Amanda N. Howard, M.A.
Practicum Trainee (2021-2022)
Whether you are interested in homeschooling, are already homeschooling, or if you simply have questions about it, this article may serve as a helpful guide when considering your options. Parents and caregivers may consider homeschooling their child for various reasons. With the rise in virtual and hybrid curriculums since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more families are considering making changes to their children’s academic settings.
Let’s take a look at some of the academic settings available:
· Public school. (1) This is the most common education format for children living in the US. Public schools are free and are open to all school-aged children. Public schools provide regular curriculum, opportunities for engaging with peers, and extracurricular activities. The public school system also provides a variety of other services including free or subsidized meals, extended day childcare, assistance accessing medical and dental services, counseling services, and other social services and supports. Public schools are tasked with providing appropriate specialized education services for diverse learners (e.g., students with disabilities, students who are gifted). In addition to traditional public schools, magnet and STEM schools are subsets of public schools that offer specialized curriculum for a specific population (e.g., students interested in science or performing arts).
· Charter school. (1) Charter schools are nonsectarian, publicly funded schools of choice. Each charter has a unique mission and educational objectives. These schools are publicly accountable, but have some freedom from the federal and local regulations over the operations and management of traditional public schools.
· Private and/or Independent school. (1,4) Private or Independent schools are, as the name suggests, funded privately and without assistance from state or federal government. Like public schools, there are different kinds of private schools that offer specialized curriculum (e.g., Montessori, Waldorf, college preparatory, performing arts, or religion-affiliated schools). Unlike public schools, private and independent schools require tuition to attend, and some have additional requirements to qualify. These schools often have smaller class sizes than public school. Privately or independently funded schools generally must provide reasonable accommodations for students under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADD), but often these schools are not required to provide specialized intervention services for diverse learners.
· Virtual school. (1) Virtual schooling, sometimes called distance learning, may be used by public, private, independent, charter, or homeschool programs. Virtual learning is completed via self-paced courses, live or pre-recorded instructional videos, and virtual classrooms in a video-chat format.
· Hybrid school. (1) Hybrid school, like the name suggests, includes both a virtual and an in-person component. Students may attend school in-person during part of the week and engage in virtual-learning the rest of the week, or they may be primarily utilizing virtual learning with supplemental in-person social activities such as field trips. Like virtual schooling, public, private, charter, or homeschool programs may be provided in a hybrid format.
· Homeschool. (3,5) Homeschooling encompasses self-funded education that is directed by a parent or legal guardian. Parents are tasked with creating and teaching the curriculum or paying a private tutor or teacher to teach the curriculum. Creating a curriculum can be a difficult task and it often costs money to purchase a high-quality curriculum. Some states also have additional curriculum requirements that must be incorporated (e.g., state-mandated subjects) or the student may be required to pass state-mandated standardized tests to ensure they are meeting academic standards. Homeschooling can provide a flexible approach to education that may be more desirable for some families, if they have the resources available to create and fund their child’s education. However, it is also essential to the child’s development that they are engaging socially, so parents must find extracurricular activities or homeschool groups that provide a social component. Homeschooling is most effective when it encompasses the same elements of traditional schooling (e.g., consistent daily schedule, academic instruction, various educational activities, social interactions with peers and adults outside the family).
· Unschool. (6) Unschooling is generally considered a form of homeschooling that allows children to learn about their own interests at their own pace. This is also sometimes referred to as “child-led learning.” Parents who follow an “unschooling” philosophy encourage their children utilize nature, travel, art, music, and other natural resources to follow their passion. Unschooling does not have a specific formal education curriculum. Families who choose to unschool are required to follow relevant local rules and laws related to school and education.
If you decide to homeschool (or unschool) your child, Nevada law requires that you file a Notice of Intent to Homeschool with the school district superintendent (http://nevadahomeschoolnetwork.com/legal/notice-of-intent/). You must also officially withdraw your child from school if your child is enrolled in a public or charter school in Nevada2. You must fill out a Notice of Intent to Participate (http://nevadahomeschoolnetwork.com/legal/notice-of-intent/) if you would like your child to participate in extracurricular school activities or programs through their zoned public school. Nevada law also mandates that parents who homeschool must provide and fund special education services for their homeschooled children with disabilities who would otherwise be eligible for services in the public school district.
There are many reasons a family may consider homeschooling. Some parents decide to pursue homeschooling because their child is receiving poor grades, is being bullied, or is refusing to attend school. In some situations, however, parents may find that homeschooling does not improve the situation, or may even make matters worse. For example, if a child is receiving poor grades due to a learning disability, they may make more academic progress through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) Plan and utilizing services offered by learning specialists employed at the school. For a child who is reluctant to attend school due to social anxiety or separation anxiety, homeschooling may reinforce their avoidance and increase their anxiety in similar situations. Instead, that child might make more progress by working with a behavioral health specialist trained in cognitive behavioral therapy techniques for anxiety and school refusal. Homeschooling often does not serve as an effective solution for children with disabilities, and instead may present additional challenges. It is recommended that you consult with your child’s school and any behavioral health specialists involved in your child’s care if you are considering homeschooling your child.
You may also find the following resources helpful:
For assistance in developing a homeschool curriculum:
For accessing state-required forms:
To determine specific standards or curricula in your State:
References:
1. FAQs: Frequently asked questions. U.S. Department of Education. (n.d.). Retrieved March 30, 2022, from https://www.ed.gov/answers/
2. Notice of Intent. Nevada Homeschool Network. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4, 2022, from https://nevadahomeschoolnetwork.com/legal/notice-of-intent/
3. Quick Start Guide to Nevada Homeschooling. Nevada Homeschool Network. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4, 2022, from https://nevadahomeschoolnetwork.com/homeschool-support/new-homeschoolersgetting-started/quick-start-guide/
4. What Are Private Schools. Learn.org. (n.d.). Retrieved March 28, 2022, from https://learn.org/articles/What_are_Private_Schools.html
5. Homeschool laws by State. Home School Legal Defense Association. (n.d.). Retrieved April 4, 2022, from https://hslda.org/legal
6. Loveless, B. (2022). What is Unschooling? Education Corner: Education that Matters. Retrieved April 4, 2022, from https://www.educationcorner.com/what-is-unschooling.html