School Decisions

The year that approaches looks distinctly different than any other year. Many parents are trying to decide if they should send their students to school buildings, virtual school or even home school. These are tough decisions and there is no blanket answer for everyone. But I have a few tips and pieces of info for you...read on!

When making the decisions for your student...

1. Ask, ask and ask again. Many of the choices provided to families still leave parents with a lot of questions. And to be completely honest, some of the questions parents and teachers pose may ultimately be things the decision makers hadn't considered. Asking may clarify things for many families, not just yours. Please don't be afraid to send emails, call, tweet and ASK! Reach out to school leaders, teacher friends, school board members, etc.
**Don't forget to ask if/ when you can change your decision (Ex. can you change after the 1st quarter? Do you have to wait until January? Etc.)**

2. Think it through - Consider what a day for homeschooling will look like if that is an option. See below for some suggestions of time frames for learning. What resources will you use? What will a typical day look like? If you plan to utilize virtual learning, do all students have reliable access to a device? Do they need to run an update or get some better quality headphones before the new year begins? Think of the variables.

3. Talk to your student  - Ask them their opinion. First of all, it seems to rarely happen and they will appreciate it. Plus, it would be helpful to know what they prefer as you make a decision FOR them. Of course, you can preface the conversation by reminding them you have the final decision but of course how you handle that is totally up to you.

4. Be flexible - That is easier said than done right now, I know. But I am saying it as a reminder to myself as well. Things have changed so frequently lately and it's really hard to predict. It would bite to tell your kiddo repeatedly that they'll be back on the bus with friends soon when that just might not be the case. 

What other tips would you share? How are you handling such a big decision? To be honest I am grateful my son is only 3 but I am still struggling considering daycare as I return (?) to work.

Homeschool times - The chart below shows some time frames based on student grade level. 

Point of clarification - This chart is sourced from the Illinois State Board of Education HOWEVER in TN the language regarding requirements for homeschool is very vague (although there is mention of a 4 hour minimum requirement).  I have yet to discover a similar chart for my state. Look into the Dept. of Education for your state if you're unsure.