What are my options?
Californians have four legal methods of homeschooling to choose from.
We want to you make the best educational choice for your family. If you
live in California and your choice is to homeschool, it is very important for
you to know all of your legal options. We have listed basic information
about your legal homeschooling options, as well as some advantages
and disadvantages of each, to help you make an informed choice. Keep
in mind that the advantages and disadvantages vary by program, and
that many families may feel that the disadvantages are minimal.
Cold River Academy falls under option 4, the private cover school option.
You will find specific information about what makes our program different
from the others at the bottom of this page.
Option 1:
Qualify as a private school.
To use this option, a parent simply needs to file a Private School
Affidavit with the California Department of Education.
ADVANTAGES: You are completely in control of your homeschool. You
do not have to be accountable to anyone (other than yourself and your
children) about the content, curriculum, methods, assessment methods,
or any other aspect of your homeschool. Filing the affidavit costs nothing.
DISADVANTAGES: You must keep all the records required by the state
yourself, which can be a daunting task for some people. Local school
districts sometimes challenge the validity of your private school, or say
that this is not a legal method of homeschooling (even though IT IS), and
they may refer you to truancy officers or Child Protective Services in an
attempt to get you to enroll your children in a public or charter school
program. You must provide everything yourself. You are on your own to
find help or advice about curriculum, methods, etc. Some families have
a hard time obtaining their children's records from former schools.
Option 2:
Use a private tutor.
To use this option, the parent must either hold a valid California teaching
credential for the grades being taught, or hire a credentialed teacher to
instruct their children.
ADVANTAGES: Parents who choose this option need not inform the
department of Education or local school district in order to start using this
method, unless they need to withdraw a student from another school.
The parent or teacher determines the curriculum, assessment methods,
etc. No testing or records are required, except for those the parent or
teacher chooses to keep.
DISADVANTAGES: If you are not a credentialed teacher yourself, this is
by far the most expensive way to homeschool. While hiring a private
tutor can offer many of the same benefits of homeschooling, such as
individual instruction and customized curriculum, many people do not
consider this arrangement to really be "homeschooling."
Option 3:
Enroll in a public school or charter school Independent Study
Program (ISP).
With this option, parents enroll their children in a public or charter school
program which allows them to teach their children at home under the
supervision of a credentialed school teacher who is employed by the
school.
ADVANTAGES: This can be a good way to go for people who are just
starting out and would like a lot of input and guidance from an
experienced teacher. Materials and curriculum are usually provided by
the school. These schools are publicly funded, and are therefore free to
the families who enroll. Since students are still enrolled in a public
school, there is no danger of being reported to a truancy officer. Most
programs provide extra-curricular activities and field trips.
DISADVANTAGES: Children enrolled in these programs are still public
school students, and are therefore still required to adhere to state
educational standards, which dictate when and how a good deal of the
material is to be taught. Curriculum and testing methods are usually
determined by the program, though most programs allow parents and
students at least some choice. Funding cuts to education often affect
these programs severely. Usually, students must participate in state
standardized testing, sometimes as a condition of continued enrollment.
All programs require the parent and students to meet with the teacher at
least once a month, and many require that the meetings occur in the
student's home. Many people consider this to be overly-intrusive. It can
be difficult to find a program that will enroll your children if they have any
special educational needs, or have been diagnosed with a learning
disability. Record-keeping is usually very involved. Attendance
schedules are usually dictated by the school, and often don't allow much
flexibility. Many homeschooling advocates feel that enrolling in one of
these programs may increase the risk of families being reported to Child
Protective Services. Many education experts are opposed to public
school funds ever being used to fund home education. Families who
enroll in these programs are not eligible to join Home School Legal
Defense Association.
Option 4:
Enroll in a private school "cover program" or ISP.
With this option, parents enroll their children in a private school which
offers a homeschooling cover program or ISP.
ADVANTAGES: Children are enrolled in a private school. If a social
worker or truancy officer ever questions the legality of your
homeschooling, school representatives are usually available to confirm
your children's enrollment and attendance. Most programs offer total
curriculum and method choice, and flexible scheduling. All legally
required records and information are kept on file by the school. Most
programs do not require meetings with a supervised teacher. Many
programs offer field trips and other group activities.
DISADVANTAGES: Some programs have strict requirements about
content, methods, and curriculum. Some require parents to purchase
curriculum from the school, or to use a specific curriculum. Some
programs are very costly. Most religious schools require parents to sign
a "statement of faith" as a condition of enrollment, and require that
instruction in a particular religion be provided to the students. Some
religious programs require that parents and students attend religious
services consistent with the beliefs of the school on a regular basis.
Many schools require parents to attend meetings, parent trainings, or
workshops on a regular basis, which can be taxing on a busy
homeschooling parent's schedule. Standardized testing and other
assessment methods may be determined and required by the school.
Parents must usually purchase their own curriculum. Some schools
charge large amounts of money for curriculum
consultations or other supportive services.
What about Cold River Academy? What makes it different?
We give you all the advantages of a typical private cover school, without
many of the typical disadvantages. Curriculum, content, methods, and
assessment are always determined by the parent. We do not require
parents to purchase curriculum from us, or to use a pre-set curriculum or
method. We encourage families to use whatever method or style fits
their needs, from "school at home" to "unschooling." We are a secular
school, and therefore do not require parents to sign a "statement of faith"
as a condition of enrollment, provide instruction in a particular religion
(although you may include any religious instruction you choose at any
time), or attend religious services. We encourage parents to further their
knowledge of home education on a regular basis, but we do not require
them to attend meetings, trainings, or workshops. We do not require
students to participate in standardized testing. We offer curriculum
consultations and support at no charge, including how to create a low or
no-cost curriculum for your family, and we do it all for far less than the
cost of many other private cover schools.
Californians have four legal methods of homeschooling to choose from.
We want to you make the best educational choice for your family. If you
live in California and your choice is to homeschool, it is very important for
you to know all of your legal options. We have listed basic information
about your legal homeschooling options, as well as some advantages
and disadvantages of each, to help you make an informed choice. Keep
in mind that the advantages and disadvantages vary by program, and
that many families may feel that the disadvantages are minimal.
Cold River Academy falls under option 4, the private cover school option.
You will find specific information about what makes our program different
from the others at the bottom of this page.
Option 1:
Qualify as a private school.
To use this option, a parent simply needs to file a Private School
Affidavit with the California Department of Education.
ADVANTAGES: You are completely in control of your homeschool. You
do not have to be accountable to anyone (other than yourself and your
children) about the content, curriculum, methods, assessment methods,
or any other aspect of your homeschool. Filing the affidavit costs nothing.
DISADVANTAGES: You must keep all the records required by the state
yourself, which can be a daunting task for some people. Local school
districts sometimes challenge the validity of your private school, or say
that this is not a legal method of homeschooling (even though IT IS), and
they may refer you to truancy officers or Child Protective Services in an
attempt to get you to enroll your children in a public or charter school
program. You must provide everything yourself. You are on your own to
find help or advice about curriculum, methods, etc. Some families have
a hard time obtaining their children's records from former schools.
Option 2:
Use a private tutor.
To use this option, the parent must either hold a valid California teaching
credential for the grades being taught, or hire a credentialed teacher to
instruct their children.
ADVANTAGES: Parents who choose this option need not inform the
department of Education or local school district in order to start using this
method, unless they need to withdraw a student from another school.
The parent or teacher determines the curriculum, assessment methods,
etc. No testing or records are required, except for those the parent or
teacher chooses to keep.
DISADVANTAGES: If you are not a credentialed teacher yourself, this is
by far the most expensive way to homeschool. While hiring a private
tutor can offer many of the same benefits of homeschooling, such as
individual instruction and customized curriculum, many people do not
consider this arrangement to really be "homeschooling."
Option 3:
Enroll in a public school or charter school Independent Study
Program (ISP).
With this option, parents enroll their children in a public or charter school
program which allows them to teach their children at home under the
supervision of a credentialed school teacher who is employed by the
school.
ADVANTAGES: This can be a good way to go for people who are just
starting out and would like a lot of input and guidance from an
experienced teacher. Materials and curriculum are usually provided by
the school. These schools are publicly funded, and are therefore free to
the families who enroll. Since students are still enrolled in a public
school, there is no danger of being reported to a truancy officer. Most
programs provide extra-curricular activities and field trips.
DISADVANTAGES: Children enrolled in these programs are still public
school students, and are therefore still required to adhere to state
educational standards, which dictate when and how a good deal of the
material is to be taught. Curriculum and testing methods are usually
determined by the program, though most programs allow parents and
students at least some choice. Funding cuts to education often affect
these programs severely. Usually, students must participate in state
standardized testing, sometimes as a condition of continued enrollment.
All programs require the parent and students to meet with the teacher at
least once a month, and many require that the meetings occur in the
student's home. Many people consider this to be overly-intrusive. It can
be difficult to find a program that will enroll your children if they have any
special educational needs, or have been diagnosed with a learning
disability. Record-keeping is usually very involved. Attendance
schedules are usually dictated by the school, and often don't allow much
flexibility. Many homeschooling advocates feel that enrolling in one of
these programs may increase the risk of families being reported to Child
Protective Services. Many education experts are opposed to public
school funds ever being used to fund home education. Families who
enroll in these programs are not eligible to join Home School Legal
Defense Association.
Option 4:
Enroll in a private school "cover program" or ISP.
With this option, parents enroll their children in a private school which
offers a homeschooling cover program or ISP.
ADVANTAGES: Children are enrolled in a private school. If a social
worker or truancy officer ever questions the legality of your
homeschooling, school representatives are usually available to confirm
your children's enrollment and attendance. Most programs offer total
curriculum and method choice, and flexible scheduling. All legally
required records and information are kept on file by the school. Most
programs do not require meetings with a supervised teacher. Many
programs offer field trips and other group activities.
DISADVANTAGES: Some programs have strict requirements about
content, methods, and curriculum. Some require parents to purchase
curriculum from the school, or to use a specific curriculum. Some
programs are very costly. Most religious schools require parents to sign
a "statement of faith" as a condition of enrollment, and require that
instruction in a particular religion be provided to the students. Some
religious programs require that parents and students attend religious
services consistent with the beliefs of the school on a regular basis.
Many schools require parents to attend meetings, parent trainings, or
workshops on a regular basis, which can be taxing on a busy
homeschooling parent's schedule. Standardized testing and other
assessment methods may be determined and required by the school.
Parents must usually purchase their own curriculum. Some schools
charge large amounts of money for curriculum
consultations or other supportive services.
What about Cold River Academy? What makes it different?
We give you all the advantages of a typical private cover school, without
many of the typical disadvantages. Curriculum, content, methods, and
assessment are always determined by the parent. We do not require
parents to purchase curriculum from us, or to use a pre-set curriculum or
method. We encourage families to use whatever method or style fits
their needs, from "school at home" to "unschooling." We are a secular
school, and therefore do not require parents to sign a "statement of faith"
as a condition of enrollment, provide instruction in a particular religion
(although you may include any religious instruction you choose at any
time), or attend religious services. We encourage parents to further their
knowledge of home education on a regular basis, but we do not require
them to attend meetings, trainings, or workshops. We do not require
students to participate in standardized testing. We offer curriculum
consultations and support at no charge, including how to create a low or
no-cost curriculum for your family, and we do it all for far less than the
cost of many other private cover schools.
Cold River Academy
"Celebrating the Uniqueness of Every Child"
"Celebrating the Uniqueness of Every Child"
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