Homeschooling:  Schools

On this page:

Using schools
Accreditation 
Free Online Curriculae
Schools

 

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Using schools

Using a school isn't necessary for home education.  Still, it gives security to those just beginning, can be useful for families at remote assignments and some parents just prefer them. The schools are listed in alphabetical order.  Websites of other schools can be found by using a search engine and entering terms and any particulars that are important to you, such as religion. 

Remember that a website with Flash animation, cool Java applets, and lots of photos of happy, active children (pictures available from ad agencies) doesn't  make a great school -- or even indicate the organization has been around longer than other schools.   The only thing the cool eye-candy means for sure is that someone either knew how to write a website program, or paid for the programming.  (note lack of eye-candy at this site -- I don't know how to do all that) Paying for programming is a business expense that makes a good tax write-off.  This does not mean that fancy sites = rip-off artists, or that glitzy ads are a bad thing.  This warning is only a reminder that 'you can't tell a book by its cover.' Buyer be aware.

If you're new at homeschooling read the General Homeschooling 'Rules' before you part with your cash.  If you've decided that using a correspondence, distance-learning or umbrella school ask around either at support groups meetings or on a homeschooling email list before you sign on the dotted line. 

• The Animal Fable
  This story was given to me when I first began homeschooling by a good friend who was a Kindergarten teacher who has since retired.  I'm pleased to find the fable online.
   

• A to Z's Home's Cool Search terms:  Correspondence Schools, Distance Learning Programs, Umbrella Schools
   

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Accreditation

According to the website, Degree.net, the term "accredited" is not legally binding:

• "Any school can claim that it is accredited; the use of that word is not regulated in any way."

 

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Free Online Curriculae

Toddlers and young children: 
Brightly Beaming

School-age to teens:
Ambleside Online
Hoagies Gifted Site:  online high school curriculum

College:
Open Learning Initiative from Carnegie Mellon
MIT OpenCourseWare

Online text materials:
Hoagies Gifted site:  free text materials

World Book

• Hands-on Help K-6

• Typical Course of Study K-12

• Lesson plan links

• Myth Adventures grades 4-8

Homeschooling high school information

Free online encyclopedia:  Wikipedia

Free online libraries: 
Awesome Library
Bibliomania online books and study guides
Digital Book Index (log-in required)
Internet Mathematics Library
Internet Public Library
PDF Planet E-books Archive
Project Gutenberg
University of Florida Literature for Children (PDF facsimiles of antique books)
University of Virginia Electronic Text Center
World Wide School (click on "Library" for the books page which has titles in the public domain)
 

Online Libraries with mix of free and for-purchase texts
The Baldwin Project
Bringing Yesterday's Classics to Today's Children
Children's Books Online:  The Rosetta Project (downloadable antique texts)

Lesson Plans (parent site:  Awesome Library)
Teach With Movies

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Schools

This listing of schools who provide services to homeschooling families is not  'complete' and is not meant to endorse the schools.  The information is provided merely as a partial reference so some providers.  Some readers will notice the omission of some 'obvious' schools.  They are probably providers that are mentioned on the public-schooling-at-home page of this site.

Standard
American School
Calvert
Clonlara
Keystone High School
University of Oklahoma
West River Academy

Christian

Catholic
Mother of Divine Grace
Seton

Conservative
Abeka
Alpha Omega
Bob Jones
North Star
Rod and Staff
Royal Academy
Weaver

Seventh Day Adventist
Moore Academy

Islamic
Islamic Virtual School

Literature
Great Books Academy
Sonlight (Christian)

Pagan
Goddess Moon Circles


Waldorf
Enki
Live Education!
Oak Meadow (Waldorf-inspired but tailored for the general market)