I've spent the last 11 years reading, comparing notes and explaining the differences between Home-based Instruction (homeschooling) and Alternative Learning Experience Programs (public school Alt. Ed.). This has taken a lot of my time to learn about them, to show their differences and then explain to families why they are not homeschooling while enrolled full time in these programs. Meanwhile the same thing has been happening across the nation. The programs are called e-schools, charter schools, public virtual schools, and no doubt many more. What the public may think is choice, many homeschoolers have experienced lies and marketing. I am a proponent of choice in education. What I have never understood is the misinformation, mislabeling and lack of accountablility many of these programs have shown.
Chance that an American adult believes that 'politics and government are too complicated to understand': 1 in 3
Chance that an American who was home-schooled feels this way: 1 in 25
~~ Harper's Magazine, May 2004 issue
In April of 2001, I wrote a letter to the Washington State Educational Service Districts' newsletter, Educational Connections . This newsletter goes out to Superintendents throughout the state. In it I described the differences because, at the time, Superintendents showed a shocking lack of understanding of our law.
Now, there are just too many changes happening lately that lead me to believe homeschoolers not only are money makers for districts and for-profits like K12, but are under subtle attack. So far we've had just enough influence to ward off a direct attack.
Changes over the years
Not only are we back to where we were in 2005, asking school counselors to "allow" our kids to take college classes. We have to prove we have been homeschooling the year prior to applying to Running Start. Schools have nothing to do with determining if our kids are ready for college level work (we take an entrance exam), but somehow we have to prove to them our kids have done junior or senior level work. And it was done ever so subtly.
We dealt repeatedly with confused families AND districts over the definition of public school and homeschool students. We asked, for close to a decade, to have some sort of form given to parents to clearly show they are either enrolled or not in alt. ed. programs. Victory was had with a document called the Statement of Understanding to be given to every family who enrolls. Compliance seems poor. Yet more time spent asking the districts and the state to follow the law.
Part time enrollment, denied for at least a decade, contrary to state law, was granted in 2005. But wait, now we have programs refusing enrollment due to "financial hardships". I personally heard this from an OSPI official who had been traveling the state updating school districts on the 2005 changes. (see pdf comparison chart or the appropriate Washington Adminsitrative Code.
We have programs demanding Home Education Plans of homeschoolers who are enrolled part time. A letter sent out February 16th 2007 to families enrolled in Northshore School District's Home School Network Program, talked of their Modified Consulting Option which would require "approval of Home Education Plan written under the guidence of the consulting teacher" . Never mind there are no "home education plans" anywhere in law.
And finally, they've come up with percent enrollments. I've had conversation with families who believe they are still independent homeschoolers when they are enrolled 99% in a district program. As one wise homeschool leader commented: How can any family consider themselves an independent homeschooler at 1% ?
