HOME life
education
Home schooling
nevadahomeschoolnetwork.com
Technically, public school is for everyone — in the sense that it’s free, open to all and provided by the state. But what if it’s not for your child — in the sense that he or she craves a nontraditional type of gray-matter stimulation? In such cases, parents can find navigating the alternatives a daunting and frustrating task. To help, we offer this guide. B y H e i d i k y s e r
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D e s e r t c o m pa n i o n Fa m i ly DesertCompanion.com
Charter Schools
charterschools.nv.gov
Affiliation / Accreditation
Parents can buy accredited course packages; several institutions, such as Homeschool.com and the Home Educators Resource Directory, give seals of approval.
Independently operated public schools in CCSD; a sponsor (local school district or state charter school authority) awards the charter, monitors the school and can revoke the charter
Cost
Around $400 per year, per child for supplies, curriculum, tutors, etc.
Free
For the student who…
Has very dedicated, involved parents.
Colors outside the lines.
How it’s done
Varies. Typically, families acquire the curriculum and follow it on their own at home, connecting periodically with other homeschoolers through networks.
Students are held to the same academic standards as other Nevada public schools, but administrators have relative autonomy in curriculum and instruction.
Promise/hype
Individualized attention, customized course work and pace adjusted to the student’s abilities
Freedom to innovate plus accountability to sponsors is supposed to equal higher-quality instruction.
Class size
Based on the number of home-schooled kids in a family
Varies, from full classrooms to at-home distance education
Ages
Nevada law requires coverage of certain subject areas, and parent dec ides what age or grade to cover them in. Child should be ready for college or the workforce by adulthood.
K-12
Notable graduates
Ansel Adams, Louisa May Alcott, Woodrow Wilson
Ice Cube, ballet dancer David Hallberg
What you get
Certificate from accrediting institution or parent
High school diploma
P h oto g r a p h y N a m e G o e s H e r e