| Home schooling is now, more than ever, | | | | programs noted that on average, the |
| being considered as a viable alternative | | | | parent conducting the home school is the |
| to traditional schooling. The reasons | | | | mother, who holds a college degree. It |
| for which are diverse ranging from | | | | has been calculated that her staying at |
| cultural/religious beliefs to economic | | | | home, instead of working, costs the |
| matters. | | | | family an estimated $38,000 every year - |
| The notion that home schooling is much | | | | money that could have possibly been used |
| less expensive than sending your child | | | | to address the family?s other pending |
| to an educational institution is | | | | needs. |
| prevalent, but not necessarily true. | | | | Helping defray the costs |
| Pound for pound, while a home school | | | | But before you get fully discouraged |
| education is less costly than a private | | | | with the idea of home schooling, there |
| school, it will likely be more expensive | | | | are ways to reduce the expenses. One way |
| than a public school. | | | | is to participate in support groups for |
| Starting out | | | | home schooling families. |
| For one thing, if you?re just beginning | | | | This affords you a great opportunity to |
| with home schooling (and if you don?t | | | | share resources with similar families |
| have a teaching background), it is | | | | saving you the need to buy an entire set |
| recommended that you subscribe to an | | | | of materials for your child. Joining |
| independent study program or buy a boxed | | | | groups like these allow you to borrow or |
| curriculum suited to your child?s skill | | | | swap things like textbooks, boxed |
| level. While these may cost, these will | | | | curricula or reference materials. An |
| guide your first few attempts at home | | | | added plus to joining home school family |
| schooling and help eliminate the | | | | groups in your area is giving your child |
| trial-and-error process in finding out | | | | the opportunity to interact with kids |
| how to run your home school just right. | | | | just like him/her who are home schooled |
| These services and products range from a | | | | as well. |
| low of $300 to a high of $1,500 | | | | Depending on where you live, some states |
| depending on the program. | | | | allow home-schooled children access to |
| Direct costs | | | | public school resources and some local |
| However, the costs do not end there. You | | | | virtual charter schools provide teaching |
| will need to supplement the program with | | | | materials for little to no cost. Some |
| textbooks as well as workbooks. | | | | will even offer annual stipends to pay |
| Up-to-date reference materials are also | | | | for activities like piano lessons. |
| needed such as an encyclopedia CD-ROM | | | | Taking the time to know what assistance |
| and Internet access. These will require | | | | you can avail of to help subsidize the |
| purchases and subscriptions as well. | | | | costs will more than pay for the effort |
| It will do your child much good to | | | | you made to do so. |
| provide proper furniture and fixtures | | | | Some money-saving tips |
| for studying. Getting them a proper | | | | It helps to know that if you have other |
| study table, a comfortable chair and | | | | children, the costs of home schooling |
| adequate lighting will show positive | | | | can be reduced with each child since the |
| results in the child?s attitude towards | | | | materials may be reused or renewed for a |
| learning. A computer to aid in their | | | | much lower cost. |
| research and homework is also essential. | | | | Take the time to explore your public |
| It is also possible that you may have to | | | | library and use what they have to offer. |
| avail of tutorial services to cover | | | | They?ll be more than happy to see you |
| subjects that you may have difficulty in | | | | visit as frequently as every week. This |
| teaching yourself. These can be done on | | | | greatly reduces the need to buy books |
| a per course/per subject basis which may | | | | every time and on occasion allows you |
| help reduce costs, but not by much. For | | | | access to newly published ones that |
| example, a one-on-one advanced history | | | | would otherwise be expensive. |
| class for high school students can cost | | | | Visit yard sales, book sales or swap |
| about $300. | | | | meets whenever you can. You may just |
| To provide a well-rounded education for | | | | find that perfect study table, teaching |
| your child, you will also need to | | | | aids or that hard-to-find textbook for a |
| include non-academic activities as well. | | | | fraction of the cost of buying it from a |
| This may mean music, sport or art | | | | store. |
| lessons and perhaps even planned | | | | When considering the costs of something |
| educational trips to museums and | | | | as important as your child?s education, |
| galleries, theaters, and nature parks. | | | | it is best to think of them as |
| Opportunity costs | | | | investments rather than as mere |
| These are the direct costs of running a | | | | expenses. When managed properly, what |
| home school program but in calculating | | | | money you have can go so much farther |
| the total cost for running a home | | | | than the actual costs as you give him |
| school, you may also need to consider | | | | her a memorable childhood of learning |
| certain indirect costs. | | | | and discovering ? with you at their |
| A study on families on home study | | | | side. |