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REGISTRATION/ENROLLMENT
Click on any title to jump to that section... WHAT IS REGISTRATION? HOMESCHOOL REGISTRATION CHOICES. . . WHAT IS REGISTRATION? By law in BC you are required to register your child in an educational program. If you choose to homeschool you may register with your local school (if you are in time for the regular sign up dates) or at the local school board office (if you are outside of regular registration dates). This option allows you full freedom of choice with regards to curriculum and style. You are registered as a homeschooler under this option. There are no reimbursements, however you can use the school board resource centers, and depending on the attitudes of the principal, you may be able to use some of your local schools facilities like the library etc. For people wanting a little more structure and who are keen to follow the BC guidelines there are fast becoming many options of enrollment all offering various benefits such as reimbursement dollars and resource libraries etc. It is important to note that if you choose one of these various enrollment options that you are a then considered a part of the BC schools system as a distant learner and not a homeschooler. If this is an important detail to you then the option above is your best choice. If being a part of the system is not a concern, then you should look further at the information regarding each individual school. Each school offers different benefits and has different requirements with regards to reporting (something that is mandatory 3 times / year). In order to homeschool a child in BC you must either REGISTER a child at: 1) your local public school - no reimbursements - use of resources is different at each school depending on attitudes toward homeschooling - no accountability other than what is required from the school act for more info see : - homeschooling style and curriculum is student's choice 2) any independent (private) school in bc - usually little if any reimbursment dollars - use of resources is different at each school - no accountability other than what is required from the school act for more info see : - homeschooling style and curriculum is the choice of the student or ENROLL in: 3) any Distributed Electronic Learning (DEL) program (e.g. nechako e-bus program) -must comply with school act -must follow bc outcomes -compulsory standarsized testing -compulsory assessment ( reporting ) 3 times / year for more info: http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/independentschools/home_school/indschl_del_stdnt.htm 4) any Provincial Distant Education School (DES) -student is publically enrolled - correspondence program - electronically ditributed courses - follows bc outcomes student has no choice over curriculum - on line support -for more information: www.openschool.bc.ca/de/index.html HOMESCHOOL REGISTRATION CHOICES KAMLOOPS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Craig and Gwynne Funston are the Home Education Coordinators for the Kamloops Christian School. They are home school support leaders and home educators themselves who claim delight witht he outstanding support that KCS has given themand registered families. They service families all over the interior of BC - from Terrace to Golden, from Lytton to Valemount, and various points in between. They are willing to register homeschoolers from anywhere in the province. KCS provides*: -suppport to get started -help selecting curriculum -CAT testing at your request -Home Education Resource Centre (you choose $90 worth of learning materials which KCS purchases. Your materials revert back to the resource centre at the end of the year.) -Seminars for support groups or informal groups of families -Regular Newsletter -ElectiveClasses -School Pictures *some fees and times may apply Contact: Janet Munier Home Education Co-ordinator c/o Kamloops Christian School 685 Tranquille Rd, Kamloops, B.C. V2B 3H7 phone (250) 376-6900 e-mail: kamcs@direct.ca NECHAKO ELECTRONIC BUSING PROGRAM SERVICES -supports stdents k-12 -utilizes technolgy -provides a computer and internet if needed -provides re-imbursement dollars upon reciepts up to $1000/child ( re-imbursment on bc ministry approved resources only ) -on line teacher support -web site full of minisrty information -lending library -assessment tools based on bc curriculum EXPECTATIONS -student learning plan is required from student at beginning of school year -3 formal reports are requires per year -evidence of learning is required to accompany report website: www.e-bus.com phone: 800 567 1236 PACIFIC ACADEMY HOME SCHOOL this school offers basic and DEL registration is now registering students from K - 12 Services include: -Registration with the Ministry of Education -Annual CAT or SAT assessment if desired -Access to the Pacific Academy Homeschool members' site -Access to Pacific Academy curriculum overviews -Opportunity to purchase online Pacific Academy courses (see www.pagecomm.net) -Access to School library -Access to video library -Parent seminars, teachers' conventions -Resource Centre -Assistance in choosing curriculum -School pictures -Portfolio assessment -Book Fairs The Pacific Academy Homeschool members' site will have a variety of information, including curriculum reviews, software reviews, and links to useful websites. Additionally, there will be message board discussion forums where both students and parents can post questions and have ongoing dialogue on a variety of relevant topics. website: www.pacificacademy.net For further information or to request an application form, please email: pacific_academy@papcs.com or phone: (604) 581-5353 Fax: (604) 581-0087 ROSE OF SHARON ACADEMY -registers homeschoolers as a independent school -Parents need to have available upon request a curriculum summary of the learning plan for the year - no reporting or curriculum requirements are placed upon registered families. -Up to $140 of qualifying receipted expenses will be reimbursed for each qualifying student per year for such items as educational texts, resource materials, teacher services for assessment, consultation and/or tutoring, educational software, arts and crafts materials and field trips. - Kindergarten students qualify for a maximum of $80 of qualifying receipted expenses. -Applications for reimbursement for the current school yearıs expenses are accepted after the Easter break and must be received by June 15 to qualify. -Reimbursement cheques will be issued June 15-30. -Any parent training seminars are available to both academy and home school registered families. website: http://www.rosbc.com/ 4057 248th Street Langley, B.C. Canada V4W 1E3 Phone: (604) 856-2577 Fax: (604) 857-0088 Email: rosa@uniserve.com TRADITIONAL LEARNING ACADEMY TLA OFFERS 2 OPTIONS TO HOMESCHOOL FAMILIES 1) BASIC HOMESCHOOL REGISTRATION - providing telephone or mail support for both parent and student. - provides 125$ / child upon reciept of approved recourses - provides 125$ /child for use in their online homeschool center - testing available - curricullum options available 2) DEL PROGRAM (DISTRIBUTED ELECTRONIC LEARNING PROGRAM for more information on TLA'S DEL PROGRAM PHONE: (604) 572-7875 website: http:/home-school.ca/index.htm phone: (604) 572-7575 VANCOUVER CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 3496 Mons Drive Vancouver B.C. V5M 3E6 Phone: (604) 435-3113 Fax: (604)430-1591 VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL WONDERTREE Wondertree offers two programs options for Home Learners. 1) BASIC HOMESCHOOL REGISTRATION -for those who want to home learn and be legally registered you can register with Wondertree HomeLearner's Network -they support unschooler's - offer a $125 Resource Allowance per learner per year to support learner website: www.wondertree.org 2) SELF DESIGN LEARNING COMMUNITY (DEL) -is a Distributed Electronic Learning (DEL) Pilot Project with the Independent Schools -for this year and next they are registering 100 learners in their school that is beyond the paradigm of schooling -they are looking for home learners who want to also go beyond the paradigm of home learning -SelfDesign is a way of supporting each learner to explore their learning needs by creating a Learning Plan and then following their enthusiasm -each week parents or learners provide Learning Observations to our Learning Consultants who Reflect on these observations and provide ongoing support for each learner. - A $1000 Learning Investment is available for each learner for families that participate in their program. -Applications for this and next year are added to their waiting list. website: www.selfdesign.org A MESSAGE FROM WONDERTREE DEL PROGRAM The Minister of Education announced on Friday, April 23, that the cap will be lifted on the number of independent school distributed electronic learning (DEL) programs and student enrollment beginning 2004/05 school year. Similar to public school DEL programs, certified independent school DEL programs will be eligible to apply for special education grants. As with other independent school special education grants, these will be at 50% of the public school special education rates. ---- This is an exciting day / year for Wondertree as we finally can launch a project that we have been lobbying for for over 10 years. There has been much press recently on public school DEL programs that have been in non-compliance with the regulations. Even though we offer total freedom to learn and real choice for our learners we are in good standing because we have such good records of what the children are learning with our insightful conversations on observing for learning. Wondertree Foundation and the SelfDesign Learning Community is pleased to let you know that the Ministry of Education has removed the student enrollment limit for our Distributed Electronic Learning Program. This means that we will be able to accept registrations for enrollments for 2004-2005. We anticipate having a special program for teens aged 15-18 so we will be able to accept enrollments for any BC resident school aged learner born in 1999 or earlier. On-line Registration for Enrollment We are currently revising our website (http://www.selfdesign.org) and we anticipate having it completed by May 1. The website will have descriptions of our programs and a Frequently Asked Question section. An on-line registration will also be available through our website. You will need to register each learner in your family through the on-line process. You will also need to re-register any children who may already be enrolled with SelfDesign Learning Community or with the Wondertree Home Learner's Network. We hope to have enrollment completed by late July. The number of learners we can enroll is dependent on the number of Learning Consultants we have. Recruiting Learning Consultants Now that we know our program can expand, we are recruiting Learning Consultants. If you know of anyone interested in part-time work as a Learning Consultant please have them email info@selfdesign.org or phone 604-224-3640. If you are in a remote community we invite you to ask around to find people with certificates who might want to focalize Learning Circles in your community. Learning Consultants must be BC certified teachers or eligible for membership in the BC College of Teachers, passionate about learning and committed to selfdesign and lifelong learning. Learners with special needs We are now eligible to support learners who may qualify for special education grants. If you think that your child may be eligible, please email info@selfdesign.org with your phone number as soon as possible so we can call and discuss your needs. As you can imagine, we will be working hard to expand our program from the present 100 learners to support the several hundred families who have already contacted us to be on our waiting list. Sincerely Kathleen Forsythe Project Coordinator For an excellent detailed description of these options check out the BC homelearners website at http://www.bchla.bc.ca/edoptionsinbc.html |