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