Home Ed has received inquiries concerning the Arkansas Virtual Academy (ARVA) program. Many are curious about how ARVA, Homeschooling, and Home Ed relate. This is reviewed below.
What is ARVA?
ARVA describes itself as "an open-enrollment charter school". It has been erroneously called "free homeschooling" and "virtual homeschooling". The ARVA "public virtual school" is "virtual" in that it is performed from home and requires the use of a computer and the Internet - and a "public school" in that ARVA is sponsored by the Arkansas Department of Education as part of the public school system. Most of the schooling is done at home using the K12 curriculum. A contact teacher is communicated with via Internet and phone.
Many are confusing enrollment in ARVA as a Homeschool option. While we are not opposed to ARVA, enrollment in ARVA does not meet the criteria (either legally or practically) of homeschooling.
Under the ARVA program, the parent is not the teacher. The parent is very involved with the child and acts as sort of a "teacher's aide". The child HAS to be registered as a public school student; the parent is given a pre-selected curriculum (you can't use what you want or pick and choose the pieces you want to use); a teacher will call every couple of weeks and do a conference call between the child, parent and teacher; although the parent grades the daily work, the teacher downloads it daily and reviews it as well; the teacher is the one who decides what grade your child will receive, not the parent. While this is more flexible than actual attendance in a traditional public school, this is not Homeschooling. Rather, this is public school being conducted at home (in the same manner that home-bound children have, for years, conducted public school at home).
What is homeschooling?
Homeschooling is an educational choice in which the parent/guardian takes both the practical and legal responsibility for their child's education. This responsibility includes curriculum selection, teaching the student, assigning grades, etc. A homeschooler in Arkansas will have submitted a Notice of Intent to Home School form. Any student who is participating in an educational option in which a Notice of Intent to Home School form is not required is not a homeschooler.
Some are pursuing the fallacy of trying to define "Homeschooling" by its title, instead of by what it really is. Homeschooling isn't "I'm at HOME and my child is here doing SCHOOL". By that definition, any child doing homework at home is being homeschooled. Homeschooling holds the parent accountable as THE educator, legally as well as in practice. This defines both homeschooling and the homeschool community Home Ed serves. ARVA does not meet this definition.
What is the difference between ARVA and Homeschooling?
The real question is one of accountability - "To whom does the responsibility of the child's education fall? Who will be held accountable for the child's progress?"
Under ARVA, the ultimate accountability lies with the ARVA teacher, ARVA and the public school system.
Under homeschooling, the ultimate accountability lies with the parent / guardian.
Who is ARVA serving?
ARVA serves the families enrolled in the ARVA program. Families enrolled in this program will have unique challenges and needs that can not be addressed by the homeschool community. There are issues related to teacher interaction, public school interaction, rate of progression, curriculum, etc. A support community focused around this type of education should address these needs. In fact, ARVA has it's own ARVA-specific community with support and planned activities. Those who choose to use ARVA also choose to be a part of the ARVA community - and use whatever support and activities are provided by ARVA (whether there is limited ARVA support and ARVA activities or extensive ARVA support and ARVA activities).
Who is Home Ed serving?
At Home Ed, our goal is to uniquely focus on homeschooling. Home Ed's position has been consistent throughout the years. We are strictly defined as a homeschool support group. Our target is homeschooling. We have carefully (and thoughtfully) defined the scope of our efforts. Some people have suggested that ARVA students could use Home Ed for socialization opportunities. However, we ARE NOT an activity or play group - we are a homeschool support group. This means that, while we provide activities to our members, our purpose is much broader. We also provide support, encouragement and information around the law, curriculum choices, teaching styles, etc. In short, we provide a tightly focused community for parents who have chosen to be the primary educator for their children. Membership in Home Ed has always required that the family be active, current homeschoolers. We do not allow membership to families "thinking about" homeschooling, or to families whose children are solely enrolled in public, private or charter schools. In other words, you have to be homeschooling at least one child in order to be a part of Home Ed.
This is no different from similar stances we've taken in the past. Charter school children, tutored children, and home-bound public school children have never been part of our focus. Families enrolled in these situations have different needs than those of the homeschool community. In the same way, we've focused our information on homeschool-only events. We don't advertise church events, community events, scouting events, etc. unless they provide events specifically targeted to homeschoolers. We have no agenda other than homeschooling. We don't try, nor will we try, to be all things to all people.
ANY community is limited by the scope of its purpose. No healthy community can include and effectively serve a broad multitude of agendas. We recognized this years ago when we limited OUR agenda to Homeschool issues. This has kept us from being "swayed by the wind" every time something new arises. We will continue to maintain this focus so that our group can stay on an even keel.
Can't ARVA and Home Ed families be together?
Sure! We can (and will) be together as much as we are (and have been) with families of other educational choices. However, there are some things that naturally keep us apart. "Time and schedule" is one factor that keeps us from our Public School and Private School friends. It would appear that this may be the case with ARVA students too. ARVA is saying that their program requires an average of 5 hours per day for each student. Also, note that ARVA has it's own meetings and events that can be attended. "Topics of interest" have kept us from our Public School and Private School friends in the past, too. Our Public School and Private School friends have not shown participatory interest in homeschool testing, homeschool graduations, curriculum decisions, homeschool legal needs, homeschool seminars, Home Ed Parent meetings, the Home Ed Kick-Off meeting, the state Homeschool Convention, etc. We expect that ARVA families will not be interested in these types of issues, since they don't apply to them. Home Ed will continue to focus on homeschool issues. We will not be addressing issues of any other educational option. So, much of what we provide as a support group (or don't provide) would naturally separate ARVA and homeschool families. Note that ARVA will address it's specific issues to it's own community - in the same manner and focus as does Home Ed, Public Schools, and Private Schools. Home Ed sees no need to replicate support of other educational choices.
This seems to be a particularly emotional issue for those that have been homeschooling and are now considering ARVA. We haven't seen this as a concern from others. We recognize that a lot of relationships exist and that the change that comes from a shift in a family's educational choice can be traumatic. We have seen many families work hard to make and maintain relationships with others that are not using the same educational option - or even aren't in the same school. It can be done! But successful relationships are maintained as an effort of the family - not the system. Relationships are maintained if a family (not Home Ed) works at it.
Which educational option is best?
Selecting the best educational option is something each family should diligently study. Home Ed has encountered many people who have evaluated, selected and been happy with the results from Public School, Private School, Homeschool, and...ARVA!! No single education method works for all people or all children. We do believe, however, that stability is in the best interest of the child's education. Careful study and minimal movement among educational options is best. Attempting to discover the best educational option by hopping around and trying several of them does not provide the most stable and productive learning environment for the child.
How does Home Ed feel about ARVA?
We have always been avid supporters of parental choice in education decisions. For the sake of our children, we think it is vital that there are options that allow for educational methods to optimize a child's learning. Home Ed is not opposed to any educational options - including ARVA. We have no opposition either to K12 (the curriculum) or to ARVA (the public school program that has chosen K12).
It is essential to have clarity in discussing and evaluating educational options - for the sake of the children and the programs that are trying to serve them. We need to be clear and distinct on Homeschooling and ARVA - and not use one term to describe the other. We need to be clear on the differences in the programs. We need to be sure to keep the distinction between the ARVA curriculum (K12) vs. the public school. Clarity breeds good understanding, good decision-making, and...hopefully...an optimum education for our children.