So there are strings attached...

I try to stay away from this topic and generally never encourage my acquaintances to join public school homeschool programs, just for these reasons. Mark Bergin reports In "Here come the strings published in World Magazine, that using public money for homeschooling (in Alaska) now has restrictions on what you can use, even if purchased privately.

"Alaska's Department of Education and Early Development (EED) declared that teaching a majority of core subjects with religious-based materials—even those privately purchased—disqualifies parents from receiving government funds."

I've always suspected that eventually more and more regulations would be forced on the public homeschool programs. If receiving funding from public sources in any way, there is the probability that restrictions will be placed on what you cannot use and worse, what you must use or teach. Personally, I think that the homeschool movement must be independent of the public school system in order to retain the freedom to teach our children as we see fit.

I find this statement interesting:

"Whatever the impetus, the changes affect 10,000 students, many of whom have posted improved standardized test scores while costing the state 20 percent less than those at 'brick and mortar' schools."

as well as:

"Nevertheless, state Sen. Fred Dyson considers such restrictions illegal, citing legislation passed in August 2002 that specifically protects the use of privately purchased curricula—even if not officially provided as part of the correspondence program."

So, they're dictating what you can or can't do after school hours? Interesting.

For the sake of homeschoolers across the nation that have decided to use public programs or funds, I hope other states don't follow Alaska's lead...but I'm afraid they might.

Talk about it in the Homeschooling Forum.