[Thoeting]

They claim to have doing a curriculum from ABeka(which I know is a respected choice by some) and I have seen work samples from previous years. But what they do now and what I have been shown don't agree.

[Helix]

Have you considered that they might be acting out? Resisting to the dramatic change in their situation. Perhaps this is a planned rebellion.

[cookcounty]

"They claim to have doing a curriculum from ABeka..."

Are you saying all 5 families were using this curriculum? ABeka accounts for probably less than 5% of all homeschooling. Seems odd that they's all be using this curriculum.

[lizma]

My kids go to a good public school (gobs of parent involvement & quite a few BUSH bumper stickers in the teacher's parking lot last November)but I still homeschool in the evenings and the summer using ABeka. I don't see how these kids can't read using this curriculum, it's dependent on it, plus it starts cursive before the public schools starts it.

If you seen previous work and they could do it, maybe something else is the problem? I volunteer teach a little at my kid's school. Twice I've seen transferred students from other public schools more or less refuse to do the work. I don't know why. Some sort of secondary gain?

It appears these children need to be held back until they catch up or adjust.

Now here's the big question. Is your school willing to do this? Maybe their parents failed them, but will the public school system fail them too?