Hunting for a new school?
Looking at all the options that private, public, and online schools have is a great idea. When searching for a new school, the absolute first place you must begin is with your student. Every student is unique. Instead of trying to fit your child into a program, pick a program that fits your child. This will cause much less stress and fewer headaches in the future.
Start with writing down the characteristics of your child and how he likes to learn. Do a learning style test if necessary. Talk to your child. Find out what his ideal school would look like. (Does he like having friends, doing lessons alone, or having teachers nearby, etc.?) From these answers, create a profile of your child's ideal school.
Next, start researching. Many parents find online school offers their K-12 student many convenient and flexible options for at-home classes. The possibilities of customization, personalized curriculum, individual pacing, and help with teaching and grading is appealing to parents who want more options than a traditional brick-and-mortar school can provide.
What to look for when considering an online school:
Accreditation – This is a mark of approval from a publicly recognized organization that says the quality and excellence of the school meets certain standards. Unfortunately, there are many of non-rigorous, fly-by-night accrediting bodies. Check the background and history of who an online school's accreditation is through.
Transparency – Many K-12 online schools are out there. Some have openness about procedures, the teaching process, cost, and student results (graduation rate or test results). Some don't. Research carefully and avoid schools who don't share the information you want. Chances are if they are hiding something, there's a reason.
Rigorous Academics – To avoid being caught in an online school that just wants your money, read reviews and dig deeper. Talk to current students. Check to make sure classes are rigorous, and teachers actually instruct students! Do your homework. Ask for samples of lessons. Set up an interview with one of the school's teachers.
A Diploma Program – K-12 online schools should have an official diploma program with tracks for graduation. Some high school course tracks include general courses for graduation, and others are designed to prepare students for college. Make sure you know what is offered. (Official transcripts should also be offered.)
Transferable Credits – Nothing is more costly than enrolling in an online school only to find out you can't transfer credits if you want to leave. To avoid this frustration, ensure all high school credits can be transferred to other schools, regardless of the type of school you're changing to. Reputable online schools will do this.
Qualified Teachers and Student Support – Online schools should provide consistent, preferably live, instruction and support. This can be available through online classrooms, tutoring options, phone or message support, email, and so on. Online teachers should be able to prove credentials either through certification or degrees held.
A Student Community – To help build friendships with distance learning classmates, an online school should have a vibrant student community with online student clubs, discussion boards, chat rooms, or virtual school-wide events. Look for interaction opportunities offline too, and see if the school does field trips, regional events, and so forth.
What do you think an online school should offer your student? We're curious.