Living abroad offers the thrill of adventure. However, this experience away from a home country can also bring challenges, such as the need to provide a consistent education for children. While some military, missionary, or expat families can be on furlough for a short period, others can live abroad for years or even permanently.
While some families decide to enroll in local international schools for total immersion, others search out other flexible alternatives like homeschooling or online schooling. These schooling alternatives can be easily moved with the child, eliminating the disruption of moving frequently or the need to travel long distances to a local physical school.
While homeschooling is a wonderful option to parents who are committed to a class time schedule and curriculum, online schooling can offer more options to parents who may be working or otherwise unable to teach children at home abroad. Online schools available internationally also offer parents the reassurance of an English education and online lessons led by qualified teachers.
It's also important for families living abroad to research their new country's education policy for foreigners to ensure law compliance. Various countries have different graduation and testing standards so do preliminary research depending on where you'll be living and considering your student's grade level. If your student will be attending college in the U.S., it's good to ensure your online high school of choice is accredited and his diploma is officially recognized.
Do you think online school is the best educational option for abroad families?