"it seems to me to be 100% reasonable to mandate annual standardized testing, an annual individual home instruction plan outlining the curriculum you intend to use, and quarterly progress reports."
Simple solution to a problem, right? Obvious, and 100% reasonable, right?
What happens when the school doesn't like the curriculum chosen? Suppose it's religion-based and the school board says they can't use that one. Should that be accceptable? Think carefully before you answer, because parochial and private religious schools don't have to submit to that kind of oversight.
The only part of your solution that makes any sense is requiring the standardized tests. That's what alot of states require, and that does seem reasonable.
The only part of your solution that makes any sense is requiring the standardized tests. That's what alot of states require, and that does seem reasonable.
Even standardized tests don't tell the whole story. Some children with learning disabilities may not be as capable as others. Most homeschooling parents use standardized tests even when not required.
A fair question. The review should be deferential. Is the subject addressed? If the answer of yes, the inquiry regarding sufficiency of the curriculum is over.
For instance, when I was homeschooled, my parents used the A Beka curriculum. Now, personally speaking, I think those curricula are little better than propaganda. I would not select them for my children. Even so, NY did not complain that those textbooks were used - nor should they. Parents have wide discretion, and should not be interfered with just because they made educational choices with which one disagrees. That said, parents should not have the option to say math or science or reading should not be addressed at all.
Think carefully before you answer, because parochial and private religious schools don't have to submit to that kind of oversight.
Actually, most of them have the same level of regulation. They must cover certain subjects. They have broad latitude to select religion-based texts, but they must use ***a*** text.
How odious would a deferential review like this be?