Continuing the conversation on local control and statewide correspondence schools (SWC) here is a hypothetical example comparing a SWC in Galena, namely IDEA, with an in-district charter school, namely Frontier which is part of the Anchorage School District (ASD).

Those such as the Alaska Home Educators Alliance (AHEA) who advocate for less regulation of statewide correspondence schools (SWC) are adamant that they do have local control. That is, the parent in the home is the local control; the parent’s accountability to the district is all that is necessary. Let’s take a closer look at […]

Just back from the public comment and work session. Initial impressions are there is not as much controversy as anticipated judging by the public participation. Public comment did go overtime but not in overwhelming numbers. Comments were typically from parents who wanted more freedom to spend their allotments on Fine Arts and PE and to […]

This is a very hot issue right now and will be discussed at the State School Board work session Friday, September 21st. Statewide correspondence schools are subject to a 15% spending limitation on fine arts and P.E. and prohibited from using parent-purchased sectarian materials in student learning plans. In-district programs are not subject to these […]

It is an interesting question. Why would a tiny school district such as Galena City Schools enthusiastically take on the responsibility for educating students in urban districts like Fairbanks or Anchorage? Galena is a village of about 635 on the Yukon river about 280 miles west of Fairbanks. Tax revenue is minimal, 3% sales and […]

As I’ve written before, Alaska has the best homeschooling choices in the nation. But it does not mean we are content with the status quo. There is a pretty heated controversy perking between some homeschoolers and Governor Sarah Palin’s administration that hit local talk radio this week.
Here are the pertinents. Alaska Home Educators Alliance […]

One of the many assessments in the Frontier Learning Profile is the Swassing-Barbe Modality Index. It’s the classic tool to determine cognitive input. It answers the question of how a person takes in information, visually, auditorially or kinesthetically and is an important element of the cognitive input portion of the Profile.
Tim Scott recommends a secondary […]

First, a definition. For the purposes of this article, and this blog for that matter, this is what homeschooling means:
Primary responsibility for education lies with the parent who designs a learning plan or curriculum that fits their child. The parent is free to pick and choose materials, schedules or even services for the child whose […]

Alaska has the most hands-off homeschool statutes in the United States. A child between the ages of 7 and 16 must attend a local school unless he/she is being taught at home by a parent or guardian (Alaska Statute 14.30.01). That’s it. No reporting, no paperwork, no sweat. Yet, the majority of homeschooling families choose […]