Homeschooling rarely just involves learning from home. Nature center classes, group gym gatherings, library events, co-ops, field trips, etc. are normal experiences for the majority of homeschooled children. Recently, homeschool learning centers have emerged where children attend regularly for a class or a day, allowing for specialized programming, group learning, and community building.
In the fall of 2019, I founded Latitude Learning Resources to offer creative classes in Lego engineering, computer programming, poetry, historical Dungeons and Dragons, theater, and more. Latitude currently offers a variety of classes, family social events, meet-ups and afternoon clubs to over 100 children each week. Our teachers bring imagination to the classroom, encouraging children to move around if they are kinesthetic learners, ask questions if they need to talk, and write if they like it. Ultimately, students get more out of Latitude than adults give them credit for.
I also started Latitude Learning. It was about finding a way to volunteer my time and talent to help kids soar by loving what they’re learning and learning in a personalized way. What I’ve discovered in my role as a director is that there are dark and desperate reasons why families turn to homeschooling. The most common are bullying, neurological differences, and social pressure.
Children who have negative experiences in school settings often need to heal before they can resume learning. For homeschoolers, this period is called deschooling, a period in which there are few expectations or learning demands placed on the child (this is different from unschooling, where the child is self-directed in homeschooling). At Latitude Learning, students experiencing deschooling gradually realize that they can enjoy their time and learning in the classroom if they have some ownership over their participation and interests. . Tools like Legos and 3D printers, as well as fun-focused classes like Harry Potter, can help with this process. School closures vary, but at Latitude Learning, if your child requests to teach a particular class, pulls out the chessboard and challenges the teacher, chooses to work on a math puzzle on their own, or We realize that this period has ended when we have imposed dozens of problems. about topics of interest.
Although Latitude Learning is a 501c3 charity supported by private donations and countless volunteer hours, we must charge tuition fees to pay operating costs such as rent, utilities, insurance, and staffing. yeah. Although we aim to keep this tuition fee as low as possible, it is often still out of reach for families. When Latitude began, an incredible number of families took advantage of Children’s Scholarship Fund prizes. It opened my eyes to the needs of homeschoolers. In 2021, families began accessing Education Freedom Account (EFA) funds. Every year, the number of EFA families increases.
Critics of the EFA program argue that all education funding should go to public schools or that families should be able to homeschool without assistance. They cite their own experiences that public education holds up, as well as their own experiences growing homeschool programs on the cheap. Doing well in public school does not mean that everyone will do well. And just because a homeschooling family can afford everything they want doesn’t mean it isn’t difficult for other families.
The arrogance of both attitudes is surprising in a society that claims to value each child and their education. Most people think of literacy, math proficiency, citizenship, scientific knowledge and application, artistic awareness, and historical understanding as education, but paths to competency vary widely depending on the educational model. So should our society focus only on public education? Or should we focus on education, regardless of the model?
Public schools and education cannot be confused. Clearly, the public school system is where the majority of families seek education. But as I’ve witnessed, that’s not a preference, nor can it be a healthy model for everyone.
New Hampshire public schools spend an average of more than $20,000 per student per year. You’d be hard-pressed to find a homeschooling family that spends this much money each year on their children. Instead, they pay out-of-pocket costs for treatment, curriculum, tuition, and opportunities, and give up their income to allow a caregiver to stay at home. Homeschooling families are willing to make sacrifices because they value the individual needs of their children. But for many without assistance, it remains out of reach.
At an average of less than $5,300 per child ages 23-24, EFA funding makes educational choice a reality for families. This is a clear cost savings compared to attending a public school.
Critics say the EFA is unprotected and there is no oversight. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Program vendors are vetted and all expenses must be approved. Participants must prove that the use of their money will lead to positive outcomes through the submission of standardized tests and assessments.
In the field, I look at families homeschooling for a while and then use public schools, or try charter schools because they have specialized programs, or use public schools for one child and then use public schools for another child. I homeschool my kids, and I homeschool them and go to public school for middle school. For high school. There is no typical experience or homeschool trajectory. My own family is no exception. As homeschoolers, we paid for numerous homeschool programs, including Latitude Learning, and also used community colleges, VLACS, local public schools, and at one point, private schools. We were fortunate to be able to give our children the option at their own expense. And I’m even more fortunate to continue volunteering to make Latitude Learning a reality for many children.
For the future of every child in our state, we must value choice in education. The most democratic way to do this is to let families decide what is the best educational environment for each child. Although the majority will choose New Hampshire public schools, it should not be the only option a family can afford.
