As our state of California continues to struggle financially the issue of homeschooling in California is becoming a much discussed topic. Many parents are finding that teachers are being laid off and others have had their pay cut dramatically, also much of the funding that our schools had received has been taken away. Teachers, though dedicated to their calling, are becoming more frustrated and unhappy in their positions and it is sadly showing in the education that our children are receiving in public school classrooms. Reduced funding has limited the availability of materials and curriculum so that many students never have a textbook or adequate resource materials such as computer labs and libraries on campus.
The reasons that a parent may have chosen homeschooling in California as an option in the past
- religious freedoms, chronic illness, geographic isolation; are supplemented today with the desire to give our children a better, more thorough education than they are currently receiving at their public school.
I have taught elementary school (K-8) in the California public school system as a substitute teacher in Los Angeles County and currently in San Bernardino County since 1999. I have been in many different schools, grade levels and classrooms seeing firsthand how California’s financial crisis has affected our ability to provide a quality education to our children in a safe learning environment. Along with the lapse in funding in California is a complete lapse in morality. Our state allows for Gay Pride Day and the distribution of condoms to our children, but I am not allowed to quote the Bible or even sing “God Bless America!”
I chose free homeschooling in California for my son because as a Christian parent I was very disturbed by these practices. My experience has shown me that even the behavior of the youngest students at many of these schools is inappropriate and bullying is rampant. The discipline practices used in the classrooms and on campuses to correct the behaviors is unsuccessful. I chose homeschooling in California for my son because I did not want my him adopting such uncouth behavior, nor be exposed to bullying. I am succeeding at homeschooling because of CAVA – California Virtual Academy provided through K12 Online Public Schools (k12.com).
When I decided to homeschool I researched the many available programs, from doing it by buying materials at the nearest teacher supply store to purchasing whole grade level curriculum from places like Sonlight Curriculum (a Christian Home Education Association vendor). Both methods were very expensive and the first would require me to do all the lesson planning (very time consuming). A friend of mine was currently using CAVA for her 14 year old grandson who was experiencing social difficulties at his middle school. 
K12 is the largest provider of online learning in the U.S. – and it is TUITION FREE! After seeing the prices of the available CHEA courses I was intrigued. My friend sat at my computer and pulled up her son’s OLS (Online Learning System) – You can see this for yourself at k12.com – and I was able to see actual course work for my son’s level. It was amazing!! They use individualized online interactive lessons as well as providing textbooks, student workbooks, manipulatives (like snap cubes and counters for math; a scale, magnifying glass, thermometer and beaker for science, etc.), a computer and a printer FREE OF CHARGE!
Not only is it free homeschooling in California, they even reimburse me for my internet fees every 6 mos.
All the lesson planning is done for you and you have constant access to a CA credentialed teacher by phone, email or interactive online forum. You are never alone and they offer a training course if you have no experience teaching or just not sure how to teach math, science or any of the courses. You the parent are in charge of attendance and how much, and what lessons, you do each day. You could do the varied courses that are on your OLS or you could choose to do several math lessons one day then a few history lessons the next, etc. They even provide all the supplies: paint, clay and brushes for the Art Course (There is currently little or NO art in the schools I have been teaching in, past Kindergarten).
We have Music also where he is learning all the basics as well as how to read and write music notation! They send CDs and tambourine and whistles – my son just loves it. Since they are a public school they require 180 school days, but those could be the scheduled ones or you could work weekends, holidays or summer to catch up if you get behind. The system is very easy to use and we just love the ability to build in our own type of study (We use the Bible and Bible biographies and such for reading, I choose what I allow him to see and learn of health studies, etc.; something not allowed in the physical public school system).
I would encourage any parent (and don’t let the fact that you may not be a trained teacher discourage you!) to consider free homeschooling in California as a very viable option for your child’s education. The social environment of the physical public schools may provide access to friends for your child, but at what cost? Without full disclosure of how these kids are raised you are exposing your child to all kinds of behaviors that you then have to deal with in the home. My son has not suffered socially at all due to homeschool. He is focused and learning while his neighbor friends (whose mamas and daddies I know) are in school, and then they all play together after school.
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CAVA offers Community Day programs in many metro areas in which we participate. My son goes to a classroom with his CAVA teacher and her other CAVA students at a physical school, one day a week so that he gets all the perks of being part of a “school” and the benefit of a more protected learning environment at home. At CD they do plays at the holidays, they have spelling bees, contests, dress up days and field trips. I am trying not to sound like an advertisement for K12/CAVA, but hey, free curriculum sold me and I am a very happy involved homeschool learning coach who still can work part time because homeschooling in California is in my control not the state of California’s.
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