Summary: The pandemic has piqued a lot of families’ curiosity about online homeschooling. Online homeschool lets families take full control of their child’s education. Here are some honest answers to the most frequently asked questions about online homeschooling.
II. 10 Questions Parents Frequently Ask about Online Homeschool
A. What is Online Homeschooling and How Does it Work?
B. What Does an Online Homeschooling Schedule Look Like?
C. How Does Online Homeschooling Affect My Child’s Screen Time?
D. Will My Child be Able to Socialize with Classmates in an Online School?
E. What Role Will I Play as a Parent/Guardian in My Child’s Online Homeschool Journey?
H. Do Students from Online Homeschools Get Accepted into College?
I. Can Online Homeschool Support My Child’s NCAA Eligibility Process?
Introduction
The pandemic opened many families’ eyes to the great potential of online homeschooling. Of course, homeschooling has been around since before the pandemic, but the hype over it hasn’t stopped since. The pandemic caused a deeper curiosity about the promise of online homeschooling and how it might change the educational landscape for the better.
Traditional brick-and-mortar schools are unable to account for all kinds of students in this modern age. Online homeschooling can provide your child with a high-quality education and preparation for their future.
Let this blog serve as an honest and clear guide for you to consider before beginning your family’s online homeschool journey. Here we will answer real questions asked by real parents such as “Will an online school accept credits transferred from my child’s current school?”, “How does an online school help my student-athlete aiming for NCAA Eligibility?”, “What happens to my child’s IEP/504 Plan in an online school?” and many more!
10 Questions Parents Frequently Ask About Online Homeschool
1. What is Online Homeschooling and How Does it Work?
Online schools offer full learning programs that are based entirely online. This means that your child can learn from the comfort of your home or anywhere else as long as you have a laptop/tablet and internet connection. Accredited online schools offer state-aligned curriculum and live (and recorded) virtual classes from certified teachers. These instructors are also trained in creating connections and personalized support for their students in an online setting.
Primavera Online School is a free, Cognia accredited and NCAA approved online school. We strive to create a safe and supportive learning environment that meets students where they are, focusing on individual progress. Your child can work at their own pace, slowing down at concepts they want to explore further or speeding up after mastering other lessons. This flexibility also allows your child to explore their other interests and make time for other aspects of their lives.
2. What Does an Online Homeschooling Schedule Look Like?
That’s completely up to you. Primavera’s focus on delivering a personalized and supported academic program allows your child to complete their yearly requirements according to your family’s own schedule. This does not just help with your child’s pace of learning, but it works around any other responsibilities your child might have as well. Learning no longer has to happen within 4 walls of a classroom, this opens more chances for hands-on learning for your child, allowing them to develop more than just academically.
Online homeschool provides flexibility with support. Structure the school day around other responsibilities. For example, maybe your child is a budding student-athlete that trains and competes. They can accomplish their schoolwork either before or after training/competing. While you can schedule your student’s study time throughout the day, they will need to follow a required daily log of minutes online. Live sessions offer direct instruction, interactions with peers, and opportunities to practice what they learn. While there are daily live sessions, our online platform is accessible 24/7 and pre-recorded sessions are also available. This ensures that your child’s education works with your family’s schedule whether they have medical appointments (or IEP/504 Plan supplementary appointments), travel opportunities, part-time jobs, or other duties.
3. How Does Online Homeschooling Affect My Child’s Screen Time?
This is one of the biggest concerns that parents have. It’s hard to ignore that screens are becoming more essential for students, whether or not they are homeschooled. While screen time is an important part of online homeschooling, it is not the only way that students receive their education. As mentioned earlier, online school allows your child to get firsthand experience with their lessons. There are many screen-free alternative activities that you can have your child do to learn more about their lessons offline.
You don’t need to feel guilty about taking advantage of screens to make the most out of your child’s education. It is just important to manage and protect them from overusing it and make sure that they are using them productively when they do use it. There are many ways to manage your child’s screen time while homeschooling. Like scheduling screen time, reminding them to take lots of breaks, and modeling healthy screen habits for your child to follow. Online homeschooling may actually help your child develop a healthy relationship with screen time with the right discipline.
5. What Role Will I Play as a Parent/Guardian in My Child’s Online Homeschool Journey?
Considering online homeschooling means making sure it’s the perfect fit for your child and your family. You will become your child’s learning guide, helping them create a tailored learning experience. You will coach and guide them through their assignments. A learning coach/parent guide will be available for you to see an outline of what your student will be working on and what materials/actions are needed to be taken by you. This does not mean that you will be their teacher; it will still be your child’s teacher who will discuss lessons with them.
You will guide your child along daily online homeschooling life. As a learning coach, you will be more focused on maintaining the routine of your child. Of course, the older your student is the less supervision they may need. It is important to think honestly about how much time you can commit to your child’s education. Online homeschooling should be a positive experience, not a source of added stress.
6. Can My Child Transfer to Online Homeschool Midyear? Can My Child’s Current School Credits be Transferred to an Online Homeschool?
Most online schools have “rolling enrollment”, meaning that they accept new students at any time of the year.
In line with the law, Primavera accepts credits from Arizona schools and even some schools from other states. If you want to read more about the process of transferring your child to online school in the middle of the year, check out this blog over here. You can also reach out to us. Our enrollment advisors will gladly help you throughout the entire process.
7. What Happens to My Child’s IEP/504 Plan in Online School? What Extra Support Can Online Homeschool Give Students with Special Needs?
Primavera Online School’s special education department is dedicated to giving individualized attention and support for special needs students. We also have our special programs department to identify students’ needs in an online environment and create opportunities for support.
IEPs and 504 Plans are protected by federal law. Just because a school is based online, does not mean that they are exempted from providing equitable education to all students. If you want to know more about how accommodations are implemented in an online setting, we have a blog all about this over here.
Homeschooling may also be better for kids with anxiety. It may also reduce school-related stress by eliminating unnecessary stress factors to create a safe learning environment, encourage focus and retention, and boost self-confidence and independence.
8. Do Students from Online Homeschools Get Accepted into College?
Primavera Online School is accredited by Cognia. This means that all our classes fully align with Arizona state standards. Completing a high school program with Primavera equates to an accredited Arizona high school diploma that is recognized by colleges and employers. Online homeschooling does not only offer a high-quality education that prepares your child for the future, but it helps them learn independence skills that set up students for success whether they decide to pursue further education, vocational school, a career, or the military.
Instructors help students every step of the way. They help your child set their personal goals and create manageable steps to achieve these while celebrating the progress they make. These are all based on every student’s unique needs and circumstances. Is the student constantly traveling? A part-time worker? An adult learner? An aspiring artist or athlete? Instructors take note of it all.
9. Can Online Homeschool Support My Child’s NCAA Eligibility Process?
Speaking of aspiring athletes…
The road to NCAA Eligibility is a commitment that takes a lot of time. Not many online schools are NCAA approved; luckily, Primavera is. With online homeschool, there is no need to make any compromises between a quality education or allowing your child to reach for all the athletic opportunities that come their way. Primavera’s NCAA approved classes will count towards your child’s core-course credits requirement.
10. Can a Student Work While Attending Online Homeschool?
More and more teens are entering the workforce to support themselves and/or their families. Traditional schools are built for a very specific type of student whose main responsibility is to go to school.
Online homeschool was made to fit around a student’s schedule and not the other way around. Read more about how working teens can work and finish high school at the same time in the blog linked here.
Ending Notes
Online learning offers a tailored mix of support and flexibility. Combine this with a supportive home environment and your student is setup for success. Think about if this is what your family needs. Don’t forget to include your child in the conversation. It is their education after all.
Switching schools, especially transitioning into an online homeschool, can come with a lot of questions. We are more than happy to help. Our enrollment advisors are available and ready to answer any other questions or concerns you might have.
Even More FAQs
1. Are online school teachers real teachers?
- Online schools like Primavera hire certified teachers to instruct your kids and provide them with personalized support. Rest assured that our online homeschool instructors are very knowledgeable about what they are teaching. They aim to create a safe environment for learning even in an online setting. It is also very easy for our students to communicate with their teachers through various avenues such as email, text, instant message, and many more.
2. How comprehensive is an online school curriculum?
- When researching online homeschools, it is important to double check that the school is accredited by an educational authority. This will entail that their curriculum is up to par with state standards and that a diploma from this school will be accepted by colleges and employers. Primavera is accredited by Cognia and NCAA approved. Affirming its high quality of education and ready support for its students.
3. Is online school the right fit for my child?
- There is no blanket answer for this. You would have to pay attention to your child’s needs and wellbeing, as well as your family’s circumstances. For many families, online homeschooling has provided their children with opportunities to finish high school while pursuing other exciting opportunities for their future.
4. Will My Child be Able to Socialize with Classmates in an Online School?
Another big concern of parents about online homeschooling is the issue of socialization. This is a very common and valid concern. But it is a big misconception to think that students who are homeschooled online do not have opportunities to socialize.
At Primavera, we understand that socialization is an important part of a child’s social development and emotional wellbeing. We provide a safe platform for students to interact, both in and out of class. We also have many meaningful opportunities for students to connect and make friends through clubs, fieldtrips, and even in person events like prom and graduation. Your child will also be interacting with their teachers. Instructors get to know their students to discover which approach may best suit them.
Homeschooling communities, social events, clubs, community projects, and a part-time job are also made more accessible to your child thanks to the flexible schedule that online homeschooling provides for them. These social opportunities outside of school allow them to make friends while building skills and learning more about themselves. Online homeschooling may help your child build more confidence and interact with more people that they might not have met if they went to a traditional school.