How to Support Public Schools Even if You Are Homeschooling
The new school year is fast approaching, and there’s a big push on the national level to return to a sense of normalcy and get kids into the same physical building for 8 hours a day and 5 days a week. But according to polls all over the nation, parents and teachers are having serious reservations about plans to return to in-person schooling in the midst of a pandemic.
For plenty of homeschooling families, it was already debatable whether or not 8 hours a day stuck in a building was an ideal situation for kids - even before there was a global pandemic. But now that the actual safety of the entire situation is in question, it seems that homeschooling numbers are about to skyrocket this year.
The Case for Supporting Public Schools
And even though I am always a proponent for homeschooling if you think it’s the best situation for your child, the inevitable increase of families staying home this year also leaves me worried about public schools. For years public schools have already been feeling the effects of the rise of charter schools and school choice, and less enrollment quite simply means less money to support the kids in school.
But health concerns are obviously going to come first for a lot of families out there. Enrollment numbers are simply going to be down this year. And for each student that doesn’t enroll this year, your local school is probably missing out on about $5,000 - $10,000 from the state - not counting any kind of coronavirus relief the government might provide. That adds up really fast. The money received for a single student alone is enough to run any number of very good school wide clubs - like a Lego robotics team or a chess program.
This issue of money is the same reason that public schools have been doing their best to innovate and be more appealing to families in this era of school choice, particularly in smaller districts where full enrollment numbers aren’t guaranteed. In a sense, you have to admit that it can be a good thing to force public schools to adapt and confront their flaws head on. But, at the same time, we also simply can’t afford to let them fail.
The nationwide move to digital learning last spring made it crystal clear how vital public schools are for our society. Regrettably, most people only cared and noticed because they lost their free babysitting, but that’s reality. The important thing to remember, particularly this year, is that homeschooling is not feasibly an option for many families, and every child deserves the very best experiences and opportunities we can provide.
When districts start to hurt financially, oftentimes you’re going to see opportunities in the arts disappear first - band, choir, art, drama, dance. And of course you’re going to find less clubs and teams to join as well. Personally I find that to be absolutely tragic. It’s a painful state of affairs, because providing kids with the opportunity to discover their passion in life is the most valuable thing we can provide.
I know several families who have said the main reason they hated last spring was because it felt like they were getting “busy work” for their kids from their teachers. The kids weren’t interested in the topic or the work, and then the work wasn’t really being graded, and kids were just being given the same grade they had before the pandemic started. I often heard people say it felt like a mixture of the worst parts of public schooling and homeschooling combined with none of the benefits.
One of my friends, a vocal defender of public schools, came up with a plan for the upcoming school year that struck me as a flash of brilliance. He and his wife wanted to keep their kids home for safety concerns, but they still wanted to support their school. Their plan inspired me to write this article and share the ways we can all support our public schools - even if we are homeschooling, and even after the pandemic is over.
How to Support Public Schools while Homeschooling
Their plan is simple. Even though they were not fans of last spring, they are going to choose their local district’s digital option, and then they are going to more or less put it on the back burner. Genius! The school will still officially get their enrollment and the accompanying money from the state, and simultaneously my friend is going to consciously take advantage of the benefits of homeschooling - particularly the flexibility and choice. In fact, for most of the day, they are going to do a small neighborhood forrest school program.
Districts all across the country are offering a digital alternative this year, and I encourage you to check if your district is providing options like this if you are considering homeschooling - even if you’ve been homeschooling for years. The reason I think this plan will work so brilliantly this year is because I honestly believe we are in for another very abnormal year. I’d say there’s more than a good chance that everyone will end up back at home again, grading will be loose, and high stakes tests will be ignored if not cancelled.
Even if you are a lifelong homeschooler, this digital option is going to be new for many districts in the country, and it’s worth looking into whether it could be a fit. It’s very cool to be able to support local kids and give them more opportunities in this way. Make sure to ask if the school plans on requiring mandatory Zoom classes, or anything else you think might interfere with the benefits of homeschooling, and just be honest. More than likely they’ll be happy to have your digital enrollment, and I honestly suspect in practice you will be able to take it as seriously as you want to.
And, when the pandemic is over, make sure to continue to investigate your options. In particular, I encourage you to check whether your state or your district offers the opportunity for homeschoolers to enroll in just the classes they want to. Many states allow homeschoolers to play on school teams, but did you know it’s increasingly possible to come to school only for French class, or P.E., or choir? And the best part about it is that it’s a win-win, because your local school gets prorated payments from the state.
And if you find that the digital learning program this year actually worked well for you, make sure to investigate if your local school district will continue to offer it. In an attempt to appeal to homeschoolers, our local district has actually offered a virtual academy for several years already. It can be nice to be provided with all of the learning materials you need, and also be given the freedom to work at your own pace and pursue your interests at home.
Undoubtedly the current situation is beyond complex. I don’t envy anybody in the position right now to make the final call about opening or closing our schools. Now more than ever it’s clear to see what a vital pillar of our society our schools are. And even if you don’t always see it, it’s so much more than babysitting. If done right, and if properly supported, schools can gift kids with new passions and new possibilities. And I think these alternative options popping up for this year are a unique opportunity to put our support behind them.
What are your school plans for this year? Are you considering keeping the kids home and taking a digital option? Are you an experienced homeschooler considering trying out these public school options for the first time? Let us know in the comments!
