A Student's Dream School

Details: Created on Friday, 18 March 2016 15:57; Written by Alexandra Conroy

1homeschooling LYNDON - Most students dream of staying home instead of going to school. You don't have to leave home to receive an education. Homeschooling in Vermont has grown over the years and there are benefits to staying home and studying.

Home study courses are one on one and tailored to the student's learning style.

"One advantage certainly is that you can create a curriculum for your child," said Brynne Reed, a Home Study Consultant for the Vermont Agency of Education. "You can play catch up, and if there's a particular interest, you can pursue that interest."

Reed also explained Act 119. The Act was enacted in 1998 and passed in 1999, and it allows homeschool students to participate in public school classes, so they have a relationship with other students. That bond can be formed through activities like sports, field trips, art, and clubs.

Every student is required to spend at least 175 days at home learning. There are no teacher qualifications required for homeschooling.

The home study program requires that the student or teacher send a "written enrollment notice" to the secretary whenever enrolling. The student must enroll every year, as it expires every year on July 1st.

T. Pinkham, a homeschooling mother of 4, says "I don't see any disadvantages unless the parent and child aren't furthering their education. Some might think it's a social disadvantage but in our home it was never a social disadvantage. We always did activities," Pinkham states that classes like gym are seen more as a healthy lifestyle course. "Everyday we had assigned physical activities, whether it was hiking, gymnastics... It was more about how to keep themselves healthy".

There's no required amount of tests a home schooled student has to take or send in at the end of the year. The parents can send in an achievement test at the end of each year, but that is optional.

If you would like to know more about home schooling, visit http://education.vermont.gov/homestudy.