In my post on hybrid homeschooling, I talked about combining homeschooling with distance learning or local classes. Here continues the list of Distance Learning Programs you can use.
Oak Meadow School is a Waldorf-style curriculum program for preschool through high school. The school is fully accredited which will make it easy to transfer credits. Oak Meadow offers a diverse choice of programs and promises to meet each family’s unique needs, including printed, or online. Enrollment costs start at $1000.00 a year depending on the chosen program.
Online School for Young Shluchim is an online school strictly for Jewish children. While it serves a relatively small community, you cannot discount the importance of children being educated within their own religious beliefs and cultures. To use the program, students need a computer, and internet connection, a webcam and hands free microphone headset. Costs are not apparent.
Penn Foster High School is a nationally and regionally accredited home study program for high school students. Students can choose to earn a high school diploma (instead of a GED) or take individual classes. Formerly Thomson Education Direct and ICS, this school also offers associated degree programs and certificates. All books and materials are included in the costs, which are quoted as being “one low price”. You have to send for information to find out the actual costs.
Personal Professors is a no frills web based education site that offer lectures in higher-level math and science through the internet. They have subject area experts deliver instruction through real interaction via discussion boards and “live” classes. Membership fees for this program are $70.00 per month per course.
Portland State University Independent Study Through this program student can learn through high school and college independent study programs. This program is great for homeschoolers as well as student who want to get ahead or find they have fallen behind. Each course is as little as $140.0 and can take anywhere from 8 weeks to 12 months to complete. Book costs are separate.
RAI Digital Charter High (Rainbow Advanced Institute) This online school provides both live and “anytime” interactive classes. It promises an individualized learning path for each student. This is a classical program combined with cutting edge technology use. For students living in or maintaining residency in San Diego, Imperial, Riverside or Imperial counties, this school is free and a lottery system is used to choose local students. All learning materials provided by RAI are on a loaned basis to all students FREE. International and other students must pay $875 per course per semester with students typically enrolling in four courses each semester.
By supplying this list of distance learning programs, I am not necessarily advocating any of them, just making you aware that they exist. You will also want to look at my curriculum glossary.
*Have a question about homeschooling? Just ask.
*Want to know more about homeschooling? Start with the 2006 homeschool blog in review!