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Our daughter just started her first Community College course last week. It's a two week Writing class that meets every day from 8-noon. She'll get a semester's credit for it!

She's a homeschooled Junior, and in the Spring semester will take Intro Chemistry, which is essentially a high school level Chem course, but one which is required of ALL students who have not had hs Chem. and want to take the Chem Class with the lab work. When she has completed the Chem with the Lab, she'll go on to take Physics. I'm using the Comm. Coll. for those courses, like the Sciences, which are more difficult to manage at home because of restrictions on buying lab supplies, chemicals, etc.

I have her registered with a high school in Maine for transcript and diploma purposes. The school considers a one semester college course as a full year's high school credit, so the college classes are doing double duty for both high school and college credit!

Florida Law Lets Pupils Forgo High School

http://www.watleyreview.com/2003/090903-2.html

Of all the ways attempted to free up space in Florida's crowded classrooms, this one could be a dream come true for high schoolers in a hurry: a diploma without attending school.

Supporters of a law granting a high school diploma to anyone who asks said it will help curb crowding in Florida's schools. Critics fear it will deprive high school graduates of extracurricular activities and valuable classroom skills, such as reading.

The state's top education official is already warning that the new law essentially enabling students to forgo school is not for everyone.

``It was meant for a small group, a band of students, who were not only mature enough but smart enough to obtain a high school diploma based on their life experience,'' Education Commissioner Jim Horne said. ``It's not an attempt under class size pressure to do away with high school. Although, we are offering a $500 cash incentive to any student willing to sign up for the program."

The fast-track graduation law was among several measures passed this spring in the wake of a voter-approved amendment requiring the state to take immediate action to start reducing class sizes and educational spending. Under the option, students can graduate with upon turning eighteen provided that they can demonstrate "life experience" to a panel of examiners in a brief 10-minute oral exam.

"This program could save Florida millions," said Horne. "It's a win-win situation: students are delighted to take home $500 cash, and the state saves thousands in trying to educate them."

No other state has tried a similar program, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Texas started offering scholarships this year to students who stay home their senior year, but only those who complete a gun safety course.

``Kids are having a hard enough time as it is in college,'' said Okeechobee County School District Assistant Superintendent Lee Dixon. ``Do we really want these kids entering college or the workforce with no appreciable skills?"

"They already are," responded Horne. "At least this way we save some money."

Florida state officials declined to comment on speculation that this program is an attempt to wrest the title of most-mocked state from California. Florida held this position for two years following the 2000 presidential election, but was displaced thanks to California's surreal gubernatorial recall.

"I'd think this program would give Florida a pretty good shot at taking the crown back from California," said Dixon. "They may have Gary Coleman on the ballot for the next two months, but we'll have these kids kicking around the state for the rest of their lives."

Copyright (c) 2003 The Watley Review, all rights reserved.

Volume 1, Issue 17, September 9, 2003

I personally didn't quiiiite make it through the 8th grade, but I was smart/bored/troublemaker, aced the GED at 16, and went on to work.

The ONLY regret I have is that the military (all branches, although I first went to the Air Force in my early 20s) didn't want me because I hadn't finished high school. Not finishing high school does in fact say something about you, because MOST people will hang in there, and they want you to be like them. In hindsight, I wish I'd gone back at that point and "finished" my education. I'd make a kick-as$ soldier.

I've been getting asked more and more about my position that high school is a waste of time and my recommendation for parents to give their children a choice to skip high school.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

My own homeschooled children were admitted to college at the ages of 13, 12, and 13. Two had B.S. degrees in math at the age of 18. The oldest of these two recently finished a masters in math at the age of 20.

Brigham Young University has an excellent high school courses that are fully accredited, but the university does not award a diploma. My grand daughter is using it now.

My own children had to be certified as gifted and talented prior before our community college would admit them. This meant that I had to pay $400 each to have a psychologist administer an intelligence test. I took the results to the government school, which then arranged to have the children admitted to the college.

My children did fine, but please remember, that until about age 16 they had little to do with the social life at either the community college or the universities and colleges they later attended.

By the way, the oldest is a highly ranked athlete. He chose to study accounting since it meshed better with his heavy travel and training schedule. He also took off two years to complete a church mission at the age of 19. ( Returned home fluent in Russian) Despite all of this, he will finish his B.S. in accounting at the same age as his contemporaries.

Exchange posted on another thread regarding fast tracking:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1785156/posts

Public school lawyers say parents have no say if public schools teach homosexuality
World Net Daily ^ | Feb. 14, 2007

Posted on 02/14/2007 10:26:32 PM PST by SeasideSparrow

To: Kevmo
What you should demand are VOUCHERS.

WHY subsidize this ****?

Fast tracking is all fine and good but you are PAYING for this ****? Stop FUNDING IT!

66 posted on 02/15/2007 12:30:02 PM PST by nmh (Intelligent people recognize Intelligent Design (God) .)
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