Let's look at the pros and cons of educating through a charter school and a few tips for making the most of the experience should you go that route.
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QUOTABLES
DeeDee: "...even though we are enrolled in a public charter school, we are the homeschool parents. And so we are able to homeschool. We're able to give our children that rich educational experience that we desire for them to have, but still have the benefits of the support."
TIMESTAMPS
03:22 What are charter schools?
04:26 37% of charter schools are on the West coast and the majority of them are in cities rather than rural areas.
05:40 Charter school student demographics.
06:00 Data from Thomas Sowell who wrote Charter Schools and Their Enemies.
09:00 Charter schools have to please the consumer — the parent. That's probably why research shows parents are more satisfied with schools they choose, as far as teachers and academics and discipline are concerned.
10:17 Ximena shares about charter schools in San Diego that run homeschool programs.
15:03 DeeDee shares her experience of homeschooling through a charter school since she started homeschooling in 2010. Her school is Springs Charter School in San Diego, CA. Ximena has been using the same charter since 2014.
16:06 The pros of homeschooling via a charter school: the support and accountability you get through a teacher or educational specialist. The trained professional will walk you through the journey, checking in with you and providing answers to questions. This support may not be welcome by some parents, but if you second-guess yourself, it can be a huge path to long term success to know you have a teacher on your team.
17:35 What kind of support an educational specialist can offer you via a charter school and how that can help you succeed.
19:03 Unschoolers may resist the support of an educational specialist. Other parents may have a personality conflict with their specialist that makes the relationship a burden instead of a benefit.
20:15 Another potential con is having state testing requirements and the need to meet state standards. Again, this depends on your own outlook. But if your relationship with your educational specialist is strong, even this kind of hurdle can easily be overcome. Just communicate your concerns with them.
21:50 While a charter school can provide funds for curriculum, you are limited to approved programs, and they cannot be faith-based. Some parents will appreciate this list of approved curriculum while others may find it restrictive.
22:30 Homeschooling high school presents special challenges when it comes to working with a charter school.
23:46 How the money works for buying your curriculum through a charter. You can purchase school supplies, extracurricular activities, field trips, etc.
25:11 A charter will do your recordkeeping and even organize field trips.
26:17 Charters often provide training and conferences for parents to improve their teaching skills.
26:40 And charters can also provide socialization, getting families together for fun and support.
Thanks to show sponsor BookShark. Request a homeschool curriculum catalog or download samples at bookshark.com.
