Online ED and it's ramifications on Home Learning

I have been looking at chat boards lately and have noticed that interest in home schooling is picking up steam. Many people, for reasons ranging from safety concerns, to a percieved agenda in what they (public schools) teach children, to just being tired of the poor academic quality of public schools, etc.. are starting to consider/doing home schooling and many are pooling their resources in doing so.

The inclusion of the role that Online Learning can play, is quite interesting. Another thing to consider, is how are states reacting to this? Is legislation going to be enacted or will it simply be to pass competance tests at regular intervals? How will the voucher system play into this if at all? Especially, since all religion has been removed from the school system and many people feel strongly about this issue, also. Where would the line of seperation between church and state be affected?

Can anyone give comments on this? I'm looking at this issue for a possible research project for the program in Online Teaching and Learning at CSU-Hayward. Thanks.

 

Hi there from a CSUH grad (and summer session CSUH instructor)!!

Homeschooling has been around since my boys were itsy bitsy (they are in college now) and I had friends who homeschooled their kids. This has grown over the years and online learning now plays a huge role in homeschooling. There are web sites by the gazillions for homeschoolers that offer online courses and other resources. Run a search on any good search engine for homeschooling online or some similar key words and you'll find more info than you can wade through in a month

As for legislation re: homeschooling -- states are different. In some states students must pass regular proficiency tests. In some states the parent who is homeschooling must provide documentation of a college degree. In some states there is no regulation whatsoever.

Online learning has a big niche market in homeschooling and that market will continue to grow ever larger over the next few years. After that - who knows?

It might be a good research project actually. I think I would go for the project/thesis combination though rather than the thesis alone. Any opportunity you have to design online coursework is one you should not pass up as that does count for the much-needed experience when it comes to job hunting in the DL field. And if you design an online course for homeschoolers as part of your thesis/project -- I guarantee you can find a place to teach it -- and that's even more experience to add to that degree

Good luck --

Leslie

 

Here are some relevant facts regarding Home Schooling in the State of Ohio (based on your location).

For the sake of simplicity here is an outline of the requirements under the Ohio State Board of Education Administrative Code (Chapter 3301-34) for a parent to “home school”:

1. "Home education means education primarily directed and provided by the parent…."

2. Time: 900 hours of instruction per year.

3. Subject matter: language arts, geography, U.S. and Ohio history, government, math, health, physical education, fine arts, first aid and science ("except that home education shall not be required to include any concept, topic, or practice that is in conflict with the sincerely held religious beliefs of the parent")

4. Qualification to Educate: instructor must have a high school diploma, GED, test scores showing high school equivalence, or work under a person with a baccalaureate degree until child’s test scores show proficiency or parent earns diploma or GED.

5. Notification: submit an annual notice of intent to the local superintendent.

6. Record keeping: None.

7. Testing: submit with renewal notification either:

1) standardized test scores, the child must have a composite score at least at the 25th percentile on a nationally normed standardized achievement test administered by either (a) a certified teacher, or (b) the public school, or (c) "another person mutually agreed upon" by the parents and superintendent, or (d) "a person duly authorized by the publisher of the test." or

2) a written narrative showing satisfactory academic progress(If a written narrative is prepared, it must be written by either: (a) a certified teacher, or (b) "other person mutually agreed upon."), or

3) an approved alternative assessment mutually agreed upon by the parents and the superintendent.


Relating to Religion or religious grounds:

In Ohio v. Whisner, 47 Ohio St.2d 181, 351 N.E.2d 750 (1976), the Ohio Supreme Court exempted Christian schools from certification and accreditation requirements. "...it has long been recognized that the right of a parent to guide the education, including the religious education, of his or her children is indeed a fundamental right guaranteed by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment." (47 Ohio St.2d at 214.) The Court also exempted them under the Free Exercise Clause since the state did not justify its interest in enforcing the extensive regulations. (See 1979 Ohio Attorney General Opinion 79-056.)

This doesn't even scratch the surface, but I hope this is helpful.