Christian Homeschool Online

Monongalia County Superintendent: New State Policy “In The Works”

HSLDA appreciates hearing from many homeschoolers about this issue, and we encourage you to stay informed. To help you, Donnelly will host a free online interactive seminar on September 8 at 2:00 p.m. (E.T.) entitled “A Call to Action!—Is More Oversight Coming to Mountaineer Homeschooling?”

You can sign up online at HSLDA’s @home e-vents website. This event is open to all and HSLDA encourages you to let all West Virginia homeschoolers know about this important event.

John Carey, CHEWV legislative liaison, will also be participating in the webinar.

Homeschoolers in Monongalia County who attended the county board of education meeting on August 9 were pleased when they heard that a proposed policy which implied that homeschooling was disorganized and isolationist was being tabled. However, homeschoolers were warned that this was only until a new state board policy is written. The county would then proceed to write a policy that conformed to it.

Homeschoolers in attendance reported that some members of the board of education were unaware of the development of a new policy. Board members also listened attentively and politely as several homeschooling families presented concerns about language in the proposed policy. The board president reportedly indicated she was surprised anyone would suggest parents did not have a right to choose to homeschool their children. One person reported that a county superintendent expressed frustration over the amount of feedback received on the subject from area homeschoolers and from a “national-level organization.”

HSLDA Staff Attorney for West Virginia member affairs, Michael Donnelly, wrote to the board of education cautioning them about developing an unnecessary policy and about characterizing homeschooling as disorganized and isolating.

Donnelly also expressed growing concern about indications that West Virginia education officials may be developing a new statewide “policy” on homeschooling. Earlier this year HSLDA reported that West Virginia’s new superintendent of education said homeschoolers needed more oversight.

He wrote: “West Virginia homeschool law is quite clear about the requirements for parents to homeschool their children, and no state or local policy is needed—local officials simply need to enforce the law. It also does not appear that the state legislature has authorized the state board to promulgate rules or regulations regarding homeschooling in West Virginia. In fact, if there is any change needed, it in the area of deregulation—not increased regulation.

Free Online Christian Homeschool Curriculum: Find Free Internet ...

The Internet has made it possible for anyone with a passion and web design skills to create a website, and homeschoolers love to share. Consequently, there are several resources online for Christian homeschoolers , including free curriculum at every grade level and other websites for homeschool families.

By far, the most popular free online homeschooling curriculum for Christians is Ambleside Online. This curriculum has several downloadable resources (mostly classical literature) as well as email discussion forums for its members. Parents use the email and message board as a support forum. Lists of materials are laid out for easy planning and lessons are divided down for every grade level and every day of the year.

Ambleside is modeled after the Charlotte Mason method of homeschooling and users are urged to learn about her work and philosophies. The curriculum spans Kindergarten through 12th grade and has deviations for all types of learners.

The Puritan Network in conjunction with the Westminster Covenant Academy has released a free curriculum for Christian homeschoolers, called Puritan Home School Curriculum. Several courses are listed with free downloadable ebooks for both students and teachers. Free textbooks for download are written specifically for this curriculum. Students are also provided with links to other important free online courses, especially at the high school level, where they're urged to master Advanced Placement (AP) courses, in preparation for college.

The Puritan Home School Curriculum begins at a kindergarten level, with the memorization of Bible verses and Biblical character training lesson plans. Heavy academics aren't introduced until the middle school and high school years.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers free Open Course Ware. No registration or login is required to have access to video lectures, notes and online tests from real MIT classes. A section of their site, called "Highlights for High School" offers a complimentary email newsletter to help teens prepare for college, using the free curricula available on the site. Studying at a college level is one way to be sure students are prepared when they decide to further their education. Even without college plans, just for the sake of learning, the MIT curricula is fast-paced and multi-disciplinary.

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