Online Programs
A virtual school in general refers to a program in which your child is at home, but takes courses over the Internet. These virtual schools offer online programs and often full curricula. They are usually administered by a public or private school. Thus, children enrolled in these programs are effectively enrolled in a school and skirt the definition of a homeschooled student. There are some controversies regarding these programs, but they do provide an alternative that is appropriate for some families. Learn more about how these programs work, what to expect, and how to get the most out of them.
Online Homeschool Programs & Curricula
CLASS Homeschools
CLASS is a pioneer of the modern home school movement and has helped thousands of families to get started—and succeed—in home schooling. CLASS consists of thousands of home schools throughout the United States and around the world, with students ranging in age from four to adult. CLASS is accredited by the National Association of Private Schools. Graduates are being accepted by leading colleges, universities, and military academies.
A Beka Academy
A Beka Academy is an accredited, comprehensive distance-learning program for kindergarten through grade 12. This academically challenging, college preparatory education features high-quality video instruction and uses Christian character-building textbooks from A Beka Book.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help (L.P.H.) Resource Center
L.P.H. Resource Center offers classes for Catholic homeschoolers over the Internet. These classes are designed for mainly 4th-8th graders, but are available to those in higher grades if desired. The classes are kept as flexible as possible.
Calvert School
Calvert School is an independent lower and middle school with a curriculum that is designed to challenge capable boys and girls. Children are prepared for secondary school and for a lifetime of learning by mastering the academic basics. Through its financial aid and recruitment efforts, Calvert strives to offer an educational opportunity to students of all socio-economic backgrounds.
Forest Trail Academy
Forest Trail Academy is an accredited K-12 online high school located in the United States of America committed to provide quality online distance education to students in USA and worldwide. They provide online school courses to all students including homeschoolers who want to enroll for Elementary school education (Kindergarten – Grade 5), middle school/junior high school for grades 6 to 8 and high school diploma programs for grades 9 to 12 students.
eTAP
eTAP Teaching Assistance Program is a premiere site for online instruction designed specifically to maximize student learning.
Basic Christian Education Academy
Since 1982, Basic Christian Education has provided a high-quality academic program that is permeated with the Word of God to homeschool families in North America and beyond.
Griggs International Academy
Griggs International Academy is an online Christian school with multiple accreditations. They offer full curricula, teachers who are certified experts in their fields, online high school diploma, and more.
K12
Founded in 1999 by William J. Bennett, along with other leaders, K12 offers a traditional program of learning using online technology and traditional content. Many states are offering the K12 program through Virtual Acadamies, with programs that are free of charge to participating families.
Heritage Home School Academy
Heritage Home School Academy is an accredited Christian home school option for families across the United States and globally. Their school is focused on family, quality education, and the success of children preschool through 12th grade. They offer traditional Christian home school curriculum, and also, Christian online curriculum. Heritage Home School Academy’s traditional and online curriculum programs give parents options. Programs are affordable, accredited and can be adjusted for each child’s specific learning needs.
Support
K12 Large Families
This group is for large families using the K-12 curriculum created by Dr. William Bennett. Both homeschooling families and Virtual School families are welcome. It is particularly intended for families with more than 3 children in K-12 as well as additional teens, toddlers and babies. Discussions include both the curriculum and the challenges of implementing it in a large family.
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Featured Resources
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Morning by Morning : How We Home-Schooled Our African-American Sons to the Ivy League
Home schooling has long been regarded as a last resort, particularly by African-American families. But in this inspirational and practical memoir, Paula Penn-Nabrit shares her intimate experiences of home-schooling her three sons, Charles, Damon, and Evan. Paula and her husband, C. Madison, decided to home-school their children after racial incidents at public and private schools led them to the conclusion that the traditional educational system would be damaging to their sons’ self-esteem...
Happy Phonics
Happy Phonics uses games to teach early reading skills. Simple yet entertaining and educational, these phonics games are printed on colorful, sturdy cardstock ready to cut out. Included is a mother-friendly guidebook which contains details on how to teach phonics and reading, how to pronounce and teach the phonics sounds, how to make your own simple beginning readers, and step-by-step teaching information for each phonics sound. Happy Phonics covers beginning to advanced phonics.
Cognitive Styles and Learning Strategies: Understanding Style Differences in Learning and Behaviour
First Published in 1998. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
A Different Kind of Teacher: Solving the Crisis of American Schooling
In 1991, shortly after receiving both the New York State and New York City Teacher of the Year Awards, John Gatto resigned to begin a new career as an education reform advocate. In this collection of 16 essays, Gatto analyzes the problems of American education and suggests solutions for revitalizing the system — prescriptions that run counter to current trends.
Homeschooling: The Early Years: Your Complete Guide to Successfully Homeschooling the 3- to 8- Year-Old Child
Nothing beats seeking the voice of experience if you want to join the estimated 1 to 3 million parents who teach their children at home. Here's a guide that comes direct from the experts: a mother of two homeschooled, now-grown children and 83 homeschooling families she surveyed. Their stories make reading this starter kit on teaching ages 3 to 7 worthwhile. For those ready to take on what author Linda Dobson calls "a natural extension of being a good parent," the manual provides at-a-glance box...