What you need to know about cyber-schools

Thinking About Computer-Based “Home Schooling?”

Here’s what you need to know:

1) Most of these schools are NOT considered Home Schooling by Ohio law.

Ohio’s Home Schooling Regulations are the only legal guidelines in Ohio for parents who want to Home School their children. (They can be found here: www.h-i-o.org/3301-34.html) Under these rules, children are not enrolled in any school. Therefore, when you enroll your children in a Community School (also known as Cyber School, Charter School, or On-line School), your children are not considered by Ohio law to be Home Schooling, even though the program uses the term “home schooling.”

2) These schools create a little “public school” in your own home.

If your children are not enrolled in a school, YOU decide what they will study at home. The advantage of this type of education is that you know your children better than anyone else does, and you know when they are ready for certain materials. However, if your children are enrolled in one of these programs, the program makes these decisions for your child. Ultimately, because these programs are funded by tax dollars, the state and federal governments will tell you what to teach your children, and when.

3) Your children will have to take the same state-wide Proficiency Tests as all other public school children,

even if you disagree with these tests. Also, the State wants supervising Certified Teachers to make home visits and inspections. If one of these teachers happens to disagree with the way you run your household, he or she could file a report with Children’s Services. It is still unclear whether the State will enforce the same Fire and Safety Regulations for these public schools which are conducted in a home.

If you want to:

· Make your own decisions on what’s best for your children and your family,

· Get out of the public school system,

· Accept complete authority and responsibility for what your children are learning,

then these programs are not for you. Don’t allow their advertising to trick you into believing you will be Home Schooling your children in accordance with Ohio’s Home School Regulations.

For more information, email ARCHE@anobadiah.net or go to: