Alternative LearningAre you a homeschooling mama? or maybe you unschool... or maybe you are interested in another alternative learning style? or maybe you don't have any idea what i am referring to?? this forum might just be for you! share your thoughts and ideas
Have you talked to PAVCS? That is who we used for 2 years a few years back... and we accelerated - 2-3 years for math ofr Nate... and he got a new math year midway through the year, too. We never had a problem with it. Odd.
edited:
I read the other posts now. Wow. Is he identified as gifted? If he is... you would think they could use that as a means for special education. maybe a 504 plan? hmmm. They have to abide by the same rules as a public school which means they have to (ok, I realize how silly that sounds) provide a curriculum based on the needs of a child. They make all sorts of accomodations for children who are not able to do the work, you would think they would have another side to that - kwim? So even if he were to take a placement test and score well on the algebra part, they wouldn't accomodate? How insanely frustrating.
I spoke with PAVCS and Agora, which are the two big K12 cyber charters in PA. Both told me, in different words, that I would have a big fight if I wanted him accelerated more than 2 grades in math or reading, and that "it isn't possible" to accelerate at all in other subjects. So, next fall, he'd do 5th grade math and reading, at best, and 3rd grade everything else.
I have a friend who has two kids using Agora and they wouldn't let them take a placement test for Latin, even though they have taken two years of strenuous Latin at home. Agora made them do Latin I.
It's so odd, because the nature of a cyber charter school lends itself to being flexible, right? Isn't that sort of the point of a cyber charter? It's not as if they will need to have Sam in his own private high school Geometry class next fall, or like I'm asking to have him bussed to the local high school, or whatever. All they need to do is have him take a placement test and then say, "ok, you're in Geometry." I find it strange that they would not be taking advantage of one of their biggest strengths.
He would be identified as gifted with a GIEP if we were to go the public school route. I'd need to plan for about 3-6 months in order to get the GIEP in the first place (they take their time) and then fight some more to get it implemented.
An acquaintance of mine has a profoundly gifted child in school with a GIEP and she had to file due process paperwork (using an attorney) to have him placed in an appropriate math class. This child is about Sam's age and scored very well on the SAT math course this past spring...scored high on the school's final exam for Algebra...and the school still made the family fight to get him placed into Algebra II this coming fall.
It seems like our state isn't one of the friendlier ones when it comes to implementing GIEPs. I try to weigh the advantages of him being in school (cyber or not) over the battle I'd have to wage to get him placed appropriately, and just thinking about it makes me tired.
WOW - I can't imagine an elementary school kid even being considered for high school math here. It just doesn't happen. The earliest they can do Algebra I is 7th grade. NCLB hurts the gifted kids. They aren't allowed to excel.
I thought about K12 but in IL you can only get in (free) if you live in the city limits of Chicago. Um, no thanks! I live on the other side of the state for a reason. (No offense to our Chicago mamas, but I grew up in the burbs and I'm better off in a small town.)
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-Sue. Loving wife to my dh of 16 yrs.
SAHM to five wonderful girls
Tara, I think it's absolutely insane that they can bend over backwards for children who are struggling - but children who are in NEED of a challenge the answer is typically, just give them more of the same work. That doesn't fill the need for the gifted child - who just THINKS differently than others.
And yes, one of the benefits is supposed to be working at their own pace. Thing is... since it's a public school... you still get the public school mentality on a few things. Good idea - not so good execution.
Location: Formerly from Long Island Now Jensen Beach, Florida
Posts: 182
Morgan (K) is not able to participate with our va (FL has locked out new students for 08-09), so she will be "conventionally" home-schooled this year. I do plan to utilize K12 phonics for her though.[/quote]
yeah what is up with Florida. I am soo annoyed at this. I wanted to put my son who is going into 6th grade either into this or connections academy. THey told me though maybe our school district would offer it. I highly doubt it. I am so confused as to where to start to even home school I don't know what to do. I just don't understand how florida legislature could basically put kids this year 08-09 where they wouldn't be allowed to go. If they wont pay they should have forced the districts to do it this year not just say ohh if you want to.. Ok enough venting LOL
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Jamie Mama To:
Jason (10) Kevin (9), Kathryn (6) and Lauren (5)
Tara,
Do the colleges have duel enrollment in your state? I am wondering if they would be more accomodating? They might make you GO to the class with him, but it might be worth checking out. A lot of young teens that are homeschooled go that route around here.
Teri, some colleges will do dual enrollment if you are in high school; when I was a senior I took four classes at a local university. I'm sure I could get them past the "if you are in high school" part with some effort.
Right now he's not ready for most college classes - still at middle/high school level. The soonest he'd be ready for college level classes would be for math by the time he's in the 10-11-12 age range. That timeline is going to depend on how much super-challenging math stuff we throw at him in the meantime. Having him take the AOPS courses is going to take him much longer than if he did a regular curriculum like Saxon or Teaching Textbooks.
Anyone know of a virtual school for a 7th grader in IL, not Chicago, that's free? All I can find through google is K12 which is only free inside the Chicago city limits. Thanks, mamas!
DS's 4th grade course listing is up on the OLS (can't access classes yet). I can't wait for materials to arrive.
Hannah is going into 4th as well! They will be doing the same stuff
We still have one lonely science ETA to turn into her teacher from last year. This is the last week of summer school for her. So we can still see her old OLS. We don't get our classes loaded up for fall until mid august. We got our reclamation list the other day. Last year they didn't have you return materials until like right before school started. Was a pain!
Military wife of a deployed soldier. 
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