In recent years, parents have demanded flexibility to meet changing lifestyles and more school choices. Public and private schools are scrambling to meet those needs in order to keep the coffers full. As a result, there are more choices available. Parents who desire to home school but are not sure they can handle the entire responsibility have several options.Internet schools: One of the fastest growing variations in home schooling is Internet schooling. Internet schools provide curriculum, lesson plans and record keeping, leaving the parent with the basic responsibility of instructing the student. In Colorado, several public schools offer an Internet option. Because the schools are tax-supported, the services are free, often providing not only written curriculum and supplies but also computer and Internet service. Private schools that offer an Internet option don’t charge as much as classroom students pay. Internet schools offer support staff for computer problems and teaching staff for consultations regarding learning difficulties. Internet schools offer scheduling flexibility, usually within the confines of a larger school schedule. Two public Internet schools in Colorado are Colorado Virtual Academy (COVA) (www.covcs.org) and Karval Online (www.karvalonlineeducation.com). Search online for private Internet schools.DVD schools: Several companies that sell home-school curriculums now offer classes by video or DVD. In this home-school variation, the student receives all instruction from a DVD or video taped in an actual classroom. The instructors are available for communication with the home-school student by phone or e-mail. The curriculum company also provides textbooks and tests. Parents may choose to have the school keep their student’s records and receive a diploma or keep their own records and operate as a traditional home schooling family. DVD schools offer time and location flexibility and require less time from the teaching parent. One Christian curriculum company that offers DVD school is A Beka Academy (www.abekaacademy.org).Satellite schools: Satellite schools are similar to DVD schools. In this case, the instruction is sent to the home schooler’s television set via satellite from a live classroom. This variation does not afford as much flexibility.Umbrella schools: An umbrella school, which can be either public or private, takes responsibility for maintaining grades and attendance records. An umbrella school may require home schoolers to use the school’s curriculum, or may allow the parents to choose their own. Umbrella schools offer support and legal protection to the home schooler.Colorado Academy of Independent Learners (www.cail-school.org) is an umbrella school operating out of Peyton District RJ23, and it accepts students statewide. Kerry Kantor, director of CAIL, said, “We work with parents to design a customized curriculum that’s overseen at home by the parents.” CAIL has a staff of five Colorado licensed teachers who are experienced at home schooling. “It’s hard being your child’s teacher,” Kantor said. “It’s a very dynamic, very personal experience. We take the guesswork out of the question “Am I doing everything that I need to be doing?” CAIL’s teachers work with home-schooling parents to make sure their children are getting an education that meets Colorado’s standards. They do evaluations or work with the parents to arrange for standardized tests as the law requires. As the child progresses in school, the support intensifies to ensure the student has the coursework, documentation and transcripts needed to qualify for the career or college that he desires. CAIL does issue diplomas. Kantor can be reached at 749-0200 or by email at cail@mindspring.com.Cottage schools: Cottage schools are private or public schools that offer classes to home-schooled students on a part-time basis. These schools are excellent for the home schooling parent who has a weakness in a particular area. For instance, if math is a particular challenge, the student can enroll in a cottage school for math only. According to its Web site, the Classical Academy in School District 20 offers a cottage school for grades K through 12. Kindergarteners to sixth graders may attend two half days per week, middle school students may attend all day Fridays and high school students may attend selected courses when there are openings. (www.tcad20.org) Cottage schools usually provide transcripts for courses taken.
