea what field she wants to go into, but hopefully this year we can get to that point and she can do that.
Have you thought of a online school, there are several on line high school programs out there that can be finish in 2 years if you want them too be.. its up to the child.
Another idea might be to study and take a CLEP test (versus dual enrollment). They generally run about $75 (I think) and thus are cheaper if you pass than an entire community class. You can find out info at the College Board website. I have an unschooling friend and her son is basically taking CLEP tests has the only structured learning (she can explain it better) Some colleges limit how many CLEP credits can transfer into a college but for high school credits, the sky could be the limit.
My friend recommended "Progress Academy" - she said her 2 daughters are moving through the material and doing really well with it.... you pay for the YEAR so she can start at a point and keep moving forward for the 365 days and move into whatever level is next for her.
I don't think almost nineteen is too old to be in school. I graduated with a group mixed with 17, 18, and 19 year-olds. They had various reasons for being a bit older, and some were very good students. I would encourage her to take the time to really learn the material now so that she won't be stuck in remedial courses if she goes off to college.
I just realized I stated her age incorrectly. If she were to graduate on time, she will be almost 19. On her current path she will be almost 20. I agree it's not too late, the problem comes when you see all your peers off in the "real world" for a year or two and you get restless. Knowing her personality I am concerned this could be a real problem for her. Hopefully not, though.
What if when she got to her senior year (or whenever she is ready) you had her go over to the community colleges to take some college classes? The she could honestly say she is a college student, and feel like she is making some progress in the "real world", while also finishing her diploma. I know that the community colleges around here frequently have homeschool students attend, and one even offers a program specifically geared towards them. Hang in there, I'm sure you'll come up with something! She's lucky to have such a supportive family behind her.
