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Only 18.54% of the respondents who started homeschooling during COVID-19 stated they did so because of the pandemic, according to CambriLearn. This statistics indicates 81.46% of the respondents had already decided on homeschooling before COVID-19.
Online homeschooling is a form of education where children stop attending traditional school and move their learning to a virtual environment. Kids follow online programs and use specialized platforms to gain new knowledge. We’ll cover the key points parents consider when choosing online homeschool programs for their children.
What Are the Key Benefits of Accredited Online Homeschooling?
“This is a fundamental change of life, and it’s astonishing that it’s so persistent”
Nat Malkus, The Washington Post
Parents choose accredited online homeschooling for its many advantages. Here are six of the most common reasons.
High Educational Standards
Accredited online programs meet the highest U.S. educational standards, such as the Common Core State Standards. Adherence to these standards ensures students receive a high-quality, modern education.
Recognized Diplomas
Accreditation leads to broad recognition of education in various countries. Accredited online programs provide students with an education widely accepted, ensuring smooth transitions between schools, in the workplace, and in other situations.
Freedom
Accredited online homeschooling programs give students the freedom to choose. Students decide at what pace and when they study. This freedom of choice is especially important for families who enjoy traveling.
Personalized Learning
Such programs offer a unique opportunity to adapt the educational plan to the needs of children. Students can spend more time on subjects they find challenging and less on those they excel in. Teachers adjust how topics are presented to ensure better understanding of kids. This type of personalization is especially important for students with special needs.
Digital Skills
Students in accredited online programs use devices and online resources daily, which helps develop their digital skills. Digital skills are currently considered one of the most in-demand when searching for a job.
Stress Reduction
Online education is free from bullying, inequality due to parents’ income differences, and other unwanted issues. Teachers do not call students to the front of the class or subject them to public humiliation. Online learning creates an ethical and safe environment where students grow easily and comfortably.
How Do Accredited Online Homeschool Programs Work?
Learning in online programs is similar to traditional education, but everything takes place in a digital environment. We will cover five key points of online programs important for parents and students to understand.
Curriculum and Enrollment
Students enroll in the appropriate online program after deciding which one suits them best. Students receive their curriculum after enrollment. This curriculum includes their study plan, educational materials, and methods for assessing their knowledge.
Assessments
Online programs offer various methods of knowledge assessment. Students can learn more about them before enrolling in a program. These assessments include multiple-choice or open-ended tests, essays, quizzes, and more.
Progress Tracking
Online programs provide a platform where students and their parents track educational progress. This progress monitoring helps students understand which areas to focus on and how well their learning is going.
Social Interaction
Online programs offer elective courses students choose based on their interests. Most of these courses are conducted virtually. Sometimes electives include in-person activities if the school has partnerships with other organizations.
Graduation
Accredited online programs provide students with a certificate or diploma upon completing the program. The document is widely recognized by universities and employers in various countries.
How to Choose the Best Online Homeschool Program?
Some parents experience difficulties in selecting the right program for their child. Here are seven tips to help guide parent’s decision:
- Education must be widely recognized, so always check the accreditation of the school providing the programs
- Evaluate the flexibility of the programs to ensure children can learn at their own pace
- Ensure the program’s teachers are certified specialists who can provide a personalized approach to your child if needed
- Assess the focus areas of the program, and choose one helping your children develop in a balanced way
- Look for programs simplifying and personalizing the material, especially if your child has special needs
How to Enroll in an Accredited Online Homeschool Program?
Here are five steps students follow to enroll in accredited online homeschool programs:
- Use a website like GreatSchools to browse different online programs and choose the one fitting best
- Review the program’s requirements. Programs have certain requirements, such as past academic records or other documents
- Select the preferred course format suiting their learning style
- Complete the program application. Students contact the school to schedule an interview, if required
- Pay the program fee and gain access to classes and educational materials
Why Choose Legacy Online School?
We offer modern, innovative learning for kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school students. Parents and students choose our school for flexible learning and payment options. Families confidently enroll their children in our school’s programs because we help them achieve success.
Our programs are perfect for homeschooling. These programs are used by beginner and advanced homeschoolers, providing the flexibility to choose the frequency, duration, and format of lessons. Students choose the learning option suiting them best. They learn at their own pace, in groups, or one-on-one with a live teacher. Tuition for online classes starts at $149 per month.
We are accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Conclusion
Accreditation is the key to recognized education. Parents choose accredited online programs for their children to ensure the knowledge they acquire is widely accepted. We outlined the advantages leading parents to choose such programs. We explained the process parents go through when selecting an online program. We provided helpful tips to choose an online program, and highlighted why Legacy Online School is the best choice for your child’s online homeschooling.
