Making Positive Connections With Homeschoolers

By Request...January 2000

Northwest Sampler: Alaska

Alyeska Central School

Location: Alyeska Central School; 801 West 10th Street; Juneau, AK 99801
Contact: Michael Opp, Director; Phone: (Toll Free) 1-888-290-3752; Fax: 907/465-2935; Web Site: http://acs.yksd.com; E-mail: acsmail@yksd.com

Description

Options for homeschooling abound in Alaska, where it is not only an educational choice, but a necessity for many families who do not have access to a school. Recognizing this need officially in 1939, the state implemented a correspondence school system that allowed students, regardless of location, to receive a free public education. Called Alyeska Central School (ACS), this correspondence system is a fully accredited K-12 public school and a division of the Alaska Department of Education. It provides correspondence instruction to any Alaskan who does not have a high school diploma. The school's 25 certified teachers and 25 support staff are located in Juneau, but serve students throughout the state. ACS operates under the supervision of the Alaska Commissioner of Education and the Alaska Board of Education.

Currently, the school serves over 4,000 students (some part-time). The mission of ACS is to actively engage students in learning. Additionally, several goals guide the work at ACS:

Empower families through active involvement in the education process
Provide support and training to the home teachers who work directly with the students
Develop a student's ability to access resources and information, to communicate effectively, to solve problems, to use technology, and to make informed decisions
Continually improve the quality of educational services

Instruction at ACS is tailored to the needs of each student and aligned with state standards and benchmarks. ACS curriculum uses standard textbooks accompanied by lesson plans developed by ACS teachers. Because most lessons are developed at ACS and not purchased from an outside source, students can take courses that are particularly relevant to Alaskans, such as Alaskan literature, Alaska zoology or botany, animal nutrition, trapping, and small boat handling. Traditional courses like trigonometry, Spanish, chemistry, and English are also part of the curriculum. ACS provides all necessary materials for every course. The magnitude of this effort is evidenced by the school's enormous warehouse facility that contains everything from textbooks, workbooks, and computers, to beakers, safety goggles, and calculators.

Students receive their daily lessons from home teachers (usually a parent), but assignments and tests are evaluated by ACS teachers who also provide regular support (either by phone or e-mail) and instructional assistance. Generally, it is expected that students will complete one curriculum unit per subject per month. Courses are structured to take students approximately nine months to complete, but some take more or less time depending on student interest and effort. ACS teachers monitor the progress of each student and keep in contact with families to ensure any issues are resolved quickly. Accountability for attendance is based on students sending in work on a regular basis; students can be dropped from enrollment if they do not turn in work as scheduled.

Teacher work loads at ACS are similar to those in public schools, though the lack of daily student contact and the addition of parents as regular home teachers raises the numbers of students ACS teachers oversee somewhat. In the elementary grades there is approximately one certified teacher for every 55 students, and at the secondary level there is one certified teacher for every 200 students. ACS teachers work year round. When they are not actively teaching, or if they have a lighter than normal student load, many teachers spend time writing new courses or revising older ones. These courses are often purchased by districts throughout the state and used for homeschool and credit-delayed students. Further, it is not uncommon for these courses to be used in classrooms by pubic school teachers.

In addition to regular course offerings, ACS also offers a general equivalency degree (GED) program and an individual study program called Your Choice. The GED program is available to any adult Alaskan without a high school diploma and is coordinated by an ACS teacher who specializes in adult education. The Your Choice program is available to any high school student who wants to create a plan of study for a particular course. Students generally base their Your Choice work on a hobby or career interest. For example, one ACS student learned how to do taxidermy. She arranged a work experience with a local museum, and later did a presentation for which she won a college scholarship. Another student decided he wanted to learn how to build homes. After study and work experience, he built a retirement home for his parents. A third student started his own small motor repair business. All Your Choice courses are designed jointly by the student and the ACS counselor, who approves course proposals.

Beyond instruction, ACS offers a variety of other resources to students and their families including a lending library with a collection of over 17,000 items, a computer loan program with technology support, school counselors, and a print shop. ACS also offers a limited student activities program. And like most schools in this era of increased school accountability, ACS has a parent advisory board that oversees its operations and interactions with families. The board, called the Parent Outreach Leadership Team (POLT) acts as an advisory team to the school director and as ambassadors for ACS throughout their communities and the state.

The future of ACS appears to be strong. With a growing homeschool market and technological advances in electronic communication, the school will be able to reach even more students in coming years. ACS also supports a budding summer school program that is available not only to homeschool students, but public school students as well. It serves students who want to advance their studies over the summer, and those who need to catch up on lost credits. It also provides a way for students to prepare for the state high school qualifying exam they are required to pass before receiving a high school diploma. In the summer of 1999, over 2,000 Alaskan students participated in ACS summer school programs.

Student Perspective

When one envisions meeting a student who has been homeschooled his entire life, certain images may come to mind—perhaps someone who is a bit awkward, maybe a little unsure of himself, or even uncomfortable around unknown groups of people. It is normal to have such preconceived ideas, but such notions can be quickly shattered. Such is the case with the ACS student I met. Levi quickly fills a room with his charisma and personality. Neither awkward, nor unsure of himself, this 18-year-old met me with a smile and a firm handshake. We talked at length about his three-year experience as an ACS student, as well as his dreams and ambitions for life beyond high school.

Levi's family moved to Juneau four years ago and easily embraced ACS as the homeschool option for them. Both Levi and his sister have since graduated from ACS and have embarked on college careers. When asked what he liked best about ACS, Levi quickly noted the school's flexibility to fit within his family's schedule, the structure of the coursework, and the timelines and assistance he received. He spoke of his gratitude for the responsive, helpful nature of ACS teachers and staff, and their continued willingness to adapt the instructional program to his individual needs.

An average school day for Levi resembled schedules held by high school students everywhere, but the flexibility of ACS allowed him to work as a ski instructor one day a week at a local ski resort. It also afforded him the opportunity to obtain his pilot's license, while providing him with credit at the same time. Though his mother was his primary teacher in previous years of homeschooling, once enrolled in ACS, Levi was able to supplement his home instruction with regular assistance from certified teachers. His mother still oversaw all aspects of planning his education as well as administration of exams.

My discussion with Levi reinforced the fact that isolation and socialization are a matter of individual choice for all students. His high level of community involvement, which included community sports, work at a local radio station and ski resort, flight lessons, volunteer time with a local civil air patrol organization, and service as the student representative on ACS' Parent Advisory Board, proved that opportunities are always available to those who are interested.

Observed Outcomes

ACS students are readily accepted at universities and colleges through the U.S. Because standard academic records are kept for all ACS students, they do not experience the difficulties transitioning to public schools or institutions of higher education that often plague traditional homeschoolers.
In 1992 ACS was recognized by the International Reading Association for its exemplary reading program.
As an alternative public education program, ACS allows students to pursue unusual sports or personal interests while simultaneously completing their education.

Keys to Success

Avoid inexpensive curriculum materials when implementing a program targeted at homeschoolers. What you save in cost you often sacrifice in quality and consequently do a disservice to students.
Thoroughly research the homeschool market before you determine what the scope of your services will be. Find out what is working in neighboring communities and what the homeschooling families in your community want. Remember that your program should be tailored to the specific needs of the students you serve.
Work to maintain a high level of organization in your program as it is critical to efficient, high quality service.

Family Partnership Charter School

Location: Family Partnership Charter School; Anchorage School District; 3339 Fairbanks Street; Anchorage, AK 99503
Contact: Tim Scott, Administrator; Phone: 907/742-3700; Fax: 907/742-3710; Web site: www.fpcs.net/fpcsWeb/

Description

Instruction has never been more individualized than it is at the Family Partnership Charter School (FPCS) in Anchorage. Parents who choose homeschooling as an alternative to traditional public education are able to tap into this charter school, and take advantage of district instructional expertise while still retaining full control over their children's education. Created by homeschooling families, the charter school acts as a clearinghouse of educational services for homeschooling families in the Anchorage community. It opened in 1997 with 136 students as Anchorage's fourth charter school. Approximately 660 students in grades K-12 were enrolled at FPCS in the 1999-2000 school year, with over 100 teachers providing instructional services

FPCS works by providing homeschooled students and their families with instruction by certified teachers for courses they might not otherwise have access to or feel comfortable teaching (i.e. chemistry, dance, piano, advanced mathematics, or writing). Anchorage teachers who sign-on with FPCS (all FPCS teachers are part-time) provide the school with an summary of their expertise and descriptions of the courses they are available to teach. This information is kept in several three-ring binders and made available to parents as they decide what courses and teachers they would like to pursue. FPCS does not guarantee teachers any specified amount of work, instead, families choose what teachers and courses will best suit their needs.

The school operates much like a bank. Each family receives approximately $2,400 per child in an FPCS account at the beginning of each school year. This money represents a portion of the per pupil funding the district receives from the state. The remainder of the money is used for school/district administrative and overhead costs. Out of each family's school-controlled account comes money for teacher salaries, textbooks, and other materials necessary for each class. Teachers are paid hourly based on their position on the district's salary scale; generally, this falls somewhere between $20 and $40 per hour. The school's policy requires all participating students to use a portion of their allotment to purchase a minimum of 18 hours of teacher time every year (roughly one hour every two weeks). Monthly statements are sent to each family detailing the amount of money they have left in their FPCS account. This allows them to monitor their instructional spending and budget accordingly. If they run out of their FPCS money during the school year, they can pay out-of-pocket for additional classes.

To enroll at FPCS, students must register with the district, a process that includes providing transcripts and health information. FPCS staff members or parent mentors assist families in the enrollment process, helping them select the right teachers, supplies, and services for their particular needs. Once a student is enrolled at FPCS, they determine what courses and teachers they will have. The teachers must also agree to work with them. Together, the family and the teacher design an individual education plan that maps out the goals and objectives for selected coursework. The plan, which can be modified as needed, also spells out the logistics of when and how the teacher and student will meet. Once this is completed and appropriate materials are purchased, the courses can begin.

Because of the variety of classes offered and the uniqueness of each arrangement, there really is no typical FPCS course. Some take place in instructors' homes; some take place in students' homes; and some occur at local school or community locations. And not all classes are one-on-one instruction. In many instances parents pool their FPCS money and hire a teacher to instruct a small group of children. Because teachers are paid the same hourly wage regardless of group size, families can save money by taking advantage of group instruction. This allows for more frequent instruction, and also presents children with group interaction that enhances social skills.

Observed Outcomes

Homeschoolers have become a vital part of the district.
The general public now sees homeschooling as a viable alternative to regular public education. This is due in part to the district's support of homeschooling through FPCS, and also because FPCS students' California Achievement Test scores are on average 10 points higher than the rest of the district.
As part of the Anchorage School District, FPCS students can take part in extracurricular activities and utilize district resources they would not otherwise have access to.
FPCS provides low-income families with a means to afford homeschooling.

Keys to Success

Work to actively involve parents in every facet of your program. Without them, homeschooling and any related programs cannot be successful.
Secure the support of the school board and district's administrative staff.
Create an academic policy committee, site council, or similar advisory board that has the power to hire and fire the program's administrator. This gives ownership to the parents who elect members of the academic policy committee, and it also makes a charter school more valid and accountable in the eyes of district leadership.