This is an overview of what I learned and decided to implement in my personal life.*Please note that I am NOT in any way providing legal advice. Please consult with your attorney and local governing authorities prior to making a decision.
Long before having children, I knew I would homeschool them – whenever they did come. I grew up in a small town with a pretty good school system. Even though I was able to make it and even thrive in some areas of the system, I always felt like I was missing something. I had no idea what that “something” was until I was introduced to a family in my church and began spending time with them and their children. Soon I noticed that each of them seemed to be ahead of the game in one way or another. I was intrigued. The more time I spent with them, the more interested I became in their lifestyle – their schooling choice specifically. That’s when the questions came – how do you take tests? How do you move on to the next grade? Who’s your teacher?? How will you graduate?
So. Many. Questions.
Finally, the time came where I really needed to decide how I wanted my children to learn. We live in a scary world that is changing faster than we can comprehend. I wanted my child’s education to align with the values we are raising them on and knew that my husband and I needed to understand our homeschooling options.
Here’s what we learned.
Homeschooling Options in Florida
Florida has three options for homeschooling (source):
- Homeschooling under the private homeschool statute
- Choosing to educate under a private school “umbrella” program
- Homeschooling with a private tutor
As we began to look into each of these options, I found myself having mixed emotions. There were great private school options near us, but the lines between the private and public schools blurred in areas that left us taking them off the list, and private tutors were expensive. I was absolutely grateful for the flexibility and choice that Florida offers but with my remaining option came an overwhelming sense of responsibility that made me nervous. From communicating with your school district, maintaining records, having your child evaluated annually, there were so many little things that would need to be done. With a toddler and two new businesses, I wasn’t quite sure what we would do. My husband and I knew that traditional school was not an option, and traditional homeschooling would create a burden that may just have the opposite effect on our little ones.
Here’s what we decided.
Our Non-Traditional Decision
Thanks to the internet and the shift that occurred with COVID 19, virtual school options were ranking everywhere. Yes, they were here long before COVID, but they just weren’t on my radar. Virtual schools are online schools where your child learns in a virtual environment instead of a traditional classroom. It’s similar to homeschooling as your child is home, you have flexibility in your schedule, a role in their learning, etc. The main difference is that your child has a state-certified teacher for free or a fraction of the cost of a private tutor. This was a win-win for us. The burden of planning lessons, retaining records, etc., wouldn’t be all on me. I could have a very hands-on role in my child’s education while also building our businesses. K12.com is where we ultimately landed and enrolled. We also supplement that curriculum with content from Christian-based educators.
I love that I can invest in my child daily before she even sits down at her desk for school. Some days it’s a devotional with her, and others, it’s a kids podcast focused on having a healthy mindset and an entrepreneurial perspective from a young age. We can provide extra support exactly where it’s needed because we see it first hand. Daily we get to introduce and model healthy ways of managing your time and resources. I also love that I have the opportunity to filter what they learn through the Cross. We’re only 2 months into Kindergarten, so, so far, everything has been on par with what we want them to be introduced to. However, there will be times in school and in life where our children are exposed to different things, and I love that we get to be right there when it happens and redirect them.
I’m not saying we won’t ever transition to a more traditional way of homeschooling, but it couldn’t be better for now.
Let me know your thoughts and what you are doing with your children!
XOXO JD
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