1.3 - Considering Homeschooling

“Did you know that Antioch Unified School District has a homeschooling program?” I said as I zeroed in on a listing entitled, “ENCORE Homeschooling.”

“No, I didn’t,” Maria replied.

We continued our research and stumbled upon a program option that had been available for a couple years to families who wanted to homeschool their child, but with public school support. Approximately 70 families in the area were already participating.

Maria made an appointment to visit the program coordinator. She explained the specifics: 1) The parent is the teacher, 2) The children are still part of the school district—no loss of money to the public schools, 3) A credentialed, extensively experienced teacher would be assigned to our family to work with Maria on lesson plans and overcoming any problems, 4) We had to turn in lesson plans to our assigned teacher, but they would be responsible for all other paperwork—nice, 5) The homeschooling teachers and parents also provide supplementary classes like art, writing, and science, if we wanted to participate, 6) State testing was available—not required—if we wanted to monitor how our children were performing and progressing against state standards, and 7) Our children could take advantage of public school programs on an ad hoc basis, like speech, music, and sports, if we wanted to participate.

Hearing no real disadvantages, we signed on the dotted line and dove into the homeschooling waters. We were treading water from the get-go and never came close to drowning—an important point to keep in the back of your mind as we journey forward.