Homeschooling and Public School Partnership Programs

By Kenneth Knott - Posted at Christian Worldview:

For many homeschoolers, August represents a time of final planning for the upcoming academic year. In doing so, wise parents naturally ask themselves if they are employing the most effective methods of instruction possible. While some parents are content with implementing only minor adjustments to their routines, other parents are desperate for solutions for the various challenges they perceive. It is not surprising, then, to witness a growing number of homeschoolers joining the various “partnership” programs offered by the public school system.

There are a number of reasons why public school partnerships generally represent less-than-ideal approaches for most homeschoolers. Before we discuss some of these reasons, it may be useful to review the historical context in which these partnerships have emerged. While doing so, I’ll occasionally share certain firsthand experiences to help illustrate the shortcomings of these approaches.

From Grassroots to Mainstream to Partnerships


Homeschooling as commonly expressed today began as a grassroots movement in the mid-‘70s to early-‘80s. Back then, the pioneers that initiated the movement didn’t call what they were doing “homeschooling.” They simply schooled their children at home, intuitively knowing they were providing a better way for their children than the one offered through the public school system or through private education.

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