Camillus (WSYR-TV) – Back-to-school is just around the corner for thousands of students here in central New York, but not all students are actually traveling to school to learn.
Those who home school their children are getting ready for the upcoming school year as well.
As Jenafer Medina of the Home Learner’s Association shows off her in-home classroom, Jessica Montena takes some mental notes.
From the books to the boxes of materials and supplies, Montena looks over it all as she prepares to home school her daughter this year.
“When I see her read a book or ask about exoskeletons, or space or gases, I know she is learning,” Montena says.
According to the Department of Education, 1.5 million kids are now home schooled in the U.S., up 74 percent from 1999.
“We at the Home Learner's Association have seen about three to four new member families per month. A lot of people are choosing to home school for a variety of different reasons,” Medina says. “We can really tailor her experience to her strengths.”
But that kind of tailoring takes a lot of time, money and preparation. So far this year, Jenafer has spent more than $1,000 on materials alone.
“We do the traditional buying of crayons and getting all those supplies, but what we also do is get curriculum,” says Medina.
One main thing home schoolers must do to prepare for back-to-school is fill out an individualized home instruction plan. In it, they explain what will be taught to the children throughout the school year.
The form then goes to the district superintendent for approval.
“We have what we call a not-back-to-school party-- that's on September 8th. So while all the school kids are going to school, we’re hitting the park,” Medina says.
Then the very next day, the home teaching and learning begins.
To help cut costs, parents participate in the home schooling co-op program, where they can borrow materials and share supplies.
