We are applying for Visions in Education, which is a public HS charter school in our district. It is free curriculum (100% of my choice!), we have a teacher that visits us at home monthly. The school offers field trips, sports, dances...etc. I would have a $1600/year budget given to me for anything educational...supplies, museum memberships, swim lessons...etc! The only 'structure' that is required is to cover certain subjects that year, but I can teach him with whatever and how ever we want to! I'm super excited and not so stressed out over curriculum and getting what I KNOW would work for Eli. :love: There will still be state testing, but I'm not too worried about that. My reasons for homeschooling were for character development and to avoid teasing through his awkward ortho years and surgeries (he was born with a cleft lip and palate)
You are a lucky duck, Cali is about the only state I know of that offers that kind of an option! You will most likely have to get all your choices approved, most will not allow you to choose anything that has a religious slant (though that would be fine for me, it wouldn't for someone looking to teach from a religious perspective). What others do when they face this but wish to teach from a religious view point is buy some things themselves, but they make sure to buy all their extras and things with the money (board games, educational "toys", etc)
Yes, anything Christian can not be purchased with this money. But I have the option to buy my own and use a creation science and use the money for manipulative s, etc.
Awesome! We are in a similar program through our local school district (in WI). We get $1,500 for elementary and $2,000 for high school (not sure what it is for middle school). This is our 2nd year and I plan on sticking with it. Our LEG (local education guide) that meets with us is also a homeschooling mom. We don't meet monthly (less than that). We can only buy secular too....with the exception of history (they realize you can't really get away from any talk of God in history). I feel very fortunate our school offers this program....they just started it 3 years ago (wish I had heard about it that first year). ETA: just an interesting side thought...our program only lets 10 students in. So, the beginning of last year I was on pins and needles wondering if we'd get in (because the previous year they were maxed out). Once you are in...you are in until you decide to drop it. This year there are only 5 students (2 are mine)....not because the program was bad or anything...only because most dropped and opened enrolled through a similar program in a nearby district because they get to keep anything that they buy (we are supposed to give it back whenever we are done....but yet, they don't keep track either). So, a bunch went over there and now that school changed a bunch of rules and now they are seeing that the grass isn't always greener.....
I'm so jealous of you both I could have a field day with that much money to spend.. and if it was per child holy moly how would I spend $3000 or more? I usually spend less than $300!
You must live near me, I know a number of people locally in Visions. It works well if you get a good advisor, or you are a strong person who can tell the advisor that you are not doing what she suggests, but what is best for your child. And the trick on the curriculum is to buy consumable, then you don't have to had it back at the end of the year. If you buy non consumable they want it back and there's a frantic search to find it at the end of the year. Or use the money for classes and buy your own curriculum.
This was my problem last year. I started K with Visions and had ordered all of my curriculum and my advisor talked me out of EVERYTHING i had already ordered and had me use what she felt comfortable with. BIG MISTAKE! I was an insecure first time homeschooler and felt bullied. :cry: So I pulled him and put him into public school because I felt that I couldn't do it. Not this year! I won't stand for someone who doesn't know my son telling me what would be best for him.
Yes, that's great! We're connected with one that sounds similar here in Alaska. They pay for a lot! I use Sonlight- portions and they just don't pay for the teachers guide and bibles, etc. that may go with it but they pay for everything else! We just could not do what we do without it- swimming, skiing, etc. We love it! We don't have the teacher visit us, just keep in touch by email and/or phone! It is such a blessing! Enjoy it!
We're with Visions, too. We were with Horizons for 2 years, then switched because we get more funds with Visions. I find that Visions is way more strict with the standards than Horizons was, but I guess it's a trade-off. Btw, whereabouts do you live? You must be somewhat close to me. I'm in Cameron Park.
I"ll have to look into Horizons, I've heard of them before but I haven't read in depth. Visions was the only PS HS charter I've known of so that is why I chose them. I am in North Natomas, near the sacramento airport. ETA: I just went to their site, and they offer the same amount of money as Visions now...$1600/year per student K-8 and $1800/year 9-12 Aside from the Standards/money thing, which have you enjoyed more? I'm going to send you a message, in case you don't come back to this thread.
