State Funded "Homeschooling" Has Just Arrived in Georgia

by Andrea Hermitt | More from this Blogger

I just received an email announcing the K12 program in available to Georgia Homeschoolers, in the form of Georgia Virtual Academy. Here is an excerpt from the announcement:

K¹² is pleased to announce the opening of the Georgia Virtual Academy! The Georgia Virtual Academy (GVA), a program of Odyssey School, is a new online public school option for children in kindergarten through eighth grade, providing tuition-free access to the K¹² curriculum, the support of passionate teachers, and an involved school community. For students enrolled in GVA, learning happens wherever an Internet connection can be found, and Georgia State Certified teachers are connected virtually to help students find the pace and learning style that work best for them.

When I first began Homeschooling, I would have jumped all over this. I would not have hesitated to join this program that would allow my kids to work from home while having the same curriculum that they did at school. But now I know better.

I am not saying that K12 is a poor program. Curriculum wise it is just as good as any school with the added advantage of the child being able to work at his or her own pace. However, the program still has many of the disadvantages of public school as well.

• By using the K12 homeschool program a student would lose the right to study from a Christian point of view if they so desire.
• By using the K12 program, a student would have to deal with more busy work as is common in schools.
• By using the K12 program, a student would have less time to spend on their own interests than they would have if they were using a parent controlled homeschool program.
• By using the K12 program, a student will not have the protection of the HSLDA because a K12 student is in fact a Public school student and not a true homeschooler as those who run the program would have you believe.

Still for people who are taking just one year or so to homeschool for various personal reasons, this program could be very useful. So, while I don't necessarily recommend this program for homeschooler, I think I could be good for short term homeschooling.

*Have a question about homeschooling? Just ask.

*Want to know more about homeschooling? Start with the 2006 homeschool blog in review!

Learn more about Andrea Hermitt

Andrea Hermitt is a native New Yorker currently residing in GA. She has been married for over 16 years and has two teenage children.

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