Homeschooling in the news

The Fort Leavenworth Lamp

DoD no longer supporting overseas homeschooling

The Department of Defense Education Activity will discontinue its Remote Home School Program beginning in school year 2007-2008, DoDEA officials announced Jan. 24.

"We understand this unique program is valued by our families," said Joseph D. Tafoya, DoDEA director. "Unfortunately, with the funding allocation and grants expiring for this program at the end of school year 2006-2007, we will have to discontinue the Remote Location Home Schooling Program."

DoDEA plans, directs, coordinates and manages the education programs for Defense Department family members who would otherwise not have access to a high-quality public education. Although operating a home-schooling program is outside of its directed mission, officials said, DoDEA has administered the Remote Home School Program since school year 2001-2002, when it received the first in a series of unsolicited allocations and grants to support the program.

DoDEA cannot continue administering the program with the funding authorizations and grants expiring, and by law, DoDEA is not permitted to lobby for funds to continue operating the program, officials explained.

Chicago Post-Tribune

Online schools popping up thanks to computers, subsidy for Internet connection

Free virtual charter schools go online in August offering a hybrid between alternative education and homeschooling.

Curriculum in grades kindergarten through grade 12 will be offered.

Free computers will be provided. Subsidies will be given to pay for Internet connections.

The Connections Academy, based in Muncie, starts Aug. 30 while the Indiana Virtual Charter School, of Indianapolis begins Aug. 16....

Students won't go to a brick-and-mortar buildings. Instead they'll receive supplies, textbooks, and workbooks by mail for independent completion.

"They'll routinely have a Fed-Ex truck back up to their door with buckets of materials," said Ron Brumbarger, who will direct IVCS operations.

Posted by Danny Carlton at February 15, 2007 6:28 AM