Thursday, Feb 19th, 2009
By Laurie Hindman
Berthoud Recorder
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) homeschooling is growing in popularity, with approximately 1.5 million U.S. children learning at home in 2007, an increase of 74 percent from when the Department of Education first began tracking the trend in 1977.
A 2007 survey conducted by NCES found the top reasons why parents elect home education are concerns about the school environment (including safety, drugs and peer pressure), a desire to provide religious or moral instruction, a dissatisfaction with instruction at public schools and an interest in non-traditional approach to education.
…In comparison, the state of Colorado is fairly liberal in its regulation of homeschooling. The law declares it is “the primary right and obligation of the parent to choose the proper education and training for children” and that homeschooled education is “a legitimate alternative to classroom attendance for the instruction of children.” Parents are required to notify their school district in writing of their intent to home school.
Other requirements include tracking hours (like public schools, homeschooled students must include no less than 172 days of instruction, averaging four hours of instruction per day) and providing instruction in areas including reading, writing and speaking, mathematics, history, civics, literature, science and the Constitution of the United States. Homeschooled students must be evaluated at grades three, five, seven, nine, and 11 by a nationally recognized standard achievement test such as the Iowa Skills and Achievement or the Woodcock Johnson test.
Colorado law also states that a child may elect to attend their school district part-time and that the district is entitled to count the child as enrolled. Homeschooled students may participate in extracurricular or interscholastic activities, such as chess club or science fairs, at their designated school regardless of their status.
Here is the full story.
I homeschool my kids too.
The public school system, where kids from a variety of economic and cultural backgrounds can intermingle, is the bedrock of American (and Canadian) democracy. I find homeschooling a disturbing trend that will lead to further fragmentation of our society.
Susan was homeschooled she turned out extremely gifted.
We find the public school system a disturbing culture of violence, mediocrity that does not promote the upmost excellence in a child.
This is a reason why some public schools do not wish their test scores to be compared with homeschoolers. Homeschoolers test higher, which makes the public school system look bad.
Im a parent of a homeschooler, my daughter speaks 3 foreign languages, has a FIDE title and has an excellent social life with other homeschoolers. I was the principal of a school so I speak as an authority.
“Anonymous said…
The public school system, where kids from a variety of economic and cultural backgrounds can intermingle, is the bedrock of American (and Canadian) democracy. I find homeschooling a disturbing trend that will lead to further fragmentation of our society.”
EPIC FAIL…
Allow me to help you.
The public school system, where kids from a variety of economic and cultural backgrounds can intermingle, do drugs, drink, have sex, shoot each other, knife each other, etc. is the bedrock of American (and Canadian) democracy, FYI, America is a republic!!! I find homeschooling a disturbing trend, well mannered kids are always a threat, that will lead to further fragmentation of our society. Again, well behaved and respectful kids will destroy America.
BRAVO
ANON 9:50
bravo!!!
Well said.