Homeschool/traditional School

Check into online school. That's what we do, through the K12 program, which has schools in almost every state.

Pros: You're homeschooling. You're at home with your child. You know what's influencing them, and what they're learning, and how well they're learning it. The curriculum (which is awesome, advanced...really spectacular) is free, as is a computer (loaner, of course) and all the shipping and return shipping is free as well...because it's technically public school.

More pros: Ours, at least (and probably all the other states) offer SO MANY chances at socializing outside your home. There's an event going at least once a week. We don't go to many, because they're mostly in St. Paul and it's too far a drive for is...but I know a family in town that goes to all of them. Picnics, zoo trips, museums, etc...and of course, they have their online classes (assignment sharing, mostly) that they get to socialize with.

You can check your state to see if they have a school for homeschoolers. There are several here where they take certain classes with other homeschoolers to supplement your homeschool.

Ohio has a lot of options. There are several different virtual schools that allow you to homeschool while also providing outings and teacher support as well as the materials. Ohio virtual academy, Connections academy, and there's at least 1 other I have heard about and can't recall. My middle son is still with Ohio virtual, he's in 5th grade now, we started in 2nd. My daughter (3rd grade) is attending her first year of traditional public school and doing really well, both socially and academically. (all A's, in advanced reading classes, and has a ton of friends). You can request info online for both of these schools and it will tell you more, but it is an option and may suit your needs.

You might want to see if there are any co-ops in your area. Then your kids could take classes with other homeschoolers, maybe 1 or 2 days a week. They'd have the benefit of classroom learning and peers, but you take care of the other things at home.

With our homeschool group we have so many social and learning opportunities that my daughter gets plenty of time with other kids. She's taken classes and learned many interesting skills! Her favorite was a cooking class! She also has lots of friends, so I haven't ever needed her in any kind of traditional public school situation.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

For a couple of years one of my sons attended a homeschool program at a private Christian school. He would go two days a week, all day.

I met another group of families who banded together and paid a teacher to teach their kids (think there were 4-5 kids total) in a church classroom 4 days per week (9 am - 2:30 pm). I always thought that was a neat idea, though it didn't work for us for other reasons.

You might want to tap into your local homeschool support group because that is where you are likely to get ideas pertinent to your specific location.

We love homeschooling . . . it has been such a great blessing for our family, and we came to it somewhat accidentally!

As far as I understand laws that pertain to school. Kids must attend a school that is registered with the officials, such as a public one or a private one. Kids are required to be in the classroom X amount of days per semester at the very least of they hold them back, mandatory minimum requirements.

My grandson was held back in first grade due to his consistent late arrival. He arrived at 8:20 each day due to a work schedule, he simply could not be at school when the bell rang at 8:15. Every 3 late arrivals equals 1/2 day out of school. So many 1/2 days out equals full days out so he had too many absent days to pass.

If the parent decides to home school their child they choose to register that choice with the school admin office and then they have to show somehow they had X amount of hours in "class". So if you wanted to do 1/2 and 1/2 I don't think it would work because they would be only there 1/2 day and the school could not pass them.

My friend that home schooled her kids took them with her to the university and they studied in an empty office. When they were ready they took their tests in the college testing center. The school sent the test scores in to the state to prove the kids had the knowledge they were supposed to be covering at their age.

For elementary it's only available/set up that way in a few places. Like I know of one school in my entire state that does it, and on homeschooling boards I know of about half a dozen in the whole country.

But a lot of people use the option in middle school, and some use it in highschool (more people just send their kids to community college part time during highschool years).

Many elementary schools ALLOW partial day attendance, but it's not set up that way (like the half dozen schools I know of), so It's cumbersome. In elementary school the rest of the kids are there all day with a single teacher, and there aren't set periods for things (like in middle and highschool) and it becomes a nightmare for teachers and parents... so schools strongly pressure kids to be there full time or not at all. And that's even assuming the school allows it, for many do not.

Middle & Highschool are easy-peasy in most states. You just sign your child up for 1 or more class periods and they attend those classes. The schools like it because they get paid for the headcount, even though the student only attends part time, AND it's not a pain in the neck for the faculty. Need algebra/art/physics/theatre/football/etc.? Just sign up or try out. The teacher or coach has you for the same amount of time they have the other students in the class.

Community College is free for highschool students (to take 100 & 200 level classes) in "dual enrollment" states (I think 36 states have the dual enrollment option, but I'd have to look it up and am feeling a little lazy right now)... so many HS'ers send their kids for 1 of 2 purposes. Either to get their AA/ AAS so they go straight to university as a junior at 17 or 18... or to use their community college hours as their highschool transcript for competetive entry into some of the ivy leagues. This option is losing momentum, though, since many ivies are actively recruiting homeschoolers, and most universities have a homeschool application process which is preferable to trying to transfer in using their CC hours as highschool hours (still, 100 & 200 level classes).

It matters by state. I know my high school used to offer homeschoolers classes. It had to be for 4 hours a day though so they counted as full time students andnthey had to test out of the base classes (they needed to be full time and test out so the school would get funding from the state for the student... Otherwise they would not.). It really matters district to district and some cases school to school. Only one of the hs in my district did this and that is because the principal was willing to put in the extra work and wanted the SAT and ACT scores to look better.